This year marks the end of an era for Lotus Cars. As the business moves towards an exciting future as outlined in recent announcements, time is being called on production of the iconic Elise and the genre-creating Exige, after 25 and 21 years respectively.

In honour of these two legendary models, Lotus has announced a range of five new Final Edition cars which have higher power, greater standard specification and – in true Lotus style – light weight.

These cars are the ultimate versions of the Elise and Exige, and mark the pinnacle of technical development to showcase more than two decades of engineering excellence. To be built in limited numbers, each is a fitting tribute to performance cars that are, almost uniquely, legends in their own lifetime.

Five new variants – two Elise and three Exige – have been created and Lotus is anticipating high demand from global markets as customers rush to buy a slice of history. They are available with unique paint colours, new exterior decals, new wheel finishes, new trim and Final Edition badging.

The improvements continue under the skin, a fact reflected in new names which reveal higher power outputs on three of the five – the Elise Sport 240, Elise Cup 250, Exige Sport 390, Exige Sport 420 and Exige Cup 430.

The Elise and Exige Final Edition cars are on sale now, with the MSRP for selected markets listed below. For other markets please contact the appropriate official Lotus Cars importer.

As revealed last month, the Lotus Evora has also entered its final year of production. Further announcements about plans to celebrate this model will be announced in due course.

The Lotus Elise Final Edition range in detail

The Elise is a truly iconic Lotus, with 2021 serving as the 25th and final year of production. These two new Final Edition cars are a fitting tribute, and the exclusivity and rarity will no doubt ensure high demand and guarantee future classic status. They retain all the core values and features that have made the Elise such an iconic car – a small, light and agile two-seater powered by a supercharged and chargecooled 1.8-litre, four-cylinder mid-mounted engine.

As standard, both Final Edition cars receive the most extensive list of interior and exterior features ever. The biggest change is the all-new TFT digital dashboard with the choice of two screens, one with a conventional set of dials and the other a race car-style with digital speed read-out and an engine speed bar.

The steering wheel is of a new design and clad in leather and alcantara. It features a flat base to create better leg clearance for taller drivers and to aid ingress and egress. Every car comes with a Final Edition build plaque, plus new seat trim and stitch patterns.

A new selection of colours has been introduced for both the Elise Sport 240 and the Elise Cup 250, harking back to some of the iconic colour schemes from the Elise and Lotus’ past. These include Azure Blue, the colour used in the first production car images for media in 1996; Black, the brand colour of the motorsport division when the company ran the successful Autobytel Lotus Elise Championship race series; and Racing Green, an homage to the colour of the original car unveiled at the 1995 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Lotus Elise Sport 240 Final Edition

The Elise Sport 240 Final Edition gains an extra 23bhp from a revised calibration and so replaces the Sport 220. Delivering 240bhp and 244Nm of torque, the engine has been tuned to provide stunning real-world performance and class-leading efficiency. The 0-60mph sprint is completed in 4.1 seconds thanks to a power-to-weight ratio of 260bhp per tonne. CO2 emissions of 177 g/km are extremely low for the performance on offer.

The car comes with 10-spoke Anthracite lightweight forged alloy wheels as standard (6J x 16” front and 8J x 17” rear). They’re 0.5kg lighter than the wheels on the Elise Sport 220 and shod with Yokohama V105 tyres (195/50 R16 front and 225/45 R17 rear).

Further weight savings can be achieved with an extensive range of optional carbon fibre panels, including sill covers and engine cover, lithium-ion battery plus a lightweight polycarbonate rear window. With all the lightweight options chosen, the mass of the Elise Sport 240 reduces further from 922kg to 898kg.

Lotus Elise Cup 250 Final Edition

Key to the Elise Cup 250’s performance are its aerodynamics and downforce linked to its power and light weight. With aerodynamically optimised components such as the front splitter, rear wing, rear diffuser and side floor extension, this Final Edition car produces 66kg of downforce at 100mph and 155kg of downforce at is maximum speed of 154mph.

The car is shod in new 10-spoke Diamond Cut ultra-lightweight M Sport forged wheels (7J x 16” front and 8J x 17” rear) with Yokohama A052 tyres (195/50 R16 front and 225/45 R17 rear). The extensive list of standard equipment includes Bilstein sport dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars, to help maximise the aerodynamic downforce available and boost grip whilst maintaining the legendary Elise handling. Also fitted as standard is a lightweight lithium-ion battery and polycarbonate rear window.

Other lightweight carbon fibre options, as on the Elise Sport 240 Final Edition, are available reducing the mass to an unladen weight of just 931kg.

The Lotus Exige Final Edition range in detail

The Exige range is celebrated in its final year of production with three new models – the Exige Sport 390, Exige Sport 420 and Exige Cup 430.

Like the Elise, new equipment for this final year of production includes unique paint choices, new decals and two new wheel finishes. All versions of the Exige also come with the TFT digital dashboard, Final Edition build plaque, new steering wheel, plus new seat trim and stitch patterns.

All models are powered by a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 with a baffled sump, mounted in a lightweight and rigid chassis that provides thrilling acceleration and instant response. Pure unassisted steering offers exquisite feedback and vivid communication at all speeds. The Exige benefits from a bespoke version of Lotus’ pioneering bonded aluminium chassis, a unique rear subframe and forged aluminium double wishbone suspension at the rear.

Like the Elise Final Edition range, the Exige is also available in a selection of new colours representing significant cars in its history. These include Metallic White, from the unveiling of the V6 Exige at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2011, and Metallic Orange, which was used on the first press fleet car in 2000 and the and the Exige GT3 concept from the Geneva Motor Show 2007.

Lotus Exige Sport 390 Final Edition

The new Exige Sport 390 replaces the outgoing Exige Sport 350. The power increase of 47bhp comes from a revised calibration linked to the Edelbrock supercharger with chargecooling, to produce 397bhp and 420Nm. Linked to a light weight of 1,138kg, the Exige Sport 390 accelerates to 60mph in just 3.7 seconds before reaching a top speed of 172mph.

The advanced aerodynamics are carefully balanced, generating 70kg of downforce at the rear and 45kg up front for a total of 115kg at top speed. To put this power on to the road, the Exige Sport 390 has 10-spoke silver lightweight forged alloy wheels (7.5J x 17” front and 10J x 18” rear) and Michelin PS4 tyres (205/45 ZR17 front and 265/35 ZR18 rear).

Lotus Exige Sport 420 Final Edition

The Exige Sport 420 Final Edition gains an extra 10bhp and replaces the outgoing Sport 410. It is the fastest Exige available, topping out at 180mph, with 0-60mph completed in 3.3 seconds. With its light weight of 1,110kg and 420bhp (giving a power to weight of 378bhp per tonne) and 427Nm from the supercharged and chargecooled V6 engine, coupled with a flat torque curve and maximum power available to maximum revs, the Exige is regarded as the most complete driving car of its class.

The list of standard equipment is impressive. Front and rear Eibach anti-roll bars are adjustable and the three-way adjustable Nitron dampers allow for different high and low speed compression settings. The car rides on 10-spoke Anthracite lightweight forged alloy wheels (7.5J x 17” front, 10J x 18” rear) with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (215/45 ZR17 front and 285/30 ZR18 rear). Stopping power comes from AP Racing brakes with forged, four-piston calipers and two-piece J-hook brake discs. With a higher thermal capacity and improved bite, these discs offer improved debris clearance and reduced vibration for more consistent pedal feel and greater, fade-free performance.

Lotus Exige Cup 430 Final Edition

The Cup 430 remains the range-topping Exige. Already legendary in its short lifetime, it is regarded as being one of the world’s quickest real-world sports car. It is not just suited to its driver’s favourite road, but also at home on a challenging circuit.

Chargecooled for a consistent 430bhp and capable of generating 171kg of downforce, this is the road and track car to rule them all. The radical aero package is not for show; the Exige Cup 430 generates as much downforce at 100mph as the Exige Sport 390 does at 170mph. Weighing just 1,110kg the power-to-weight ratio hits a staggering 387bhp per tonne. With 440Nm of torque from 2,600rpm, 0-60mph is completed in 3.2 seconds on the way to a top speed of 174mph. Downforce is balanced at all speeds, with the car generating 76kg at the front and a further 95kg at the rear, giving a total of 171kg.

Everything about the Exige Cup 430 is focused upon performance whether that’s driving on the road or track.

Every car comes with motorsport-grade carbon fibre panels include the front splitter, front access panel, roof, diffuser surround, enlarged air-intake side pods, one-piece tailgate and race-derived rear wing. In addition to revised steering arm geometry to increase bump steer, handling characteristics can be altered via the Nitron three-way adjustable dampers (high and low speed compression plus rebound adjustment) and Eibach adjustable front and rear anti-roll bars, both as standard. Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres (215/45 ZR17 front and 285/30 ZR18 rear) are fitted to ultra-lightweight 10 spoke diamond cut lightweight forged alloy wheels (7.5J x 17” front, 10J x 18” rear).

Braking comes via forged, four-piston AP Racing brake calipers and higher thermal capacity two-piece J-hook brake discs front and rear. The system is designed to give improved bite and reduced vibration, delivering consistent pedal feel and fade-free stopping power lap after lap.

With a high-flow titanium exhaust system as standard, the Cup 430 sounds like no other supercar at speed. Motorsport-derived variable traction control linked directly to the ECU helps maximise traction on corner exit by managing the giant surge of torque. It’s controlled via a six-position rotary switch located on the steering column. Only active with the ESP stability control switched off, the five pre-set traction levels are displayed on the instrument cluster.

When production of the Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora end later this year, the final combined production total will be in the region of 55,000 cars. Together they account for more than half of Lotus’ total road car production since the first Lotus in 1948.

