Lotus Sportscars
Calling all Lotus Fans to Hethel - 23 September 2007
Open Day Celebrates 40 years of Manufacturing at Hethel
Lotus fans around the world are invited to celebrate the Ruby Milestone of 40 years of
manufacturing at the Lotus Headquarters at Hethel, Norfolk on the 23rd of September 2007.
Much of the Lotus factory will be open including the assembly halls, where all the award
winning Lotus cars are built, special areas of Lotus Engineering’s world class high
technology facilities, and of course the test track where there will be exciting driving activities.
The Open Day will be opened by Hazel Chapman (the wife of the founder Colin Chapman
who built the first Lotus car in 1948). Lotus is also delighted that Classic Team Lotus, run by
Colin and Hazel’s son, Clive, will also be providing invaluable support to the event.
There will also be a display of examples of all the cars manufactured at Hethel over the last
40 years, fun activities for children, including a fun fair, retail stores for local produce as well
as opportunities to purchase official Lotus and Classic Team Lotus merchandise. Several
Lotus clubs will have their own stands and exhibits of clubs owners’ cherished Lotus cars.
All visitors will get a free Lotus “Goodie-Bag” which includes an exclusive 40th pin badge.
Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive of Group Lotus said, “As Lotus has been based at Hethel
for 40 years, it is timely to celebrate such a milestone with a Lotus Open Day. The event is a
celebration of the Lotus brand, a thank you to all the Lotus enthusiasts around the world for
their support over the years and a re-inforcement of our commitment to Norfolk and to the
UK. I would also like to personally thank all Lotus staff for their dedication and commitment
over the last 40 years and for their help in commemorating this special day. Hethel is our
headquarters and our home and I would like to invite all Lotus fans around the world to take
this exclusive opportunity to spend the day with us.”
Everyone arriving in a Lotus car will be able to park on site at Lotus, all other visitors are able
to park at the Norfolk Show Ground Park and Ride, at Costessey, Norwich, with free courtesy
buses to and from the Lotus factory.
The Event in more detail
Lotus Assembly Halls:
Lotus clubs members will be able to see around the manufacturing and assembly halls,
where all Lotus cars are built, and where all new Lotus cars will be built in the future.
Lotus Test Track
The tight and twisty South Circuit will be open for visitors to have high speed rides in current
Lotus sportscars.
Statistics about the Lotus Factory at Hethel UK
The operational site covers around 50 acres excluding the 2.5-mile test track
74,205 cars have been built at Hethel from 1967 to 31 July 2007 including 31,300 in the last 10 years
List of production cars, excluding direct derivatives) manufactured at Hethel:
Lotus Elan
Lotus Europa
Lotus Elan +2
Lotus Seven
Lotus Elite
Lotus Eclat
Lotus Esprit
Lotus Sunbeam
Lotus Excel
Lotus Omega / Carlton
Lotus Elan
Lotus Elise
Lotus 340R
Lotus Exige
Lotus Europa
Lotus 2-Eleven
Opel Speedster / Vauxhall VX220
And several hundred prototypes, concepts and research vehicles for Lotus and many other car
companies around the world.
1966 – Foundation Stone laid on 17th July 1966
1967 – First car to drive off the assembly line
2007 – 40th Anniversary of Lotus Manufacturing at Hethel on 23rd September 2007
About Group Lotus plc:
The main operating subsidiary of Group Lotus plc is Lotus Cars Ltd, which has two operating divisions
– Lotus Engineering and Lotus Cars. Lotus Engineering is an internationally recognised automotive
engineering consultancy based in Norfolk, UK. Its global facilities include those in Michigan, USA and
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and offices in Germany and China. Lotus Engineering provides
comprehensive and versatile consultancy services to many of the world’s OEMs and Tier 1 suppliers,
offering a full engineering service from initial concept and project design through development and
integration of the complete vehicle to meet all worldwide markets and customers to full production.
This includes third party ‘niche vehicle’ engineering and manufacture worldwide.
Lotus Cars builds and sells Lotus sports cars, Elise, Exige and Europa for global sale.
Lotus Cars News Release 11 September 2007
Official Lotus Cars Website - www.grouplotus.com/car/