A new Lotus sports car will enter production in 2021, the Britis brand has confirmed – and it will herald an entire family of new performance cars.
Codenamed Lotus Type 131, prototype production of the sports car series begins in 2021 from a ‘world-class manufacturing facility’ in Hethel, Norfolk.
More than £100 million is being invested into production of the new sports cars, which will create around 250 new jobs.
“This year will be hugely significant for Lotus,” said CEO Phil Popham, “with new facilities coming on stream, a new sports car entering production and new levels of efficiency and quality that only a new car design and factory can deliver.”
Lotus is also combining two sub-assembly factories into a single central plant in the city of Norwich to support higher volumes.
Its Lotus Engineering consultancy has been relocated to Warwick with a new Advanced Technology Centre opening later in 2021.
Earlier in January, it was confirmed Lotus is to partner with Alpine to make an additional all-electric sports car.
Final year for Elise, Exige and Evora
Lotus has also confirmed 2021 will be the final year of production for the Elise, Exige and Evora sports cars.
It’s planning a series of activities to celebrate the trio, beginning with the Elise, which was revealed in 1995.
The Exige followed in 2000 and the Evora debuted in 2008.
Lotus executive director for engineering Matt Windle said the team of engineers, designers and technicians working on the new sports cars “are acutely aware of the legacy from the Elise, Exige and Evora.
“Indeed, many were around when Elise was being developed.
“Members of our team, old and new, are now busy blending the learnings of the past with the innovations of today and tomorrow, to ensure our future cars truly move the game on but remain firmly committed to Lotus values.”
Lotus says that when production of the trio ceases, a combined total of more than 55,000 will have been built.
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