Lotus-Elise-and-Exige-Final-Editions-press-release.docx Lotus-Elise-and-Exige-Final-Editions-Technical-Specifications.xlsx

Following the news today that Phil Popham is to step down from his position at Lotus, the company confirms that Matt Windle, Executive Director, Engineering, is the newly appointed Managing Director, Lotus Cars.

Welcoming Matt into his new role, Phil Popham said: “Matt is an excellent fit for the senior leadership role at Lotus. He has been an excellent colleague to me since I joined the company, and is a popular and very effective member of the Lotus Executive team. He’s a long-standing ‘Lotus Man’ and I’m proud to welcome him as my successor. We will continue to work closely together in the coming weeks as I hand over the reins and pass the baton on to the next phase of the Lotus story.”

The handover process is underway, with Matt’s appointment as Managing Director effective immediately.  Phil Popham will remain with the company until the end of March 2021.

Matt Windle, 49, started his career with Lotus in 1998 as a CAD designer. Before re-joining the company to head up the Engineering division in 2017, Matt worked internationally with both high and low-volume manufacturers, including Caterham, Tesla and Volvo. With more than 30 years’ automotive experience behind him, Matt’s most recent role saw him utilise rich technical expertise and leadership experience to head up both the Lotus engineering department and the Lotus Engineering consultancy. In his new role as Managing Director, Matt will lead Lotus in to the next chapter of its continually innovative and exciting 73-year history.

Commenting on his appointment, Windle said: “It is an honour to be appointed Managing Director of Lotus. Of the many manufacturers I have worked with over the years, Lotus has been the one closest to my heart. I have a history with the company dating back more than 20 years and I really know my way around the business. This period since 2018 has been the most exciting of my career and the scale of the global opportunity ahead of us is both inspiring and all-consuming.

He added: “I am proud to follow Phil into the leadership position and he has left a great foundation for me and the team to build on. I thank Phil for his friendship and support of the past years. I am proud to represent our shareholders Geely and Etika as I continue to work with our talented and dedicated team to fulfil the ambition for this wonderful brand and business around the world.”

Mr. Feng Qingfeng, CEO, Group Lotus, added: “Our future is extremely bright indeed, with new designs, new technologies and new markets for us to leverage with this precious brand. I thank Phil Popham for his dedication in bringing new stability and governance to the business following the restructure of 2018. I also welcome Matt Windle into the role of Managing Director. I very much look forward to continuing to work with him and the UK team as we expand both Lotus and Lotus Engineering across the world into a new era for the business.”

The first two projects that Lotus Cars will see through to completion under Matt Windle will be the Evija electric hypercar and the all-new, yet to be named, Type 131 sports car.  Both will be built from new factories at a comprehensively revitalised Hethel UK headquarters, and both are programmes Matt knows intimately from his tenure at the head of the Engineering function.  Look out for news on both these vehicles and more in 2021.

New leadership appointments for the Engineering department and consultancy at Lotus will be the subject of a future announcement.

Phil Popham is to step down from his position as Lotus Cars CEO.

Phil, who joined Lotus in the year of its 70th birthday in 2018, has decided to leave the company to pursue personal projects.

He has guided the company through a truly pivotal period in its history, bringing new governance and direction to the business following its restructuring under the stewardship of Geely.

Lotus Cars’ Vision80 strategy has been implemented under Phil’s watch, which will see transformational change across the company in its eighth decade of automotive innovation.  Hethel in Norfolk – Lotus’ home and headquarters since 1966 – has undergone a complete transformation with unprecedented investment during Phil’s tenure, with wholesale upgrades across the site, a new sports car factory and hypercar assembly now ready for operation.

In 2019, Phil spearheaded the launch of the Lotus Evija – the world’s first all-electric British hypercar. In his own words, he described Evija as “a calling card for what is to come from Lotus in the next decade. It signals a new tech future, a new design direction and a new dawn for our 70-year-old-start-up.”

Phil also guided the company through an extremely difficult year in 2020, carefully managing Lotus’ approach and strategy in response to the pandemic as it has continued to disrupt much of the world. The business has entered 2021 very much on track and intact, despite the significant challenges of the past 12 months.

Phil will now spend some time passing the baton on to the next phase of the Lotus story. The Lotus Cars family around the world – US LOT – wishes Phil every success in his future endeavours.

• New series sports car production confirmed for Hethel, UK
• £100m+ investment into all-new manufacturing facilities
• Further job creation to support increased volumes
• End of production planned for Evora, Exige and Elise in 2021

(Hethel, UK – 25 January 2021) – A new series of sports cars is confirmed, with prototype production of the Lotus Type 131 to commence this year from a world-class manufacturing facility in Hethel, Norfolk.

The new manufacturing investment is part of Lotus’ Vision80 strategy, which will also see the relocation of two Lotus sub-assembly facilities into one efficient central operation in Norwich city to support higher volumes.

To accompany the £100-million-plus investment into Hethel’s facilities, Lotus will be recruiting some 250 new employees. This is in addition to the 670 to have joined Lotus since September 2017, when shareholders Geely and Etika took ownership of the company.

New recruits are required for roles in engineering and manufacturing for both Lotus Cars and the world-renowned engineering consultancy, Lotus Engineering – which opens its Advanced Technology Centre in Warwick later this year.

To acknowledge the forthcoming family of performance cars, Lotus has released an image that hints at the new generation of products that will follow Elise, Exige and Evora, which have entered their final year of production in 2021.  A full programme of activities is planned to celebrate the current range of three sports cars, starting with the elder, the iconic Lotus Elise.

The Lotus Elise was unveiled in 1995, revolutionising the low volume sports car industry with its pioneering use of extruded and bonded aluminium, high-tech composites and lightweight knowhow.

Using the technology pioneered in the Elise, the Exige, launched in 2000, quickly became the epitome of the ‘race car for the road’.  The Exige demonstrated a rare ability to give the driver an involving yet accessible experience on the road, while still managing to lap the most demanding tracks of the world quickly, with the safety and progressiveness expected of a Lotus.

The Evora, unveiled in 2008, returned Lotus to the lucrative super-sports car sector as an award-winning and versatile road car that was more driver-focused than its peers. In motorsport, the Evora was successful too, winning national GT championships around the world and gaining a podium at Le Mans.

Future Lotus cars are taking this learning and further developing it to ensure the preservation of that all-important DNA, with the overriding criteria of being ‘For The Drivers’.

Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, said: “This year will be hugely significant for Lotus with new facilities coming on stream, a new sports car entering production and new levels of efficiency and quality that only a new car design and factory can deliver. Despite the continuing global challenges, Lotus has emerged from 2020 strong and on track in the delivery of our Vision80 business plan.” 

He added: “As our Vision80 strategy illustrates, Lotus is all about looking forward, and our future is full of continuous innovation. In 2021, however, we will be reflecting on the legacy of our current range, starting with the Elise, a sports car that genuinely revolutionised the automotive industry, not only because it is a legend-in-its-own-lifetime but also for its impact on car design and technology.”

Matt Windle, Lotus’ Executive Director, Engineering, said: “Our renowned team of engineers, designers and technicians who are working on the new cars are acutely aware of the legacy from the Elise, Exige and Evora.  Indeed, many were around when Elise was being developed. Members of our team, old and new, are now busy blending the learnings of the past with the innovations of today and tomorrow, to ensure our future cars truly move the game on but remain firmly committed to Lotus values.”

The Elise, Exige and Evora have contributed greatly to the Lotus business over the years, and by the time the last of these models leaves the assembly line, they will have sold a combined circa 55,000 units.

Lotus has created multiple automotive legends over the last 73 years, and with the Evija hypercar and new Type 131 sports car, a new dawn of innovation and legend-making is breaking over Hethel.

• New Norwich facility begins production of iconic lightweight Lotus chassis
• Programme to move Lotus’ lightweight structures and steel fabrication units to one facility nears completion and on time
• New facility to employ 125 staff 

(Hethel, UK – 21 January 2021) – The first extruded and bonded aluminium chassis to be built at Lotus’ new manufacturing facility at Hurricane Way, Norwich, has been completed.

The unit, a chassis for the legendary Lotus Elise, was built for the validation and quality checking of the new manufacturing process. Although not destined for a final vehicle, it will remain at the factory for testing. As chassis manufacturing volumes grow steadily over the next few months, it will help ensure that the processes adhere to the globally recognised quality standards expected.

The new 12,300 m² facility has the capacity to build several thousand chassis per year. It will produce around 1,500 units for the Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora during 2021.

Set to employ 125 highly skilled operatives, technicians and engineers, the site also houses the welding and fabrication of sub-frames, suspension components and other key parts for Lotus cars.

The investment from Lotus, which has its headquarters and sports car manufacturing 10 miles away in Hethel, Norfolk, further demonstrates its commitment to the region.

Lotus announced in July 2020 that as part of its expansion programme it had outgrown existing facilities in Worcester and Norwich, and so would bring together both production processes into one new combined location – Hurricane Way, in the north of Norwich. Tooling has already been upgraded in readiness for a new range of Lotus sports cars to be launched in the coming years.

David Hewitt, Executive Director of Operations, Lotus Cars, said: “The production of this first lightweight chassis is a significant landmark for the new Hurricane Way facility. I would like to thank everyone who has worked extremely hard to ensure that, despite challenging circumstances, it is up and running and on schedule.”

He continued: “In parallel, we are close to finishing our new assembly facility at our Hethel HQ. By the end of the year, the whole of Lotus’ sports car manufacturing facilities and processes will be either new or vastly improved. This will give us solid foundations to maintain our leadership in the rapidly changing low volume automotive assembly industry.”

Those interested in joining Lotus should visit uslot.lotuscars.com

(Paris, France – 14 January 2021) As part of the Alpine Business Unit development, Groupe Renault and Group Lotus have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to study a number of areas of cooperation, including the joint development of an EV sportscar.

