Niche Cars Co., Ltd To Retail Lotus Cars In Thailand

Niche Cars Co., Ltd to retail Lotus cars in Thailand

Lotus Cars Ltd, the sportscar division of Group Lotus plc, is pleased to announce the

appointment of Niche Cars Co., Ltd for the retail of Lotus cars in Thailand.

Mike Kimberley, CEO of Group Lotus plc comments "I would like to welcome Niche Cars to the

Lotus family and brand. The Thai market is important to us and we are pleased to have

teamed up with such an enthusiastic and professional organisation who have so much

knowledge and understanding of what Lotus is all about. Looking to the future, we are

expanding our line-up to include new products such as a mid range supersports car for launch

at the end of 2008 and a stunning high specification supercar that will enter production at the

end of 2009."

With the appointment of Niche Cars as an official Lotus dealer, Lotus is demonstrating its

commitment to the Thai market and to true sportscar enthusiasts in the region.

Khun Seree Rakvit, President of Niche Cars Co., Ltd commented: "I am delighted to be

awarded the franchise for Lotus in Thailand. Thailand has had a void in the sportscar market

and now with Niche Cars re-appointment, the sportscar enthusiast has the opportunity to own

and drive a true sports car built on a heritage that spans almost 60 years."

Khun Seree continues: "Niche Cars strategy has always been to be the premium sportscar

and supercar supplier in Thailand and with the addition of the Lotus product range, we have

achieved a giant step forward in being able to meet our goal of being the largest supplier of

Sport and Super Cars in Thailand."

The first allocation of 6 hand-built Lotus cars has already arrived in Thailand and the Elise R

and Exige S are ready for the launch of the Lotus brand on 3rd of April at Siam Paragon

Shopping Complex in Bangkok. Pricing starts from THB 5,200,000 for the Elise R and from

THB 6,100,000 for the Exige S. The Exige Cup 255, the Elise S and the new Lotus 2-Eleven

will be joining the Lotus product line-up over next 12 months.

Niche Cars is committing US$260,000 to re-establish the Lotus brand and service network in

Thailand to underline its commitment to the brand and its future customers along with a new

and exclusive Lotus showroom at the Auto Gallery in the Siam Paragon Shopping Complex in

Bangkok. The new facilities will all be in line with the corporate image and training standards

set out by Lotus Cars.

The Lotus Launch in Thailand

The launch of the Lotus brand in Thailand will reflect a lifestyle concept to compliment the

sports nature of the Lotus brand. The launch event, at Siam Paragon's Fashion Hall on

Tuesday 3rd of April 2007 at 19:00 will include a fashion display by prominent international

couture labels, models and celebrities, as well as a vehicle display for potential customers and

the press.

Notes:

About Niche Cars Co., Ltd

Niche Cars Co., Ltd supplies "high end" cars, supercars and sportscars in Thailand. Other brands in the

Niche Cars stable include Lamborghini, Hummer, Sport Service Lorinser, and - through a mutual

agreement with Aston Martin Lagonda South East Asia based in Singapore - Aston Martin which

completes the line-up. The Company currently has 3 showrooms, two boutique galleries based in the

exclusive Siam Paragon Shopping complex and a showroom and service facility on Srinakarin Road in

the Bangkapi area of Bangkok. A new showroom and service facility is currently being built in the

exclusive up-market area of Sukhumvit.

Historical Background to Lotus

The first Lotus car was built in 1948 by Colin Chapman (1928-1982) who was an innovative engineer

and passionate racer. In 1952, the Lotus Engineering Company was created to manufacture simple

sports and racing cars at a North London facility. Success came swiftly and within 15 years the

company moved to its current headquarters in Hethel, England. Between 1958 and 1994 Lotus

campaigned one of the most successful motor racing teams in Formula 1 history, winning 79 Formula 1

Grands Prix, seven Formula One Constructor's Championships and six Formula 1 Driver's

Championships. Lotus has also had class wins at Le Mans, has won the World Rally Championships,

won a gold medal at the Olympics Games (with the Lotus Bike) and won the prestigious Indy 500 in the

USA.

About Group Lotus plc:

The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Ltd, which has two operating divisions –

Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive

engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Its global facilities include those in Michigan, USA and

Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and offices in Germany and China. Lotus Engineering provides comprehensive

and versatile consultancy services to many of the world's OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers, offering a full

engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and integration of the

complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production. This includes third party

'niche vehicle' engineering and manufacture worldwide. Lotus Cars builds and sells Lotus sports cars,

Elise, Exige and Europa for global sale and manufactures the advanced composite front and rear crash

structures for the Aston Martin V12 Vanquish.

Lotus Elise R

The multi-award winning Lotus Elise range is regarded by many as amongst the finest sportscars in

production. The Elise R, with its 141 kW (192 PS) engine, has performance figures of 0-100 km/h in 5.2

seconds and a top speed of 241 km/h. Key to this phenomenal performance is the Elise R's low weight

from just 860 kg, making this British built sportscar not just one of the lightest sportscars on the market

but one of the lightest and safest cars on sale of any type. Coupled with a very strong and stiff

aluminium chassis the Elise range continues to set standards by which all other sportscars are judged.

The Elise R benefits from new standard and optional equipment including lighter weight components,

airbags, traction control and limited slip differential, enhanced trim, adjustable suspension and new

ProBax™ driver and passenger seats. A new range of colours has been added, from standard solid

shades to metallic and fashionable lifestyle colours. The total number of colours available is now 20,

excluding the bespoke custom option.

Standard specification includes electric windows, auxiliary front driving lights, full black leather or suedeeffect

interior, full carpet set, high specification radio and CD player, and sound and temperature

insulation.

Lotus Exige S

The Lotus Exige S is the latest addition to the Lotus product range and is a real sportscar that redefines

the term "Extreme Performance". The advanced 1.8 litre VVTL-i supercharged engine produces 90.5

kW / litre (123 PS / litre) making the Exige S one of most powerful production cars in the world for its

engine size.

Because the basic car is so immensely strong but lightweight (935 kg), giving a power to weight ratio of

173.8 kW/tonne (236.4 PS/tonne), performance is phenomenal, with 100 km/h being reached from a

standing start in 4.3 seconds and 160 km/h being reached in 11.1 seconds before topping out at 238

km/h.

Key to this phenomenal performance and handling is the total aerodynamic package (which gives 41.2

kg of downforce at 160 km/h - 19.3 kg: front and 21.9 kg: rear) and light weight, the latter made possible

through innovative engineering and creative design.

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