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ABOUT LOTUS CARS
Simplify, Then Add Lightness
'Adding power makes you faster on the straights, subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.’ - Colin Chapman
THE LOTUS STORY
Lotus stands alone as a brand dedicated to pure drivers’ cars.
Reducing mass remains the most effective means of achieving a true connection between driver, car and road – a quality shared by every car to proudly wear the Lotus badge.
History of Lotus
2020
LOTUS EVIJA PRODUCTION COMES ALIVE
Evija’s new Hethel manufacturing facility readied to begin series production.
2020
LOTUS EXIGE SPORT 410 20TH ANNIVERSARY
Twenty years young: Lotus celebrates the Exige with sensational 20th anniversary special edition.
2020
ELISE CLASSIC HERITAGE EDITIONS
Four new Lotus Elise Classic Heritage Editions pay tribute to the company’s pioneering racing history.
2020
LOTUS LAUNCHES NEW EVORA GT410
The new Evora GT410 has improved usability and new levels of comfort.
2019
EVIJA DYNAMIC DEBUT
The Evija makes its dynamic debut at the famous Hethel test track.
2019
EVIJA WORLD PREMIERE
Evija, the British pure electric production hypercar that represents Lotus’s latest technology and design language, was officially unveiled in London, one of the most important products on the road to the Lotus brand renaissance.
2019
LOTUS RETURN
Lotus returned to the international A-class auto show with a new look, Evora GT410 Sport and Evora GT4 Concept debut at the 2019 Shanghai International Auto Show.
2018
EXIGE SPORT 410
Exige Sport 410 launched.
2018
PHIL POPHAM
Phil Popham is appointed Senior Vice President – Commercial Operations for Group Lotus and CEO – Lotus Sports Cars.
2018
70TH ANNIVERSARY
Lotus celebrates its 70th Anniversary at Hethel in September.
2017
EXIGE CUP 430
The ballistic Exige Cup 430 is launched on 9th November.
2017
MR FENG QINGFENG
Geely announces Mr Feng Qingfeng’s appointment as CEO of Group Lotus plc in June.
2017
GEELY MAJORITY STAKE
Geely Holding Group buys a 51% stake in Group Lotus.
2017
EVORA GT430
The ultimate Evora variant, the GT430, is announced in September.
2017
EXIGE CUP 380
The limited production Exige Cup 380 is revealed in April.
2016
ELISE CUP 250
The fastest ever line up of Lotus production road cars was showcased at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show including the debut of the Exige Sport 350 Roadster, as well as the Evora Sport 410 and Elise Cup 250. With 250 hp powering 931 kg the Elise Cup 250 is the fastest Elise ever.
2015
3-ELEVEN
Heralding the next generation of Lotus high performance sports cars, the 3-Eleven is the company’s quickest and most expensive series production car ever. Designed to deliver an undiluted experience, the Lotus 3-Eleven utilizes an all-new lightweight composite body, and a bespoke chassis based on the proven Lotus design of extruded and bonded aluminium sections.
2015
EVORA 400
The Lotus Evora 400 was launched at the 2015 Geneva Motor Show as the latest pure and focused supercar from Lotus, combining high performance with the legendary Lotus benchmark handling. It is faster and dynamically more capable than the previous Lotus Evora leading to greater agility and a more involving drive.
2015
ELISE S CUP
From “Top Gear” to “Auto Express”, supported by “Autocar”, “CAR” and “Pistonheads” magazines, among many others in the UK and in overseas’ markets, the total focus of the Elise S Cup has been recognised and praised heartily. Proof, if proof were needed, comes in column inches far and wide, confirming the freshness and vitality of the overall package and highlighting the Elise as being the ultimate expression of driving superiority and lightweight purity.
2014
AUTOMATICALLY BETTER
Expanding the Exige envelope would be a step in the right direction for enthusiasts and introducing an automatic transmission, with extensive Lotus developments, would be explored. While the uptake of auto-boxes on sportscars is good but small in number, Lotus could forge a fresh niche among enthusiastic drivers, keen to experience the purity of Lotus handling dynamics. The new Lotus Exige Automatic, in either Roadster, or Coupe forms, would be enticingly and automatically better.
2014
ELISE S CUP
Ready for early press assessments, the Elise Cup S would be the most focused version of the still box-fresh Elise. Its supercharged 1.8-litre engine would deliver soul-stirring acceleration, allied to its lightweight construction and a target to lap the Hethel test track quicker than ever. Yet, it would be pure and a driver’s delight. Lotus would deliver its promise in spades.
2014
JEAN-MARC GALES
The multi-lingual, international, automotive businessman took over the reins of Group Lotus plc in May 2014.
2013
EVORA SPORTS RACER
A visually enhanced and optimised version of the mid-engined 3.5 litre Evora is launched, available in both naturally-aspirated or supercharged variants.
2012
EXIGE S
Lotus Exige S voted joint winner of evo’s “Car of the Year 2012”.
2012
GOODWOOD 2012
Lotus headlined the world’s biggest car culture event in the summer.
2012
EXIGE S ROADSTER
The first time an Exige model has been offered with a factory-fitted soft top roof.
2012
DRB-HICOM
Malaysian DRB Hicom Bhd. purchase a majority stake in Lotus’ parent company Proton Holdings Bhd.
2011
HETHEL TEST TRACK
The Lotus test track at Hethel was renovated in 2011 and officially reopened on June 21st, 2011.
2011
LOTUS RANGE EXTENDER
Lotus Engineering unveil the supercharged production Lotus Range Extender; an extremely compact, lightweight, low-cost engine and generator designed specifically for hybrid electric vehicles.
2011
SOUND TECHNOLOGY
Lotus Engineering and HARMAN create the next generation intelligent pedestrian warning system, integrating the advanced HALOsonic sound synthesis system with video technology.
2011
ELISE CLUB RACER
The Elise Club Racer is announced as a stripped-back, even lighter-weight version of the Elise.
2010
LOTUS RETURN TO F1
The iconic Lotus name returned to Formula 1 for the 2010 season after a more than 15 year long absence.
2010
"THE ENGINEER" AWARDS
Project Omnivore wins first place in the Automotive, Rail and Marine sector while the Fuel Cell Hybrid Taxi triumphs in the energy sector.
2010
2011 ELISE
The 2011 Lotus Elise has as a new evolution body design and features the new high technology 1ZR-FAE 1.6 litre engine
2010
EVORA CARBON CONCEPT
The Evora Carbon Concept was unveiled at the 2010 Geneva Motor show.
2010
414E
At the International Geneva Motor Show Lotus Engineering unveiled the Lotus Evora 414E Hybrid concept.
2010
EVORA CUP
The Lotus Evora Cup was unveiled in January, 2010 at the Autosport International.
PHILOSOPHY
“Simplify, then add lightness" - Colin Chapman
By remaining true to the ethos of founder Colin Chapman, Lotus stands alone as a brand dedicated to pure drivers’ cars. Innovative engineering, cutting-edge technologies and advanced materials ensure that every Lotus proves the value of achieving performance through light weight.
‘Adding power makes you faster on the straights, subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere.’
More relevant today than ever, it’s a core principle that has been tested and proven at the highest level of motorsport. Efficient, lightweight construction creates a virtuous cycle that applies equally to sports cars built for the road. It not only boosts straight-line acceleration and braking, it also allows for optimum suspension calibration. This in turn allows for sharper handling plus better body and roll control, but not at the expense of ride comfort and composure. Reducing weight from the most beneficial places also optimises weight distribution, this makes a huge contribution to the poise and balance of a sports car during high-speed cornering.