The Alpine and Lotus teams will conduct a comprehensive feasibility study for the joint engineering, design and development of an EV sportscar by leveraging the resources, expertise and facilities of the respective entities in both France and the UK.

Alpine and Lotus will also explore the development of a joint services offer combining their engineering expertise. A collaboration to leverage Alpine’s motorsport platform covering Formula One to Formula E and Endurance is also under study.

Laurent Rossi, CEO Alpine, said: “The signing of this MoU with Lotus shows the lean and smart approach we’re implementing as part of the new Alpine brand strategy. Both brands have an amazing legacy and we are most excited to start this work together, from engineering tailored solutions to developing a next-generation EV sports car. This collaboration along with our transformation mark the beginning of a new era in which we’ll be taking the Alpine name and line-up to the future. We’re putting F1 at the heart of our business, leveraging our in-house expertise and best-in-class partners such as Lotus to inject our cars with leading-edge performance, technology and motorisation”.

Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, added: “Today’s announcement is the first step in what is set to be a hugely rewarding collaboration between our iconic brands. We are proud to be working with Groupe Renault in this collaboration – sharing Lotus’ technical expertise and abilities, and leveraging our long track record of successful collaborations.  Our companies have much in common – from a pioneering pedigree in light-weighting, to championship-winning sportscars which perform as impressively on the road as they do in the motorsports arena.  It is a natural fit in many ways and the co-development of an EV sportscar is hugely exciting for our companies, our fans and customers around the world.  The joint-services element of our agreement will additionally make our engineering expertise available to those wishing to engage our innovations.”

Despite the many global challenges of 2020, Lotus Cars reports today that its new car retail sales increased by 4.4% compared to 2019.

Sales increased in many key markets around the world as the transformation of Lotus continues. Highlights include growth in the USA, Germany, Italy, UK, China, Singapore, Netherlands and others.

The most popular Lotus model globally was the Elise, followed by the Exige and Evora.

Concluding 2020, Lotus Cars CEO Phil Popham said: “Last year was extremely tough in many aspects of business and life – the most challenging we have seen.  Huge thanks to all our staff, retailers, partners and, of course, customers around the world for supporting Lotus through 2020.”

He added: “Despite the many challenges, our sales showed positive growth in the year, underlining the significant transformation now underway at Lotus. Our recent performance also bodes very well for the future, as we continue to progress our Vision80 strategy with the Evija hypercar and our new sports car,
which debuts this year.”

Lotus Cars retail sales highlights for 2020:

• Project BattCon is a pilot project introducing containerised battery test facilities
• Designed to help meet increasing demand for new UK-based battery testing to support EV supply chain and OEMs
• Containers will be in operation at Lotus HQ in Hethel, Norfolk, plus the new Lotus Advanced Technology Centre in Wellesbourne, West Midlands
• Provides fast, cost-effective and efficient solution for companies developing new batteries

(Hethel, UK – 19 November 2020) – Lotus Engineering is launching a pilot containerised battery testing facility to assess energy storage solutions for the booming EV sector.

It will allow Lotus Engineering to carry out various battery cell, module and pack characterisation tests, performance evaluations, and component and lifetime testing under controlled conditions. Early feasibility study support and validation of mature designs for implementation into new vehicles will also be available.

The project has been named BattCon, an abbreviation of Battery Containerised Test Facility. The ‘containers’ are individual walk-in laboratories and will be in operation at Lotus HQ in Hethel, Norfolk, as well as the new Lotus Advanced Technology Centre in Wellesbourne, West Midlands. Each is the size of a standard 40ft shipping container and so can easily be packed up and transported as a mobile testing unit, available to Lotus Engineering customers wherever they are. Lotus has three operational units as part of the pilot scheme.

For clients, Lotus Engineering will offer an EV safety-compliant workshop facility with specialist staff experienced in testing batteries. Companies new to the EV field, and those who would otherwise need to invest in additional test facilities, will have access to a fast, efficient and cost-effective solution to develop new technologies and speed up their route to market. For Lotus itself, the new technology will support ambitious plans to launch a new range of performance vehicles.

Lotus Engineering has a wealth of experience in the design and engineering of EVs and other alternative propulsion powertrains dating back two decades. While many of the programmes remain confidential, the consultancy’s work on the Tesla Roadster (2008-12) is the best-known example.

Matt Windle, Executive Director, Engineering, Lotus, commented: “As the race intensifies for automotive and other sectors to develop new and novel battery technologies, there will be increased demand for suitable testing facilities. Project BattCon begins to address this problem by evaluating how Lotus Engineering can meet the battery testing opportunities for the UK supply chain and OEMs.”

Services available include capacity determination, resistance mapping, current and power mapping, open circuit voltage determination and heat capacity. Lifetime testing is comprised of low-voltage cycling, high-voltage cycling, self-discharge determination, storage ageing, cycle ageing, drive cycle ageing and orientation. One of the three Lotus containers features an ambient chamber, the temperature of which can be raised or lowered to replicate climatic extremes around the world.

The pilot project will conclude in spring 2021 and is co-funded by the Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF), part of the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC); Innovate UK, part of UK Research and Innovation; the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) and the Department for International Trade (DIT). Upon completion, the project will be evaluated and a decision taken about its future.

Lotus Engineering is the consultancy division of Lotus and provides a comprehensive range of technical services to many of the world’s best-known automotive manufacturers and suppliers. In 2020 it is celebrating 40 years since it was formally incorporated.

• Exclusive new images of the Evija all-electric hypercar released
• Each shot by a different photographer, specially invited to a private photoshoot at Duke of London
• Lotus celebrates as the Evija wins at the 2020 MUSE Global Design Awards

(Hethel, UK – 3 November 2020) – Lotus is celebrating the all-electric Evija hypercar’s latest award win with a gallery of new images taken during a unique and inspiring collaboration with some of the UK’s most creative photographic talent.

The celebrations mark the results of the prestigious 2020 MUSE Global Design Awards, where the Lotus Evija took overall victory in the Automotive Transportation category.

The eight exclusive photoshoots took place in and around Duke of London, a former 1930s soap factory in West London transformed into a stunning motoring venue and tribute to all things automotive. Lotus invited each photographer to attend for one-on-one private access to the Evija, allowing them to choose how and where to shoot the hypercar – in their own style – in any location around the site. The results are now available at their respective Instagram feeds.

Those invited to attend were:

• @uk.shooters creators and photographers
  • Mike Will @m.visuals
  • Luke Jackson Clark @watchluk
• @London automotive editor Krishan Parmar @masterkrishan
• Photographer Alex Carmichael @Carms
• Photographer and model Timothy James @ThisIsTimothy
• Photographer Sam Moores @sammooresphoto
• Photographer and model Carl Thompson @carlthompson
• Online community, influencer and photographer Thomas Howarth @horsepower_hunters

Alex Carmichael commented: “A huge thanks to Lotus for giving me the opportunity to spend time with the Evija. It’s not every day you get the chance to photograph the next generation of electric hypercars. I hope my photos do the car justice, and I’m looking forward to the next steps in its development before seeing them on the streets.”

Russell Carr, Director of Design, Lotus, was hugely impressed with the unique and creative ways in which the photographers shot the car. “When you have spent thousands of hours looking something from every angle – as I have with the Evija – it’s fascinating to see how talented and creative people choose to photograph it when they’re seeing it for the first time. There is some amazing work in this collection and the design of the car really shines through.”

Russell and the Lotus design team have been honoured at the prestigious 2020 MUSE Design Awards, where the Evija was voted number one in the Automotive Transportation Design category. The international competition is judged by a grand jury of 56 design professionals representing 22 countries.

The Lotus Evija marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of an iconic and much-loved British sports car brand. Satisfying a brief to be the most powerful and dynamically accomplished road car in the history of the company, the Evija represents a thrilling new high water mark for Lotus driving performance.

(Goodwood, West Sussex, UK – 16 October 2020) – The all-electric Lotus Evija hypercar makes its dynamic public debut at Goodwood SpeedWeek this weekend.  The Evija will be in action on the historic race track and will be taking part in a variety of high-octane activities, including the Supercar Run.

Three pre-production examples of the Evija are supporting SpeedWeek, one complete in a vibrant Lotus ‘Solaris Yellow’ finish and two prototypes wrapped in stunning black and gold, recalling iconic Lotus liveries of the past.  The prototypes also feature a stylised image of the famous West Sussex circuit, accompanied by the words ‘Lotus x Goodwood: Creating History since 1948’ – acknowledging the year of the very first Lotus car and the first motorsport event at Goodwood.

Among the first outside of the engineering team to experience Evija is Lord March (Charlie, 25, son of the event host, the Duke of Richmond), who commented: “The Evija is unbelievable – the power, the speed, I’ve never experienced anything like it – it was exceptional. This new dawn of electric hypercars brings ultimate motoring to life for a new generation and a younger audience. The advancement in electric cars over the last 10 years is astonishing.  There is a huge amount of growth potential for these machines to continue allowing us to keep enjoying and driving high performance cars.  Lotus continues to appeal to both the inner driver and the inner child in all of us – so much fun, and ultimately for the driver to control and enjoy.”

Gavan Kershaw, Director of Vehicle Attributes, Lotus, added: “We’re having a great time demonstrating the Evija here at Goodwood.  Bringing the cars to an event like this is a welcome break from the hundreds of hours spent on proving grounds, where there’s a huge amount of open space and long straights to test the car’s performance limits. Goodwood is a fast and flowing circuit with numerous undulations in the surface, and so is a fantastic test and demonstration for the Evija as it’s the type of environment where many owners will use the car.”

He added: “We hope the TV coverage of the event will show people what an amazing vehicle it is, and we can’t wait to be back next year.”

Car fans can see the Lotus Evija on the ITV network, with multiple programmes on different channels across the weekend. See local TV listings for full details.

