Friday 19th May 2006

New Lotus Esprit to be UK-built

Hethel plant will manufacture new supercar

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2002 Lotus Esprit

Lotus has announced that the Esprit, its new mid-engined car, will be manufactured at the Group Lotus headquarters at Hethel in Norfolk. Lotus expects the car to start production in spring 2008, and positions it at the higher end of the range. It'll occupy the sector vacated by the Lotus Esprit that finished production in 2004, said the company.

The decision to assemble the new car at Hethel follows an extensive evaluation of a number of manufacturing locations around the world both by Lotus and its owner Proton.

Lotus said it has worked at improving the efficiencies and flexibilities within the manufacturing facility over the last 18 months to maintain its position as a leading niche manufacturer within the UK and Europe. Over the next few months, Lotus will be undergoing a small re-organisation process within the manufacturing facility to further improve the efficiencies and flexibility at Hethel. This will lead to further improvements and gains leading up to the start of production.

Group Lotus' new boss Mike Kimberley said: "We are very pleased that Hethel has been confirmed by the board of directors as the manufacturing location for this vital new car.

However the decision to choose Hethel has not been taken lightly and was influenced not only by our past achievements, but also by firm future commitments to improve the efficiencies and flexibilities within our manufacturing facility. We have a lot of work to do between now and the start of production and this will demand much commitment and hard work from us all at Lotus."

• Related story: Lotus Esprit inches forward

[boggy]

Morning all

As far as I'm concerned it's the only place it could have been built anyway, and by the way Lotus where's my reply ?

Boggy

[LooseCannon]

Just wish I knew what it was going to look like (crappy "scoop" pics excepted).

[dinkel]

I hope effing good!

[cross-eyed-twit]

all those that have seen the mockups of the final signed off design say it looks the dogs-b0110cks.

I cant wait myself...

[boggy]

LooseCannon said:

Just wish I knew what it was going to look like (crappy "scoop" pics excepted).

Tust me I've seen it! and you won't one! believe me you want one ! I can't tell you how good this look's

Boggy

[groomi]

So the buzz words at Hethel are 'efficient' and 'flexible'. Does that actually mean anything or is it just management speak?

Perhaps the new Esprit will be powered by a diesel and made from rubber?

[boggy]

groomi said:

So the buzz words at Hethel are 'efficient' and 'flexible'. Does that actually mean anything or is it just management speak? Perhaps the new Esprit will be powered by a diesel and made from rubber?

Toyota Power

Boggy

[ErnestM]

Smart money says die maschine deutsch ist...

ErnestM

[ishaun]

www.lotusespritturbo.com/New_Lotus_Esprit.htm

[charlescrawley]

boggy said:

As far as I'm concerned it's the only place it could have been built anyway

Absolutely right, but it's great news anyway... Not that I'll be able to afford a new one, but I can't wait to see one!

Cheers,

Charles

[charlescrawley]

ishaun said:

www.lotusespritturbo.com/New_Lotus_Esprit.htm

Wow, the one at the bottom looks great!

[ErnestM]

If you look closely at the yellow one, you will see that CAR MAGAZINE lifted the headlights and surrounding area from the new Noble (M15)

ErnestM

[tonto]

charlescrawley said:

ishaun said: www.lotusespritturbo.com/New_Lotus_Esprit.htm Wow, the one at the bottom looks great!

[annodomini2]

tonto said:

charlescrawley said: ishaun said: www.lotusespritturbo.com/New_Lotus_Esprit.htm Wow, the one at the bottom looks great!

Pure lamborghini clone, can't they do something original????

[Dodgey_Rog]

I think this is the one, keeping a similar profile but updated.

[nastywej]

!!!!

If the end result looks like the one i've just seen inside Millbrook today then they will be having serious issues!!

Also the engine note sounded..well lets just say...rubbish!

[cross-eyed-twit]

Or was the Lambourghini (gallardo) a Lotus clone ? ? ?

annodomini2 said:

tonto said: charlescrawley said: ishaun said: www.lotusespritturbo.com/New_Lotus_Esprit.htm Wow, the one at the bottom looks great! Pure lamborghini clone, can't they do something original????

[dinkel]

Didn't we see all this a while ago?

[moles]

That was the Europa.

nastywej said:

!!!! If the end result looks like the one i've just seen inside Millbrook today then they will be having serious issues!! Also the engine note sounded..well lets just say...rubbish!

[dinkel]

moles said:

That was the Europa.

There's talk about this one for ages . . . with lots of pics over the years.