And Lotus is owned by Proton (Malaysia).
A lot of what you're talking is horses for courses. Put that 230hp Caterham or a 190hp Lotus Exige on an oval and theyll get killed against any of the better American sports cars.
However, put the same on a tight, twisty track requiring excellent handling and road feedback, and the American cars will be left in the dust.
I have a video of a 200hp 1.8l Elise keeping up with a 400hp+ 5.8l Corvette at Nuremberg ring, except it fell behind on the long straightaways. The driver almost passed him once on a curve, but he screwed up his line. The Corvette also had a big head start.
"The Corvette also had a big head start."
I have the same video. The Elise drivers look of frustration on not being able to keep up with the vette was amusing.
So....are we now saying that Malaysian cars are superior to German cars? Or that Panoz does not make a nimble car? Does a Shelby Series One really only perform well in a straight line?
How did Ford whup all those Ferarris, Porches, Mercedes, Alfa Romeos, & Audis, on their own European tracks, with a car that only performs well on an oval?
Ford(and, God how I hate Fords), did it with an all-around superior car.....just like Shelby before them; a car both more nimble, and more powerful.