Lotus has also published a new US LOT Blog on the Evija, hosted on the Lotus media website here. It details how elements of the Evija have been consciously designed to meet the exacting standards of company founder Colin Chapman, and how that helps make the car a true Lotus.

More than 50 historic Lotus cars are scheduled to take part in Goodwood SpeedWeek. They include:

• Lotus 25 – the car driven by Jim Clark car during the 1963 F1 season when he won the Drivers’ Championship
• Lotus 18 – the car in which Sir Stirling Moss won the 1961 Monaco Grand Prix
• Lotus 49 – the car in which Graham Hill won the Monaco Grands Prix in 1968 and 1969
• Lotus 72-5 – Emerson Fittipaldi’s car from the 1970 season
• Lotus 72-7 – Emerson Fittipaldi’s main car from the 1972-73 seasons, and the car in which he won the most F1 races – five in total
• Lotus 79 – Mario Andretti’s main car from the 1978 season

• Latest investment includes all-new Electric Drive Unit (EDU) test cell, plus upgrades to other engineering facilities and workshops
• Famous Hethel track has also been upgraded
• Designed to support Lotus Engineering consultancy as it further expands services and client base
• Complements investment in new advanced technology centre as Lotus Engineering’s new HQ in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire

(Hethel, UK – 12 October 2020) – Lotus is revealing the latest upgrades to its Hethel site, which will help drive a new era of success for Lotus Engineering, the consultancy division of the business.

The multi-million-pound investment is the latest chapter in the ongoing transformation of the Lotus company and brand. Site enhancements include the installation of numerous all-new and upgraded state-of-the-art engineering test facilities. These will be used by Lotus Engineering as it expands its portfolio of consultancy services and its client base, and  will complement the Lotus Cars business as it prepares to deliver a new range of performance cars – the first of which will be unveiled next year.

Improvements include an all-new Electric Drive Unit (EDU) test cell, plus upgrades to the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) test and development cells, the Propulsion Prototype build workshop and the vehicle emissions lab.

The famous 2.2-mile Hethel test track – the scene of so much historic race and road car development since Lotus moved to the Norfolk site in 1966 – has also been upgraded.

These latest improvements are in addition to the all-new sports car factory which will be home to an all-new Lotus model starting next year, and in addition to the new assembly hall dedicated to the Lotus Evija all-electric hypercar. Both will be manufacturing new Lotus cars during 2021.

In 2020 Lotus Engineering celebrates 40 years since it was formally incorporated. The consultancy provides a comprehensive range of technical services to many of the world’s best-known automotive manufacturers and suppliers. While much of its work and list of clients remains confidential, its ‘greatest hits’ include some of the best-known and most-loved performance cars of all time such as the Lotus Cortina, the Lotus Carlton, the Lotus Sunbeam and numerous others.

Matt Windle, Executive Director, Engineering, Lotus, commented: “We see huge potential to put Lotus Engineering right at the cutting edge of automotive innovation, further building on our core competencies as well as increasing our capability in growth areas.”

He continued: “An example is electrification; the challenges around weight reduction and improved dynamics are a major factor in the quest for more efficient electric vehicles, and those link back directly to the Lotus core values. What we continue to learn on the Lotus Evija all-electric hypercar programme creates knowledge and experience which we can use to help other businesses.”

As announced in July this year, Lotus Engineering’s new home will be on the Wellesbourne campus of the University of Warwick, part of an all-new advanced technology centre for Lotus being established in the West Midlands.

The growth strategy for Lotus Engineering sees the services it offers categorised under three pillars:

• EXPERIENCE: active noise, Human Machine Interface (HMI), user interface, user experience, cockpit, infotainment, driver engagement
• PLATFORM: concepts, structures, architectures, propulsion, manufacturing
• DYNAMICS: ride and handling, lightweighting, aerodynamics, simulation, chassis systems

Further details on the improvements at Hethel are listed below.

All-new Electric Drive Unit (EDU) test cell
An all-new facility at Lotus, it allows engineers to test EV powertrains including the motor, gearbox and supporting electronics. Lotus software can communicate with the motor control system and load the powertrain as if it were in a vehicle, to test, develop and validate its performance.

Upgraded Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) test and development cells
These are used for ICE development, calibration and durability testing, and have been upgraded to enable Lotus to deliver comprehensive world-class test data to the latest international standards. Specific improvements have been made to further improve capability and future-proofing on complex test profiles, calibration requirements, high-speed data acquisition and multiple channel configurations.

Upgraded Propulsion Prototype build workshop
This workshop allows Lotus engineers to build and test new engines, transmissions and EDUs. It has been completely redesigned and re-equipped with all-new hardware and new IT systems to improve the range of services offered. Today it is a world-class and highly efficient location ensuring high-quality prototype building.

Upgraded vehicle emissions lab
New equipment has been added to allow Lotus engineers to test and validate vehicles to the latest emissions standards, not just for the UK and Europe but in all international markets.

Upgraded Hethel test track
New additions to the famous circuit include new protective trackside barriers; new CCTV cameras to enable full track visibility; new safety systems including an upgraded entrance/exit barrier control system; and improved fire protection around the circuit.

British Gas Business and Lotus agree new green energy supply deal – the first step in a partnership announced with Centrica to decarbonise the legendary sports car maker

(Hethel, UK – 8 October 2020) – Lotus and British Gas Business have embarked on a new green electricity deal, which sees the UK’s largest energy supplier provide renewable power to the sports car maker’s headquarters and supporting facilities.

The contract, which began on 1 October, is REGO-backed (Renewable Energy Guarantees of Origin), where the power is purchased from 100% renewable sources, ensuring the electricity used across Lotus’ UK sites is carbon neutral. As a flexible contract, Lotus can also develop its own renewable assets on sites to self-support its power needs and further its green credentials.

In May, Centrica (the parent company of British Gas) and Lotus announced a partnership to develop a new model for electric vehicle (EV) ownership that fully integrates future mobility and energy. Together, the companies aim to redefine and integrate the relationship between consumers, cars and electricity – controlled by smart devices at home and on the move – which will result in more efficient energy usage, carbon and cost savings.

The companies are also set to introduce a comprehensive sustainability programme across Lotus, leveraging innovative, low-carbon technologies and mitigating the impacts of key business operations from manufacturing through to sales and supporting functions.

“This is an exciting new partnership which has got off to a fast start with this new supply contract announced today. Green power supplies offer an efficient means to supercharge commercial sustainability, and there is much more to follow from Centrica and Lotus as we plot the carmaker’s course to zero carbon,” said Carl Bayliss, Vice President of Mobility at Centrica.    

“This is a huge first step for us in our commitment to becoming a 100% carbon neutral business. Next steps include working across our supply chain as part of our net-zero pledge, launching more zero-emissions vehicles as introduced with the Lotus Evija hypercar, and ensuring these vehicles are manufactured and distributed using the latest, sustainable technology and techniques,” said Uday Senapati, Lotus Cars’ Executive Director of Corporate Strategy and Product Management.

He added: “This is a step change and the start of an exciting journey for Lotus, which is not only about decarbonisation and environmental awareness, but also about making a significant, positive contribution to the customer journey. We will integrate cars, homes and mobile devices, making our model the most efficient, convenient and connected way to utilise energy.”

(Hethel, UK – 2 October 2020) – An engineering partnership led by Lotus has won UK Government support and funding to develop an all-new next-generation Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) architecture.

The news was confirmed today by the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC). The funding is awarded as part of the APC’s Advanced Route to Market Demonstrator (ARMD) competition. Funded by the UK Government’s Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS), the competition is delivered on behalf of the APC by Cenex, the UK’s Low Carbon and Fuel Cells Centre of Excellence.

The successful application is called LEVA, which stands for Lightweight Electric Vehicle Architecture. Led by Lotus, it is targeting the acceleration of and innovation behind new lightweight structures for next-generation BEVs. Incorporating cutting-edge UK-based engineering and digital manufacturing expertise, LEVA will be a showcase for pioneering new BEV chassis and powertrain concepts.

Lotus will collaborate with supply chain partner Sarginsons Industries and leading academics from Brunel University London to harness the full ‘light-weighting’ potential of the vehicle architecture.

Matt Windle, Executive Director of Engineering, Lotus, commented: “This is great news for our industry and its transition to electrification. As a collaboration between Lotus, Sarginsons Industries and Brunel University London there is a wealth of talent involved, and we are excited to have already begun the project work. Following the launch of the Lotus Evija, our all-electric hypercar, this project is a key building block in our vision to deliver a full range of electrified Lotus performance cars ‘For The Drivers’. Funding of this nature is critical to stimulate the automotive industry and supply chain as both continue to adjust to a rapidly changing landscape.”

More details on Project LEVA will be released by Lotus and its partners in due course.

• Gavan Kershaw, Director of Vehicle Attributes, delivers new insight into driving characteristics and why Evija is a true Lotus

• Shot on the Hethel test track, on-board cameras reveal new views of the Evija

• Film premieres as Evija wows the crowds at UK’s Salon Prive car show

(Hethel, UK – 22 September 2020) – Lotus today reveals further details on the Evija all-electric hypercar in a stunning new film featuring an engineering development vehicle testing on the 2.2-mile track at Hethel.

At the wheel is Gavan Kershaw, Director of Vehicle Attributes for Lotus, who provides extensive new commentary on key elements of the Evija project. At almost five minutes long and using on-board cameras to reveal new views of the car, it’s the most detailed insight yet into the dynamic excellence of the Britain’s first all-electric hypercar.

The film has been launched as the Evija takes centre stage at this week’s Salon Prive Concours d’Elegance, the UK’s most exclusive motor show. It’s staged in the beautiful gardens of Blenheim Palace, a UNESCO World Heritage site in heart of the Oxfordshire countryside.

