THE winds of change are beginning to blow for Lotus which this week introduced manufacturing of its Elise, Exige and Evora could be coming to an finish this yr because the model shifts its focus to a brand new collection of sports activities vehicles able to taking the British icon into the longer term.
Forming a part of Lotus’ Vision80 technique, the brand new three-model vary will probably be produced at and supported by a more-than-£100 million ($A177,325,477) improve of the model’s Hethel manufacturing amenities which can even contribute to the creation of some 250 new jobs throughout Lotus Vehicles and Lotus Engineering.
No particular particulars of the vary have been launched as but aside from the codename of the primary mannequin as a result of come on-line, the Sort 131, with manufacturing set to start out someday this yr.
In keeping with Lotus Vehicles CEO Phil Popham, the brand new fashions could be constructed with “new ranges of effectivity and high quality” solely achievable by the most recent amenities.
“Regardless of the persevering with world challenges, Lotus has emerged from 2020 sturdy and on observe within the supply of our Vision80 marketing strategy,” he stated.
“As our Vision80 technique illustrates, Lotus is all about wanting ahead, and our future is filled with steady innovation.
“In 2021, nonetheless, we will probably be reflecting on the legacy of our present vary, beginning with the Elise, a sportscar that genuinely revolutionised the automotive business, not solely as a result of it’s a legend-in-its-own-lifetime but additionally for its influence on automobile design and expertise.”
Unveiled in 1995, the Elise is one in every of Lotus’ longest operating nameplates and has gone comparatively unchanged, on the design entrance at the least, since its inception.
It additionally paved the best way for the Exige in 2000 which to this present day stays the model’s most targeted and track-capable mannequin, a stark distinction to the daily-oriented Evora which emerged in 2008.
“Our famend workforce of engineers, designers and technicians who’re engaged on the brand new vehicles are conscious about the legacy from the Elise, Exige and Evora,” Lotus government director of engineering Matt Windle stated.
“Certainly, many had been round when Elise was being developed.
“Members of our workforce, previous and new, at the moment are busy mixing the learnings of the previous with the improvements of at the moment and tomorrow, to make sure our future vehicles really transfer the sport on however stay firmly dedicated to Lotus values.”
The announcement of the portfolio shake-up comes simply two weeks after a brand new collaboration with French sportscar specialist Alpine was revealed which is able to see the manufacturers pool their collective experience and assets collectively within the co-development of a brand new electrical sportscar, nonetheless no timeframe for that mannequin has been confirmed.
Lotus Australia bought 59 vehicles nationally final yr, the majority of which (38) was made up by the track-focused Exige.
Regardless of the crippling results of the COVID-19 pandemic, the model truly carried out higher in 2020 than it did in 2019 with an additional two deliveries.
