At this weekend’s Monaco Grand Prix, the first
Lotus Originals franchise store has opened near
the Principality’s famous Monte Carlo Casino
Square.
Lotus Originals is the fashion arm of the
legendary sports car and racing marque, and the
collection is inspired by the British sense of
style, heritage, innovation and rebellious
spirit that goes into every on-road Lotus
design.
Lotus is hailed for its engineering and
thirst for competition. It is also known for
style. Heroes of reality and fiction, from Jim
Clark to James Bond, have outgunned their rivals
from behind the wheel of a Lotus, and they
looked good doing it. Partner Forza Rossa
Holding, official Lotus cars dealer since 2011,
recognise this and joins the Lotus family with
the opening of the Monte Carlo store which
carries the brand new Lotus Originals retail
concept.
It’s fitting that this first franchise store be
in Monaco, the scene of the first grand prix
victory for a Lotus, in 1960 at the hands of
Stirling Moss. His Serene Highness Prince Albert
II, Monaco’s Mayor Georges Marsan and State
Minister Michel Roger were joined by Lotus F1
Team’s Gerard Lopez, Eric Boullier and Romain
Grosjean, Lotus Sales and Marketing Director
Maurizio Parlato and Forza Rossa Holding’s
President Ion Bazac at the opening of the store.
Here you will find apparel, accessories, gifts,
toys, bikes and collectables that will thrill
Lotus fans, and bring others into our Lotus
world.
Speaking of which, we took the opportunity in
Monaco to launch a special car designed for the
next generation of Lotus drivers: a slightly
smaller-than-usual Lotus Elan, one of Lotus’
most-beloved classics which this year celebrates
its 50th anniversary. What’s more, the car is
eligible for racing. The Little Big Le Mans
which forms part of the Le Mans Classic race
weekend, is designed for lucky young drivers
aged 6-14, and this Elan is eligible for this
events.
 Also,
20 years after we helped win gold at Barcelona
in 1992 with the revolutionary Lotus Type 108
Superbike, we are showing for the first time, a
stunning hand made carbon fibre black and gold
bespoke bicycle from our new collaboration with
Condor Cycles Ltd.
Lotus Originals can also be found at the
company’s Hethel HQ and at Norwich City Football
Club’s stadium, and we’re also opening our
flagship store in the heart of London in six
weeks time: 4,800 sq ft of retail space on
Regents Street. It will be, as it is here in
Monaco, an iconic location for an iconic brand.
Maurizio Parlato, Director of Sales & Marketing,
Group Lotus: “It is our mission to grow the
Lotus brand internationally, to become more of a
global player, and to do that we need to produce
great cars, but we also want Lotus to be a
lifestyle brand of its own. Our founder, Colin
Chapman, understood this. He was a trendsetter
in every way. He also recognised the marketing
potential of motorsport better than anyone else
at that time, and had an eye for detail that
pervaded every aspect of his company’s
presentation. Therefore, I believe he would be
very excited to see what we’re doing here today
– opening this first Lotus Originals franchise.”
Ion Bazac, Forza Rossa Holding President: “It is
a big honour and pleasure for us to inaugurate
the first Lotus Originals franchise store in
such a prestigious and exclusive place like
Monte Carlo, famous worldwide for its fabulous
Grand Prix. With the new Lotus originals
collections and accessories you will find a
unique link between the past, the present and
the future of the Lotus brand and its very
passionate history and heroes. Lotus Originals
Monte Carlo is more than a store, it is a place
of meeting and dialogue between fans and their
favorite brand, so that the legend, the winning
heritage and dreams of Colin Chapman be more
alive than ever.” |
