VW GX3
Volkswagen’s GX3 concept (just unveiled at the LA auto show) is quite unusual for that company, and a close look makes one begin to suspect that Lotus had something to do with it, not only because of its similarity to other Lotus cars (like the 340R), but also as it’s well known that they do contract engineering work for other car companies, and certainly have the expertise to design a small sports racer like that. Well, our spies in LA report that the GX3 was delivered to the LA auto show in a truck with Lotus logos on it, by guys wearing Lotus shirts and hats; if true, that pretty much confirms it. Rumor has it that Swift Engineering helped design and build some of the composite parts, with Lotus doing much of the rest (suspension, etc). Not that there’s anything wrong with this, it’s wise for VW to recognize that they don’t have the required in-house experience to design a car like that, yet they need radical show cars like that to help build a sportier, younger image. I’ve always been a VW fan; it’s nice to see them taking some steps towards a sportier image rather than an SUV/Crossover one. You can read more about the VW GX3 over at Automobile Magazine.