In the film, Kershaw reveals how from the earliest discussions about what the Evija should be, the goal was to create a hypercar with genuine everyday usability. He reveals new details on the progressive deployment of power and torque though the car’s five drive modes:

•Range mode is limited to 1,000PS of power and 800Nm of torque, and intelligently switches the Evija from four-wheel drive to rear-wheel drive to maximise the distance available from the battery and its intelligent power management system. 

•City provides greater power control and decreases the level of regenerative braking for urban environments.

•Tour provides automatically switchable four-wheel or rear-wheel drive, delivering over 1,400PS of power with torque-vectoring.

•Sport delivers performance figures of 1,700PS and 1,700Nm linked to stability control systems to increase traction levels. 

•Track mode is the most extreme, boosting power delivery to the maximum 2,000PS. It delivers the highest level of torque-vectoring with the Evija’s Drag Reduction System (DRS) available on request. The chassis setting is automatically switched to Track.

Also included in the film are exclusive dynamic views of the battery pack located immediately behind the two seats, echoing the classic mid-mounted powertrain layout of so many Lotus cars. As Kershaw explains, this creates an optimum weight distribution and makes the Evija exceptionally manoeuvrable as it races towards its top speed of more than 200mph.

As with all Lotus cars past, present and in the future, agile handling and exceptional steering are embedded in the brand’s DNA. Kershaw explains they were among the top priorities in setting the performance characteristics of the Evija: “Lotus cars are very nimble, inspiring great confidence when being driven, and the Evija is no different to that,” he states.

The Lotus Evija marks the start of an exciting new chapter in the history of an iconic and much-loved British sports car brand. With class-leading in-gear acceleration and an output of 2,000 PS – making it the most powerful series production road car ever built – it sets new standards in the global hypercar market. 

Satisfying a brief to be the most powerful and dynamically accomplished road car in the history of the company, the Evija represents a thrilling new high water mark for Lotus driving performance. As well as signalling the beginning of a contemporary new Lotus design language, the Evija is a bold statement of intent about the brand’s future ambition to be a truly global performance car company.

•    Vehicle provenance documents and highly desirable Lotus collectables now available to Lotus owners worldwide
    •    First recipient is a stunning 1981 Turbo Esprit, authenticated as Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s last ‘company car’
    •    UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher also drove it, further increasing its provenance
    •    Recently acquired by Lotus, the Esprit will be restored and join the company’s collection

(Hethel, UK – 10 August 2020) – Lotus is launching a new Certificate of Provenance programme, revealing the first recipient as a stunning and celebrated Turbo Esprit that was the final ‘company car’ of Lotus founder Colin Chapman.

The 1981 model, which was also driven by UK Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher during a visit to Norfolk, has recently been acquired by Lotus. Following a sympathetic restoration it will join the company’s collection.

The new Certificate of Provenance is designed to appeal to owners of Lotus cars from any era. They could buy one for themselves or receive it as a gift from friends or family. It is delivered in a distinctive ‘For The Drivers’ Lotus presentation box, which contains:
    •    The Certificate of Provenance – printed on premium paper, this provides a summary of the car’s details including the VIN, paint colour and specification. The certificate also notes the date on which the car completed its production at the Hethel factory and was passed to the Lotus sales team.
    •    The Build Specification Letter – drafted using detailed vehicle information from the Lotus archive*, this document provides more in-depth information about the car, including its engine, transmission, standard features and optional extras.
    •    A personalised letter to the customer signed by Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, thanking them for their purchase and updating them on the transformation which is taking place at Lotus.

The three documents are presented in a simple black envelope placed inside the presentation box. Beneath it is a selection of Lotus collectables, including an aluminium plaque engraved with the owner’s name and information from the Certificate of Provenance; a leather Lotus keyring; a carbon fibre bookmark featuring the brand’s nine most significant motorsport laurels; a presentation tin of four badges; and a Lotus ink pen.

The Certificate of Provenance is available worldwide through Lotus retailers. In the UK it costs £170 + postage. Prices in other markets may vary.

The 1981 Lotus Turbo Esprit has the UK registration plate UVF 464X and was first registered to Lotus on 1 August of that year. Its own Lotus Certificate of Provenance reveals it was allocated to company founder Colin Chapman for his exclusive use. Following Chapman’s death in December 1982, it was sold by Lotus in July 1983 and has been in private hands ever since, covering just 11,000 miles and regularly maintained.

Finished in metallic Silver Diamond paint with ‘Turbo Esprit’ decals, the factory-fitted optional extras include a full red leather interior, air-conditioning and a Panasonic audio system integrated into the headliner.

However, the specification is completely unique as it has several features added at the request of Chapman to improve his own driving comfort and enjoyment. These include power steering – it was the first Esprit ever to have this technology – plus modified and lowered suspension, modified brakes and BBS Mahle lattice alloy wheels.

On 5 August 1981 the car was used by Chapman to promote the latest Lotus range to the then UK Prime Minister, Margaret Thatcher, when she toured Norfolk. After landing at Norwich Airport and talking to Chapman, she sat behind the wheel and drove it round the site’s private roads. Local media reported that she had said: “I was tempted to drive away in it.”

Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, commented: “What better way to launch our Certificate of Provenance than by showing how it has validated the celebrated history of an iconic and unique Turbo Esprit. The Lotus archive is a fully catalogued database of information and can provide a wealth of insightful facts on any Lotus car from any era. It’s the perfect gift for a Lotus owner anywhere in the world.”

Speaking about the unique Turbo Esprit, he added: “This is an iconic and unique car from the Lotus back catalogue, personalised by our founder Colin Chapman and with a truly fascinating provenance. It deserves its place in our collection and we’re looking forward to showing it off.”

*subject to availability

• Park’s Lotus to open in Hamilton this summer for sales and service
• New Lotus retailer in the west of Scotland for the first time in 15 years
• Lotus Evora GT410 – the latest model for everyday driving – takes centre stage in the showroom

(Hethel, UK – 29 July 2020) – Scotland has fantastic roads, spectacular scenery… and now an all-new Lotus retailer so performance car fans can make the most of both.

Park’s Lotus is located in Hamilton and will open its doors to sales and service customers during August. It marks the first time in 15 years that Lotus has had a retailer in the west of Scotland.

The new business is part of the long-established Park’s Motor Group, which already represents a number of sports, premium and luxury car companies from sites throughout Scotland and the north of England.

Full contact details for the new Park’s Lotus retailer are:

Park’s Lotus
143-159 Almada St
Hamilton
Glasgow
ML3 0ET

Telephone: 01698 303770
Email: lotus@parks.uk.com
Website: www.parks.uk.com

Geoff Dowding, Executive Director, Sales and Aftersales, Lotus Cars, commented: “This new Lotus sales and service centre in Hamilton is a wonderful addition to our UK network. Despite the challenges of the last few months, we’ve worked efficiently with the team at Park’s to ensure our current and future customers in Scotland have the facilities and support they need.”

Ross Park, director of Park’s Motor Group, said: “We’re delighted to add Lotus to our portfolio of performance car brands. We know it has a proud history and an exciting future, and we’re thrilled to be part of that. Lotus is a valuable addition to the Park’s family, offering even greater choice to our customers.”

The showroom is in the town of Hamilton, to the south-east of central Glasgow. Taking pride of place will be the newest Lotus, the Evora GT410, which has been designed to be a more usable ‘everyday’ sports car. It comes with an enhanced specification over the existing GT410 Sport, providing owners with improved usability and a new level of driving comfort. Numerous features have moved from the Evora’s options list to become part of its standard specification, resulting in exceptional value for money.

Also available through Park’s Lotus are the latest versions of the Lotus Elise, a true performance icon, and the Lotus Exige, a genuine track-day car for the road.

Park’s Lotus will offer customers a full range of financial services products through FCA Bank, the new financial partner to Lotus which was announced earlier this month.

Lotus has always enjoyed a strong relationship with Scotland, through the race team’s links to legendary driver Jim Clark and our support of the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum in Duns, Scottish Borders.

• Lotus Cars will establish a new advanced technology centre in Wellesbourne, UK
• Lotus Engineering – the consultancy division of Group Lotus – will also base its HQ at the new site
• The facility represents a new partnership between Lotus and WMG (formerly Warwick Manufacturing Group) at the University of Warwick
• An initial 130 engineers will move in, with capacity for many new jobs as the facility is further established in the Midlands

(Wellesbourne, Warwickshire, UK – 23 July 2020) – Today, Lotus announces a dedicated and specialist advanced technology centre, which will also be home to a new headquarters for the company’s engineering consultancy.

Located on the University of Warwick’s Wellesbourne Campus, the new facility is established in partnership with WMG at the University of Warwick.  WMG is an international leader in successful collaboration between academic research, teaching, training, and industry. The substantial facility consists of offices, workshops and laboratory space with ample opportunity for expansion.

Initially, 130 engineers will move in, complementing the 500-strong engineering team at the home of Lotus Cars in Hethel, Norfolk.

Matt Windle, Executive Director, Engineering, Lotus Cars, said:
“This is a big step forward for Lotus and our engineering consultancy.  The new space, facilities and job opportunities at Wellesbourne will be in great demand as we rapidly build our portfolio of external projects.  Our team and specialist skills have grown significantly in the last two years as renewed impetus has been put in to the business with new shareholders and management.  The all-electric Evija hypercar is the first new Lotus Cars product for us to deliver, with significant focus on this at Wellesbourne as we complete the project and continue to advance its technologies for our future programmes.”

Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, added:
“Wellesbourne offers an excellent facility, with plenty of expansion potential, and will be the perfect home for our new advanced technology centre.  Our engineering and R&D strategy around advanced propulsion systems is lock-in-step with the Government’s vision and broader global ambitions for a low-carbon automotive future.  We look forward to working in collaboration with Government and with our new campus neighbours on this future.  Having research partners at the University and WMG will bring significant benefits, as will the Midlands location, which is both very accessible and home to a rich pool of automotive talent.”

