First Customer Picks Up The Keys To Lotus Evora

[Mark H]

The first Lotus Evora destined for a paying customer has rolled out of the Norfolk factory, marking the beginning of earnings from years of development.

 

Demand for the four-seat car has already been strong, with 800 people joining the owner's club and enough orders already taken to keep the factory busy for five months.

 

Because of the high level of demand, the company has taken on 150 new staff in order to achieve a target output of around 2,000 cars per year.

 

Lotus director Luke Bennett said of the Evora yesterday: “It's relatively quite a small investment, but for Lotus it's one of the biggest we've ever made. It's a significant milestone in the life of the company.”

 

Development of the £50,000 sports car began in 2006, long before the credit crunch and it is the first new model since the Elise emerged in 1996.

 

“This is the next generation of technology on from the Elise,” said Mr Bennett, explaining that the Evora represents a new direction for the firm.

 

“It's actually moving us from something that's an indulgence to something that's a more everyday car. It's a pretty exclusive club that we're after here. Somewhere in the order of 300 to 400 will go to the UK.”

 

The owner of the first car, Matthew Melling, placed a deposit with Stratton Motor Company in Long Stratton before even test-driving the car, because of the manufacturer's reputation and exclusivity.

 

“I could have driven one, but I just didn't need to,” he said, while picking up his car from the factory yesterday.

 

“I knew it was going to be a fantastic car to drive. You don't see that many around, I don't want to have a mass-market sports car.”

 

“It's a bit of a trek back,” said Mr Melling, who lives in Twickenham, west London.

 

“I'm not a fan of your A11, but it won't be a chore driving back.”

 

Reviews of the car have been positive, with Autocar magazine labelling it as the best driver's car of 2009.

 

Andy Betts, who runs the unofficial Evora owner's club, described his own experience driving the car.

 

“When you have a go, the physics don't seem to make sense. You think 'how can a car be doing this?'”

 

http://www.eveningnews24.co.uk/content/New...3A45%3A19%3A523

[Mark H]

Matthew Melling of Twickenham, UK received the keys of a Storm Titanium Lotus Evora from Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited at the Lotus Headquarters where the new mid-engined 2+2 sportscar is hand built.

 

Many Lotus dealers around the world have already received their demonstrators and Lotus has, so far, received orders for the next 5 months of production. Demand for Lotus’ award winning Evora has meant that 150 extra new manufacturing staff have been recruited to support assembly operations in Norfolk, UK, a very positive sign at a time when the global motor industry faces huge challenges. Full production is expected to reach the maximum rate by the end of November 2009.

 

 

Luke Bennett, Director of Lotus Cars Limited said, “It is quite an emotional time to deliver the first Lotus Evora to Mr. Melling. The whole team has worked incredibly hard to design, engineer and produce such a stunning and high performing sportscar and it is a great feeling to hand over the keys to the first customer today. The Evora has won many awards around the world already so we are not surprised that there is high demand for the car and I am sure that each customer who receives their car will be delighted with their purchase.”

 

 

Matthew Melling, a customer of Stratton Motor Company, in Norfolk said, “I was determined to be the first in the world to get my hands on an Evora so with Stratton Motor Company’s help, I laid down my deposit within seconds of the order books being opened last year. I have read all the press reviews of the Evora and am so excited about getting behind the wheel – what a great start to September!”

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