Wednesday 3rd February 2010

Lotus Head Of Vehicle Engineering Retires

Roger Becker bids farewell to a career spanning 44 years

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The man responsible for the development of every new Lotus from the Esprit to the Evora is leaving the company for a well-deserved retirement.

Roger Becker spent the last 44 years dedicated to ensuring Lotus products like the ones pictured below have lived up to the expectations of brand enthusiasts, and it would be hard to overstate his contribution to the company over recent decades.

Becker helped develop cars like Esprit...

...and Elan, among many others

The official announcement from Lotus runs as follows:

Lotus Press Release
Roger Becker, Lotus' Director of Vehicle Engineering is retiring from Group Lotus after a long career of 44 years.

Roger Becker - retiring after 44 years

Roger, 64, joined Lotus in 1966, working on the Elan assembly line at Cheshunt, but his natural driving and engineering skills came to the attention of Lotus founder Colin Chapman and Roger was quickly moved to the vehicle development team where he worked directly with Mike Kimberley (former Lotus CEO) on the Lotus Europa Twin Cam - his first Lotus car development project.

During his career at Lotus, Roger has been responsible for the development of every Lotus car, including the legendary Esprit, Excel, Elan, Elise, Exige and the new critically acclaimed Lotus Evora. Roger has helped to maintain the philosophies laid down by Colin Chapman and has ensured that the essence and purity of Lotus is instilled in all new Lotus cars. He also has imparted his chassis engineering knowledge and development skills to many of the world's major automotive manufacturers in support of Lotus' consultancy engineering business.

On his retirement, Roger Becker said, "I have had a dream career at Lotus, with the honour of not only working directly for Colin Chapman but also working with some of the finest people in the motor industry. With the Lotus Evora successfully entering the market with unprecedented global adulation, and at 64 years of age, I feel now is the natural time to retire. The Evora has given me my finest hour at Lotus and I leave knowing it will be the foundation of all our next generation cars. The product engineering team will build on this to develop many more award-winning products and I wish them every success for what promises to be a very exciting future for Lotus cars and the Lotus brand."

Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus plc said, "On behalf of all the staff at Lotus, I would like to thank Roger for his contribution to Lotus over 44 years and we wish him well in his retirement."

 

[Boggy]

Absolutely gutted!!!!! Part of what makes Lotus so special

All the best Roger

Boggy

[ctallchris]

[Nick_h]

Goodbye to a ledgend. Let's hope he does stay involved somewhere in the background!

[soad]

What a legend!

[wab172uk]

A dream job indeed. Happy retirement.

[Tuna]

Now that's a hard act to follow. A consultation job in retirement isn't bad though.

[anonymous-user]

Very best wishes to him and thanks for all the fun.

[Emagine]

An absolute legend and such a gentleman to work with.
I can say I had the privilege of filming with him on several occasions in the last couple of years and I can honestly say he is the consummate professional. I'm sure he'll be sadly missed at Lotus, but he'll only be a phone call away.

What a legacy to leave the Evora, Esprit, Elan etc

[nav p]

I am sure a proper petrol head that will be missed...but i keep thinking of the man in the apprentice(was it Nick?)

[PompeyM3]

From Esprit owners everywhere......... Thankyou and all the best for the future.

[Kazlet]

It would be interesting to hear his view on 'Lots Of Trouble Usually Serious'

[patmahe]

Thanks for my Elise

[dandarez]

Nobody above read the last sentence then?

He may be retiring...

Dany Bahar, CEO of Group Lotus plc said, "On behalf of all the staff at Lotus, I would like to thank Roger for his contribution to Lotus over 44 years and we wish him well in his retirement. However, I know that he will not go far, as I am looking forward to him taking on a consultancy role for Lotus in the near future.

[andy_s]

Shame, what a career. Hopefully they'll have him consult quite often...
Happy retirement!

[Johnpidge]

Every Lotus has his DNA in it - doesn't his son still work there anyway (yes I read the consultancy bit!)

Work of a genius and no doubt part of what has kept a tiny company like Lotus in the limelight for many years!

[mark3man]

I'd imagine with both Mike Kimberley and Roger retiring so close, the void of knowledge would HAVE to be filled by some consultancy from him.

[A Scotsman]

If anyone deserves a knighthood it's Roger and I think PH should start a campaign to ensure his contribution to the industry is properly recognised.

[Hedgerley]

This is indeed a sad day, one of the last remaining links to ACBC and a film star to boot! I had the pleasure of Roger's company one on one for an hour or so when the Evora was on its dealer tour last year, in Edinburgh. His enthusiasm for the brand and the Evora in particular was a joy to behold. Let's hope the CEO is serious about bringing him back for the ocassional consultancy role.

Let's also hope that Matt Becker doesn't get itchy feet before he signs off my new Esprit! The Becker DNA runs through just about every Lotus that's ever been. I wonder if Matt is married and is training up the next generation as we speak?

[rustyintegrale]

Well done to him. I hope they gave him something interesting to drive home in.

It makes me wish I'd taken the job I was offered at Hesketh Racing when I was a student...

Cheers,

Rich

[splodge s4]

PompeyM3 said:

From Esprit owners everywhere......... Thankyou and all the best for the future.

Thankyou Mr Becker,