Nadhim Zahawi MP, the UK Government’s Business and Industry Minister, said:
“The West Midlands has long been the beating heart of the UK’s automotive and engineering industries, and this announcement is further evidence that this proud history will continue. Lotus’ new advanced technology centre will secure over 100 highly-skilled jobs in Warwickshire, support a strong economic recovery across the region and drive forward the low carbon, electric technologies of the future.”

Professor Stuart Croft, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Warwick, said:
“We are delighted to welcome this key part of such a significant and legendary technology based company to the University and our Wellesbourne campus. This is just the beginning of a partnership. I know that it will grow, thrive, and bring prosperity and new opportunities to both Warwickshire and the West Midlands, and will call on and benefit from the significant automotive and technology skills and talents of many people in our region.”

Margot James, Executive Chair, WMG, comments:
“This is wonderful news not only for WMG, the University of Warwick and the region, but also for the UK automotive sector. The UK needs to retain R&D capability in our manufacturing sector, and at WMG we are working with partners on many R&D programmes which are focused on innovation and future growth towards net zero. We look forward to collaborating with Lotus on projects which seek to create a greener, more connected future”.

Cllr Tony Jefferson, Leader of Stratford-on-Avon District Council, said:
“This is really good news for the Wellesbourne campus, Stratford-on-Avon District and the region as a whole. We are totally committed to supporting the development of the Wellesbourne campus. We see it as a major asset for both Stratford-on-Avon District and the region and we welcome the addition of 130 skilled roles to the District. We look forward to the future development of the campus.”

Lotus Engineering, which celebrates 40 years since its incorporation in 1980, works with customers all over the world.  The confidentiality of its work is paramount with strict firewalls in place between project teams.  Some of the more widely acknowledged Lotus Engineering programmes from the past include the Lotus Carlton, Tesla Roadster, multiple Formula 1 campaigns, and a host of products outside of the auto industry from Olympics track bikes to boats and light aircraft.  Today, Lotus Engineering’s specialisms include vehicle dynamics and advanced propulsion systems, encompassing lightweight structures, ride, handling and performance.

(Hethel, UK – 16 July 2020) – Lotus customers are to benefit from an attractive range of finance products with a new multi-year strategic partnership signed with FCA Bank.

The agreement sees FCA Bank become the exclusive retail finance provider for the UK and nine other European markets. The initiative replaces five existing suppliers with a single solution, creating a one-stop shop across the region that will lead to improved process efficiency and cost reductions.

For Lotus, it’s another significant milestone in the ongoing transformation of the brand. For Lotus customers, it means access to a whole suite of appealing new retail finance products. These include sale, lease and insurance policies on new and ‘approved used’ examples of all three models in the current Lotus sports car range – the Elise, Exige and Evora.

The partnership also sees FCA Bank become the exclusive wholesale finance provider for Lotus. For its pan-European network of retailers, this will give them additional confidence to support the funding of Lotus vehicles for their showrooms and demonstration fleets.

The contract initially covers 10 European markets, which are Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Luxembourg, Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland and the UK. It will be phased in by market between July and September. Other countries will follow in due course.

FCA Bank is one of the largest specialised car finance companies operating in Europe. It’s a 50/50 joint venture between Fiat Chrysler Automobiles and Crédit Agricole, and already represents 18 other automotive brands including several outside the FCA portfolio.

Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, said: “I’m delighted that Lotus and FCA Bank will be working together. This partnership is a huge step forward for customer choice, and yet another example of how we’re transforming the Lotus business. For those who have always wanted to own a new Lotus, they’re now more attainable than ever.”

Giacomo Carelli, CEO and General Manager of FCA Bank, commented: “We are delighted to have been selected as the finance provider for Lotus across Europe. This is a further endorsement of our success in providing finance and mobility services arrangements to strategic OEM partners. Lotus is an iconic British brand and we are very proud to contribute to its continued transformation.”

• Lotus launches all-new ‘plug and play’ digital dashboard for enhanced track day experiences
• Pre-loaded with circuit data from more than 4,000 race tracks around the world
• GPS technology and lap performance indicators will help drivers deliver the perfect lap
• Available for selected Lotus Elise and V6 Exige models, priced £1,470
• Numerous other aftersales packages now on offer through Lotus retailers

(Hethel, UK – 14 July 2020) – Lotus has launched an all-new ‘plug and play’ Digital Instrument Pack that’s pre-loaded with details of more than 4,000 race tracks from across the world.

The perfect illustration of how Lotus is always ‘For The Drivers’, the digital dashboard features integrated GPS technology and lap performance indicators, allowing track day fans to measure, display and record data to perfect their racing lines and lap times.

Designed for Lotus Elise and V6 Exige models built from 2008 onwards, the system’s software comes pre-loaded with details of 4,127 race tracks and automatically recognises when drivers are near a circuit. Drivers can download the start/finish line co-ordinates so they can calculate lap times, then analyse their performance in real time on the digital display or later by downloading data to a laptop.

A unique Lotus-branded start-up screen further enhances the experience, and users can also customise the display of the high-contrast six-inch TFT screen to suit their needs. The system even features a camera input, allowing drivers add a portable action camera to capture the action from each exhilarating lap.

Chris Hinks, Aftersales Director, Lotus, said the Digital Instrument Pack is designed for drivers who want to take their Lotus track day experience to the next level. He commented: “We know our customers appreciate the motorsport heritage of Lotus cars and love to use their own vehicles on track days. Integrating a Digital Instrument Pack into an Elise or Exige is only going to enhance that experience.”

The Digital Instrument Pack has been carefully designed to fit seamlessly into the Elise or Exige dashboard, replacing the original factory-fit instrumentation. It is available in international markets where the two cars are sold. At UK Lotus retailers it is priced £1,470 including VAT and a fitting service is available at an extra cost. When fitted by a Lotus retailer the pack is covered by a two-year warranty. Prices in other markets will vary.

Lotus owners can now also take advantage of a number of other aftersales packages, including fixed price scheduled servicing and on brakes and clutches. All parts purchased and fitted by an authorised Lotus retailer are now covered by a 24-month / unlimited mileage parts warranty.

•    New facility brings sub-assembly and chassis manufacturing together into one new operation at Hurricane Way, Norwich (10 miles from Hethel HQ)
    •    50 new roles created initially with a further 75 planned
    •    Significant new investment in Norwich and Norfolk, the UK’s centre of excellence in low volume, high tech manufacture

(Hethel – 08 July 2020) Lotus Cars announces today that its steel fabrication (currently situated at Vulcan Road, Norwich) and lightweight structures (located in Worcester) businesses will be brought together in to one new, larger facility at Hurricane Way in Norwich with the creation of up to 125 new jobs.

The investment from Lotus, which has its headquarters and sports car manufacturing in Hethel, Norfolk, further demonstrates its commitment to the region and to Norwich.

The 12,300 m2 Hurricane Way factory will be converted to a new high tech sub-assembly facility to house manufacturing of the award-winning aluminium extruded and bonded aluminium chassis for the Evora, Exige and Elise Lotus sportscars, along with manufacturing of aluminium components for other global car companies. The facility will also house the steel welding and fabrication of sub-frames, suspension components and other key parts for Lotus cars.

As Lotus Cars’ expansion continues under new ownership since 2017, the company has outgrown existing facilities in Worcester and Norwich, and by moving into one, combined new location, the company will take the opportunity to further upgrade machinery and tooling in readiness for new Lotus sportscars to be launched in the coming years.

David Hewitt, Executive Director of Operations, Lotus Cars said: “By bringing the aluminium chassis and steel sub-assembly manufacturing businesses together into one facility, we can further improve upon efficiencies and productivity for Lotus manufacturing. Being located close to Lotus’ HQ in Hethel, Norfolk where all Lotus cars are assembled, will also benefit the business as we expand further into the future.”

New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership (which works with businesses, local authority partners and education institutions in Norfolk and Suffolk) and Norwich City Council helped secure the move.
Chris Starkie, Chief Executive of New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership, said: “We are delighted to have helped Lotus complete this deal to develop a new production facility in Norwich. It underlines the commitment of this globally-recognised brand to the county with which it is synonymous, and reinforces our region as a centre of excellence in low volume, high-tech manufacturing.

“The New Anglia Local Enterprise Partnership will also be supporting a training programme aimed at upskilling existing staff and providing technical apprenticeships, ensuring this region has the skills that are needed in its key sectors.” 

Alan Waters, leader of Norwich City Council, said: “Lotus is a truly iconic brand, all over the world. But here in Norwich, and the county as a whole, we’ve long enjoyed a sense of local pride and ownership thanks to the business being based in different parts of the region for many years.

“We’re delighted the company has shown its continued and deepening commitment to Norwich by choosing the Hurricane Way site as a new base for the high-tech manufacturing element of the business. 

“The potential of dozens of new jobs in the pipeline also comes at a particularly welcome time as we continue to grapple with the effects of the pandemic. We very much look forward to continuing to work with Lotus as the new facility gets up and running.”

Lotus Lightweight Structures’ current facility in Worcester will be re-purposed by the freeholder and Lotus will relocate from the facility in May 2021.  Worcestershire-based staff will be offered the opportunity to continue their roles in Norwich, where the company is recruiting for both the new Hurricane Way facility and Hethel HQ.

Those interested in joining Lotus should visit www.lotuscars.com/jobs-and-careers-at-lotus.

• Lotus Exige Sport 410 20^th Anniversary celebrates two decades of the critically acclaimed and thrilling two-seater
• Uprated models feature enhanced exterior and interior spec, with a higher level of standard specification
• Unique ‘20th Anniversary’ black silhouette logo showcases the original car from the year 2000
• Retro-inspired colours and design features also pay tribute to the original Exige Series 1
• More details and images can be found at media.lotuscars.com

(Hethel, UK – 23 June 2020) – An exclusive new 20^th Anniversary edition of one of the world’s most exhilarating and dynamic sports cars, the Exige Sport 410, has been unveiled by Lotus.

