Lotus Sportscars
Sunday 14th September 2008 - Lotus 60th Anniversary
On Sunday 14th September 2008, Lotus is opening its Hethel Factory gates to host an anniversary open day and is inviting enthusiasts old and new.
Fresh from its global unveiling at the British International Motorshow, the new Lotus Evora will be on display as part of a development story exhibition about Hethel’s latest 2+2 sportscar.
Guests will be free to tour the impressive engineering and factory facilities and sections of the design studios will be open for all to see.
There will be Lotus demonstration laps around the famous Hethel test track and the opportunity to experience a high-speed ride on the circuit too, booked in advance via the 60th anniversary website.
Radio Broadland will have the finale of the “Live the Lotus Life” competition where one lucky winner will win a fully insured Lotus Elise for 6 months and a thousand pounds in cash! (subject to terms and conditions – see website for details)
The Parachute Regiment Freefall Team, The Red Devils, will be dropping in and the RAF will be on the ground with the Bomb disposal robots and the Lotus Bobsleigh.
The day will also include a rare gathering of Lotus vehicles including a Lotus Esprit James Bond car, ex Formula One racers, the unique Black Diamond Europa and numerous road cars from 50’s and 60’s classics to the present line up.
A distinctive range of both 60th anniversary and Lotus Evora merchandise and memorabilia will be on sale. As will rare production parts, with huge savings on everything from crankshaft shims and Lotus badges to a whole chassis!
There will be many unique and special experiences available on the day including:
• The Lotus Evora Development Story
• A Free Fun Fair with big wheel, land train and face painting
• Radio Broadland road show
• Marching Band
• Lotus Club stands
• Sealed bid auctions for bespoke and unique items
• Motorsport Merchandise Stand
• Royal Air Force Displays
• Technical Talks
• and much more!
Mike Kimberley, Group Lotus CEO, says “The Open day on Sunday 14th September will be a great opportunity for everyone to see the new and exciting Lotus Evora and the ‘Hethel Experience’. I’m sure that visitors will enjoy this rare opportunity to look around our excellent facilities and I look forward to celebrating our 60th Anniversary with all our guests.
Around 15,000 people from all over the globe are expected to enjoy the celebrations at the Hethel site. All parking will be on site and tickets are priced at £13 per adult including 2 children under 16 (if booked in advance from: www.lotus60thanniversary.com) Tickets are £15 on the gate, and subject to availability.
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 sportscars, Elise, Exige and Europa for global sale. The All new Lotus Evora 2+2 was unveiled at the British International Motorshow in July 2008 and will enter the market place in the second quarter of 2009.
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, Evora, Elise, Exige and Europa for global sale.
Official Lotus Cars Website - www.grouplotus.com/car/
