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Lotus withdraws from 2012 Paris motor show

Lotus has pulled out of the 2012 Paris motor show as the company seeks stability after last month's sacking of CEO Dany Bahar.


September's Paris no-show will be in complete contrast to the British sports car maker's triumphant statement at the 2010 Paris event, when the company unveiled six all-new models, including five sports cars and the compact Ethos city car concept.

The organisers of the Paris motor show confirmed Lotus' withdrawal from this year’s event with US publication Car and Driver, which reports Lotus is taking a lower-key approach in the wake of recent turmoil.

A statement from Lotus released in June explained Bahar was dismissed following the results of an investigation into a complaint made against him by the company’s penultimate holding company, DRB-Hicom. The complaint was allegedly linked to the claiming of expenses, with Bahar well known for his extravagant corporate spending.

The Paris withdrawal is not a signal of the end for Lotus, however, with the sports car manufacturer making a big impression at the recent 2012 Goodwood Festival of Speed, where it showcased six significant Lotus racing cars from the past alongside its current showroom and race models.

Bahar last year told CarAdvice the original plan to launch five new sports models had been revised down to four – Elise, Elite, Esprit and Eterne – with the Elan put on the backburner.

Despite the unrest, Lotus still says the new V8-powered Esprit will launch in 2013, followed by the folding hardtop Elite convertible in 2014, and then the all-new Elise coupe and four-door Eterne further down the track.

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