Finished in a choice of vibrant new retro-inspired colours, the thrilling two-seater boasts higher levels of standard equipment and an enhanced interior package. The Lotus Exige Sport 410 20^th Anniversary is the perfect way to celebrate this sensational model’s impact on the sports car world.

All versions come with upgraded exterior features commemorating the Exige Series 1 from the year 2000. These are the body-coloured roof, side air intake pods and rear wing, plus the black ‘shark fin’ stone chip protector ahead of the rear wheel. The nostalgia is carried over to the interior, where there’s a choice of different coloured Alcantara trims, and each seat is decorated with panelled stitching which echoes that of the original car.

Also part of the new car’s customer appeal is the unique ‘20^th Anniversary’ black silhouette logo featuring a striking profile image of the Series 1. It’s visible on the front wings above the side repeaters and on the rear bumper. Inside it’s embroidered on the seat backs and embossed on the car’s dashboard ‘build plaque’. A distinctive ‘20’ logo on the rear wing end-plates adds the finishing touch to this highly desirable design.

The Lotus Exige Sport 410 20^th Anniversary is available in one of three bespoke exterior colours all taken from the Exige Series 1, namely Chrome Orange, Laser Blue and Calypso Red. In addition, customers can select Saffron Yellow – a colour reminiscent of the original Norfolk Mustard Yellow – Motorsport Black or Arctic Silver.

The car’s list of standard equipment includes Nitron three-way adjustable dampers. These have variable bump and re-bound settings that enable the driver to personalise the suspension to suit driving style and environment, for example, on the road or a race track. The front splitter, front access panel and rear tailgate are all made from carbon fibre.

A number of features which are optional extras on the Exige are fitted as standard on the 20^th Anniversary car. These include DAB digital radio with Bluetooth, cruise control, ultra-lightweight forged alloy wheels and an Alcantara steering wheel. Remaining options include carbon fibre sill trim, lightweight lithium-ion battery and titanium lightweight exhaust.

The price of the Lotus Exige Sport 410 20^th Anniversary is £79,900 (€83,613), which represents £5,412 worth of extras over the standard Sport 410. The first cars will be with customers in selected international markets later this year.

Ema Forster, Head of Product Marketing, Lotus, said “The Exige Sport 410 20^th Anniversary builds on the Exige’s unrivaled levels of handling and performance. This special edition of one of our most acclaimed sports cars ever will continue the Lotus ethos of being born for the track and bred for the road.”

Designed, engineered and hand-built in Hethel, Norfolk, the Exige was created to be an ultra-lightweight performance coupe. Critically acclaimed from the moment it was launched and always ‘For The Drivers’, it is as raw and agile today as it was 20 years ago. The Exige delivers on Lotus’ core values of exceptional handling, outstanding grip and aerodynamic expertise. Constructed around a driver-focused interior, it dispenses a pure, immersive and exhilarating driving experience unlike anything else on the road.

Gavan Kershaw, Director of Vehicle Attributes, Lotus, added: “From the very first drives of the development car the Exige displayed new levels of ability. It set new standards for Lotus road and race cars, perfectly illustrating our core values of performance through light weight, aerodynamics and handling. It really is a race car for the road; I’ve competed and won races in every version of the Exige, from the Series 1 to the Series 3, and always walked away with a grin on my face.”

• Collaboration will draw on both brands’ core values of light-weighting, performance-oriented contemporary design and sporting durability
• To be unveiled later this year, the project showcases the skill and passion of Britain’s finest craftsmen and women

(Hethel/Savile Row, UK – 3 June 2020) – Lotus is working with renowned Savile Row outfitter and bespoke tailor Norton & Sons to design and create something special ‘For The Drivers’.

The creative project, a collaboration between the two quintessential British icons to be formally unveiled later this year, will incorporate both brands’ core values of light-weighting, performance-oriented contemporary design and sporting durability.

Having celebrated its 70th year in 2018 and now undergoing a renaissance under new shareholders and management, Lotus is a sports car company that exists first, last and always ‘For the Drivers’.

Famed for its illustrious heritage in Formula 1 racing and appearances in iconic James Bond movies, Lotus is a pioneer of light-weighting in automotive and motorsport. Many of the brand’s most famous innovations have come from the Lotus Engineering consultancy, which today is leading the way for the company’s entry into the world of automotive electrification.

The critically acclaimed Lotus Evija hypercar – the first all-electric British hypercar and the most powerful series production car ever made – is the company’s first step in this new direction, and will serve as an inspiration to this new collaboration with Norton & Sons.

Norton & Sons, one of Savile Row’s longest-established tailors, was founded in 1821 and celebrates its bicentennial next year. It has clothed some of history’s most stylish and inspiring men, including Hollywood legends such as actor Cary Grant, British royalty including King Edward VII, and performance pioneers such as Chuck Yeager, the first man to break the speed of sound.

From its tailoring shop on Savile Row – the epicentre of the London fashion scene – it has developed an expertise in exquisite lightweight clothing for sporting pursuits. Norton & Sons works closely with the fashion industries of London, New York and Paris, cutting and sewing elegant yet informal tailored pieces for a long list of celebrated designers.

Patrick Grant, Director of Norton & Sons, said: “The year I was born Lotus won the Formula 1 Constructors’ Championship. Growing up it was the definitive British sports car brand. James Bond drove a Lotus Esprit and it was the car that every kid in the playground dreamed of owning. Colin Chapman is revered as an engineering icon, a pioneer and an entrepreneur of exceptional personal style. Norton & Sons has a long tradition of making for sportsmen and pioneers, so Lotus and Norton & Sons feels like a perfect fit.”

Russell Carr, Director Design, Lotus, added: “Norton & Sons share many synergies with Lotus – we are both British brands built on performance, quality and timeless style. We are both disruptors with modern thinking, a purist aesthetic and a sense of adventure. Like our sports cars, the fruits of this collaboration will be handcrafted in Britain using British-made technical materials, and will have a genuine focus on ultimate performance through light-weighting.”

• Exactly 60 years since Sir Stirling Moss took the first Lotus victory in Formula 1
• Rain-affected, three-hour epic race saw Moss’s Lotus 18 win by almost a minute – the first of 81 Grand Prix wins for Lotus race cars
• “It was a classic David vs Goliath story” says Clive Chapman, son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman
• New US LOT Sessions podcast celebrating the famous victory available now available
• Lotus 18 features in new Heritage section on media.lotuscars.com with other significant Lotus road and race cars

(Hethel, UK – 28 May 2020) – On 29 May 1960, Sir Stirling Moss drove his Lotus for almost three hours of punishing racing, battling through the rain on the streets of Monte Carlo to win the Monaco Grand Prix. It was the first victory in a Formula 1 world championship race for Lotus.

Exactly 60 years after it all began, Lotus is paying tribute to the beginning of its truly remarkable Formula 1 history, which has seen legendary drivers such as Mario Andretti, Jim Clark, Jochen Rindt, Emerson Fittipaldi, Graham Hill, Ronnie Peterson and Ayrton Senna all claim wins for the Norfolk-based outfit.

After the first victory by Moss, Lotus race cars went on to take the chequered flag a further 80 times, delivering six Drivers’ Championships and seven Constructors’ Championships.

It was at Monaco in 1960 where Sir Stirling Moss cemented his reputation as a rain master. He drove his new Lotus 18 relentlessly through the wet streets with supreme confidence to take the chequered flag.  

After setting new lap records in practice then claiming the first-ever pole position for Lotus in qualifying, it was a near-flawless display. In a real race of attrition, only the top three drivers completed all 100 laps of the course and just five racers were classified. Moss beat his nearest competitor, Bruce McLaren, by 52 seconds.

The Lotus Type 18, which Lotus founder Colin Chapman believed was the marque’s first proper Formula 1 car, was perfectly suited to the tight, twisting streets of Monaco. The lightweight aluminium-bodied racer was agile and dynamic, taking the field – including a trio of entrants from Ferrari – by storm. 

Phil Popham, CEO, Lotus Cars, added: “Today we mark not just a legendary driver and a remarkable achievement, but the start of a defining period in the history of Lotus. Sir Stirling Moss is a name etched into motorsport folklore, and his skill at the Monaco Grand Prix exactly 60 years ago was the catalyst for our successful heritage in Formula 1. That overwhelming drive to defy expectations and explore the limits of what’s possible is still engrained within the Lotus DNA to this day.” 

Clive Chapman, Managing Director of Classic Team Lotus and son of Lotus founder Colin Chapman, said: “Moss winning the 1960 Monaco GP was a classic David vs. Goliath-type story, which was well-received and an important boost to the Lotus marque, still in its relatively early days. Moss was naturally quick, thoughtful and mechanically sympathetic – all characteristics which were of utmost benefit at Monaco, back when the race was three hours long.”

Moss was driving a Lotus Type 18 for the privateer Rob Walker Racing Team and had already proven that talent and reliability were a match for the very best and well-equipped manufacturer outfits. The team was founded by Rob Walker, the heir to the Johnnie Walker whisky empire, who decided for 1960 he would concentrate solely on Moss and, starting with Monaco, switched to using Lotus cars. It was an inspired move. 

Chapman continued: “Rob Walker and my father enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship which realised great success throughout the 1960s. Walker’s enduring relationship with Sir Stirling Moss was even stronger. Evidently Walker, as privateer entrant and sponsor, provided Moss with what he needed in order to realise his prodigious ability.”

