The Rover Lotus 200: A myth or a missed opportunity?

Take a dive into what could have been a flagship Rover car and perhaps the start of an evergreen relationship between Rover and Lotus which maybe could have been the start of Rover returning to the track?
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[@longman.420]

Eyup, tis neither 6 a.m. nor a wednesday, yet here I am with my pistons being smashed, well that video was like a ninja 🥷

[@SmashingPistons]

😂 It's been sitting a while awaiting the finishing touches.

[@RobsonRoverRepair]

Fantastic historical video big man

[@badbooks476]

Great video & smashing way to introduce Jenny & what an opportunity missed for Rover. Ironically One of my MX5 club colleagues was an engineer on the design team for Lotus Elise

[@SmashingPistons]

Oh, nice! Does seem an obvious thing to do with hindsight. But I guess there were more things than marketing at play.

[@jimmyquinn9639]

This is the best video you ever done simon and congratulations on getting to over 500 subscribers 🚗🚙🚘👍👍👍👍👏👏👏💥💥💥💥

[@SmashingPistons]

You like it that much?! 😳 Thanks! I had to wait AGES just so I could take a few pictures for the ending. 😂

[@Sorted7]

Yeah they missed a trick there. The 200 or 25 with a ‘tuned by lotus’ suspension set up and a breathed on k series would have been awesome. Keep the brm as the traditional look it was, the lotus could have been all about driving. They could have even tuned the mgf a bit. Shame

[@SmashingPistons]

Exactly my thoughts. Such an oversight considering the engine deal was in place. Bless Rover and their planning.

[@user-ei4wk8yw3v]

I liked my 200 and love my Elise. Lotus is my passion mainly for feel reasons and weight. Bottom line the UK public killed both because of the love of German barges. Thanks for the video, great job.

[@SmashingPistons]

Glad you enjoyed it! I love the Lotus cars of the 80s and 90s. I'd love an Excel but I fear I'd have to sell all the other cars to make that happen. 😂

[@user-ei4wk8yw3v]

@@SmashingPistons I you want to review an Elise S3 220, you would be welcome.

[@SmashingPistons]

@@user-ei4wk8yw3v Oh! I've never driven one. I should do a comparison with the TF.

[@user-ei4wk8yw3v]

@@SmashingPistons absolutely

[@SmashingPistons]

@@user-ei4wk8yw3v feel free to email me at [e-mail] and we'll see if we can sort something out.

[@ProjectNigel]

Great video, Simon 🙂

[@SmashingPistons]

Thanks Paul! I'll bring the 200 up for a drive once I've sorted out little things like brakes, clutch, etc. 😂

[@cliveyboyb5770]

Lotus Engineering the development and consultancy side of Lotus has worked with most other car companies over the years. Some like to advertise the association Proton Satria GTi for example. Whilst more reserved Swedish safety/reliability orientated companies prefer to keep it quiet.

[@SmashingPistons]

Oh, sounds like an idea for another video. 🤔

[@brucemay5409]

Very good video Simon.Well researched mate!😅

[@SmashingPistons]

😉 Thanks fella.

[@robertpatrick3350]

That would have been better for Lotus than the horde of Proton’s with handling by lotus badges

[@SmashingPistons]

That's a very good point! Although, I do kinda like a sporty Proton. 😂

[@cliveyboyb5770]

Remember the Isuzu Piazza "Handling by Lotus"

[@PinguConcorde]

Ahh lovely Jenny 😍 Colin would approve!!

[@SmashingPistons]

😋

[@Dooflanger]

So, are we talking about. A Rover 200 with the Very High Performance Derivative (VHPD) version of the K series engine. And handling by lotus as well? Now that would of been a motor to have.....

[@SmashingPistons]

Exactly! What a marketing tool also! A real drivers car. If only!

[@cliveyboyb5770]

It would have followed in the foot steps of the Cortina, Escort and Sunbeam which all had the Lotus treatment and now highly sort after.

[@SmashingPistons]

@@cliveyboyb5770 indeed. A gem in the Rover crown.

[@DanDan-hj2pp]

Had two rovers the engine was terrible mate in them k for kettle in the motor trade

[@SmashingPistons]

😂 😂 🤣 😂

[@dannsmcshane1233]

They are nice cars to drive they got it right the engine finished them of they would still be hear if they used a Honda engine

[@SmashingPistons]

@@dannsmcshane1233 Tbh the k series is a smashing engine. Just the weakness of the head gasket gubbins is a tad annoying if you're using it as a daily. The R3 does handle well enough. The ZS even better.

[@dannsmcshane1233]

It is smashing giving up had one car on it 3rd engine one hot summers day and the head was fecked mate I remember watching watch dog and rover saying not was wrong now a days social media would have stopped it went on for years

[@StevensPaul]

So you're building a "what if" car then? And I don't think a 200 would last long on New York streets 😂😮!

[@SmashingPistons]

😂 😂 🤣 New York Special edition, no monogram but graffiti instead!

[@StevensPaul]

@@SmashingPistons With add-on bullet holes 🕳️👀 and pre-bent antenna 👀🤪!

[@SmashingPistons]

@@StevensPaul 🤣 😂 🤣 😂