It was Moss who began the special relationship between Lotus and Formula 1’s most famous Grand Prix, with a further six wins in the principality after 1960. Chapman explained. “The 1960 win came just two years after the first Team Lotus GP entry, at the 1958 Monaco GP with Cliff Allison racing his Lotus Type 12 into an extraordinary sixth place.”

Sir Stirling Moss is considered the greatest driver never to have won the Formula 1 Drivers’ Championship. He died just last month (12 April 2020) aged 90 at his London home.

Lotus has recorded a new US LOT Sessions podcast celebrating the 60^th anniversary of his victory. It features an interview with motorsport journalist Damien Smith and discusses the significance of the race for Lotus and Moss. Download and listen at iTunes, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Stitcher and ShoutEngine.

Moss won at Monaco in a Lotus 18, and it’s one of many significant Lotus road and race cars which are included in the newly launched Heritage section on media.lotuscars.com. Part of the site’s continuing development, there is also a newly written biography of Colin Chapman and a history of the Lotus HQ in Hethel, Norfolk.

Mastering the Rain – Lotus and Moss in Monaco

The 1960 Monaco Grand Prix weekend got off to a flying start with Moss setting new lap records in practice and qualifying, earning him a spot on the front row of the grid and giving Lotus its first ever pole position. But this was to be no ordinary ‘lights to flag’ victory.

With eight drivers not qualifying, only 16 cars made it to the track. Up the hill from the start Moss was passed by Jo Bonnier in the rear-engined BRM, who led for 17 laps until his brakes began to fade and he surrendered the lead to Moss. 

A few laps later the rain began to fall and Jack Brabham overtook Bonnier for second place as the drivers slowed to cope with the worsening conditions. The wet track became the leveller, forcing supreme concentration as the drivers battled to remain on the tarmac. Exemplary car control and driver input were critical in such treacherous conditions. 

On the 43^rd lap, Brabham was hounding Moss for the lead but succumbed to gearbox problems. With the rain gradually easing, Moss began to pull away from the pack until he had to pit on the 60^th lap with a loose plug lead, allowing Bonnier to regain the lead.

The race was one of attrition. Pools of water remained across the track surface and Graham Hill collided with the commentators’ box. But it was in this tricky period of the race where Moss used his finesse and car control skills to catch Bonnier and continue to victory, finishing ahead of the duelling Bruce McLaren and Phil Hill. It was the first chapter of an epic story for Lotus.

The Lotus Evija aero story: “A fighter jet in a world of kites” Exclusive Q&A with Lotus’ chief aerodynamicist Richard Hill

• New airflow animation explains the Evija all-electric hypercar’s unique porosity and phenomenal downforce
• Highly experienced senior engineer with 30+ years at Lotus details philosophy of the Evija’s sophisticated aerodynamics
• View the animation at https://youtu.be/aYyc4_z-wUE and www.media.lotuscars.com

(Hethel, UK – 12 May 2020) – The unique porosity and phenomenal downforce of the Evija all-electric hypercar has been brought to life in a new animation from Lotus.

For the first time, Richard Hill, the highly experienced senior engineer who has guided this critical element of the 2,000 PS car’s design, details the philosophy of the Evija’s sophisticated aerodynamics.

Richard is chief aerodynamicist and has worked at Lotus for more than 30 years, supporting countless road and race car projects. When asked how the Evija compares to regular sports cars, he replied: “It’s like comparing a fighter jet to a child’s kite.’’

The full Q&A with Richard Hill is below:

-      What’s the overall philosophy behind the Evija’s aerodynamics? It’s about keeping the airflow low and flat at the front and guiding it through the body to emerge high at the rear. Put simply, it transforms the whole car into an inverted wing to produce that all-important dynamic downforce.

-      How would you compare the Evija’s aerodynamic performance to that of a regular sports car? It’s like comparing a fighter jet to a child’s kite.’’

-      Can you explain the car’s porosity in aerodynamic terms? Most cars have to punch a hole in the air, to get through using brute force, but the Evija is unique because of its porosity. The car literally ‘breathes’ the air. The front acts like a mouth; it ingests the air, sucks every kilogram of value from it – in this case, the downforce – then exhales it through that dramatic rear end.

-      What role does that deep front splitter play? It’s designed in three sections; the larger central area provides air to cool the battery pack – which is mid-mounted behind the two seats – while the air channeled through the two smaller outer sections cools the front e-axle. The splitter minimises the amount of air allowed under the vehicle, thus reducing drag and lift on the underbody. It also provides something for the difference in pressure between the upper and lower splitter surfaces to push down on, so generating downforce.’

-      Are the Venturi tunnels through the rear quarters part of the porosity? Yes, they feed the wake rearward to help cut drag. Think of it this way; without them the Evija would be like a parachute but with them it’s a butterfly net, and they make the car unique in the hypercar world.

-      What is the effect of the Evija’s active aerodynamics? The rear wing elevates from its resting position flush to the upper bodywork. It’s deployed into ‘clean’ air above the Evija, creating further downforce at the rear wheels. The car also has an F1-style Drag Reduction System (DRS), which is a horizontal plane mounted centrally at the rear, and deploying it make the car faster.

-      Lotus pioneered the full carbon fibre chassis in Formula 1, and the Evija is the first Lotus road car to use that technology. How has that helped to guide the aerodynamics? The chassis a single piece of moulded carbon fibre for exceptional strength, rigidity and safety. The underside is sculpted to force the airflow through the rear diffuser and into the Evija’s wake, causing an ‘upwash’ and the car’s phenomenal level of downforce.

-      The Evija is set to be the world’s lightest EV hypercar. Does weight affect aerodynamic performance? The car’s weight has no effect on overall aerodynamics. However, the lighter the car, the larger the percentage of overall grip is achieved through downforce and the lower the inertia of the car to change direction.

-      Can you confirm the drag coefficient and downforce figures for Evija? We will release that data later this year when final testing is complete.

Richard Hill’s full title is Chief Engineer of Aerodynamics and Thermal Management, and he has worked at the company’s Hethel HQ since 1986. His role involves collaborating with the exterior designers of all new Lotus vehicles, from the early concept phase of a programme through to testing pre-production prototypes. The focus is always on developing the aerodynamic performance which ultimately helps produce the world-class dynamic characteristics for which Lotus is renowned. Richard also helps to ensure all vehicle cooling, cabin ventilation and thermal management systems work correctly.

As well as working on road and race cars, Richard was the brains behind the Lotus Type 108 and Type 110 – better known as the Lotus Sport track and road bikes ridden to glory in the 1990s by legendary British Olympic and Tour de France cyclist Chris Boardman. He has also been instrumental in the development of the new track bike developed by Lotus for British Cycling athletes who will compete in the rescheduled Tokyo Olympics.

• A new model of integrating connected vehicles, connected homes and connected customers is being developed
• New, flexible platform designed to power a future digital mobility lifestyle
• New global sustainability programme targets net-zero carbon across Lotus operations

Centrica plc, the parent company of British Gas, and British motor manufacturer Lotus are working together to develop a new model for electric vehicle ownership that fully integrates future mobility and energy.

By making the car an extension of the home, capable of storing electricity, minimising emissions and generating new income by providing services to the energy market, the companies aim to redefine the customer relationship with cars – one controlled by smart devices at home and on the move.

The energy company will also facilitate a sustainability program that leverages innovative, low carbon technologies, and helps mitigate the environmental impact of everything from manufacturing through to sales and the day-to-day activities of Lotus employees, helping meet Lotus’ carbon reduction aspirations.

The new partnership will help establish a new global charging and energy infrastructure for new products as part of Lotus’ journey to net-zero carbon following huge investment into the business since 2018.

Centrica Group CEO Chris O’Shea said: “We are committed to helping our customers and communities achieve net-zero and to do so, we must enable the change to electric vehicles. We have the technology, the skills and the scale to do this and our partnership with Lotus is another step in bringing our commitment to life.”

Lotus Cars CEO Phil Popham said: “Our journey to net-zero carbon is absolutely lock-in-step with the Vision80 strategy for Lotus – taking us to eighty years of the business in 2028.  By then we will have transformed Lotus into a truly global player in the high-performance high-technology sector with a new range of cars that remain true to our fundamental promise of always being ‘For The Drivers’.  The difference is the energy and infrastructure that will power and support these products in the future – this new partnership demonstrates the progress being made and the ambition of our vision.”

Carl Bayliss, Vice President of Centrica Innovations, said: “Owning an electric vehicle isn’t the same as owning an internal combustion engine car. We see a future where the customer, car and home are connected, enabling new services beyond charging the car, and new products and experiences replacing the unremarkable standard relationship with energy and the ownership of a car today.

“Lotus is the perfect partner as we embark on this, given the recognition and appeal of the brand globally and the fact that it is right at the beginning of its electrification journey.”

Uday Senapati, Executive Director, Corporate Strategy for Lotus, added: “Centrica brings a wealth of energy sector expertise to the table that will not only help us to determine the right course for our mobility strategy, but the hands-on capability to ensure that the right infrastructure is in place globally. The future of mobility is a huge opportunity for providing value-added services to the consumer and this platform will put Lotus at the forefront of that digital mobility ecosystem.

“We have set ambitious targets for decarbonising both our vehicles and our operations. Given the rate of change required and the importance of getting it right first time, the support of our strategic partner Centrica is going to be vital.”

Production of the all-electric Lotus Evija hypercar will start at the company’s famous Hethel, Norfolk HQ later in 2020 – marking the start of Lotus’ journey to electrifying its growing range of vehicles.

• The new strategic partnership sees the two companies embark on a multi-work-stream strategy together, covering:

1. A dedicated Lotus EV Energy strategy
2. Charging infrastructure serving Lotus’ global network and customers
3. De-carbonisation strategy for Lotus operations globally
4. A breakthrough new energy product and platform integrating connected vehicles, homes and customers to support the growth in digital mobility lifestyle