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Other News: ProActive #26 May/June 2008 - Official Newsletter of Lotus Engineering
Rocky Mtn Sportscars Newsletter February 2008
Club Lotus Australia June 2008 Newsletter
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Lotus Wins Two High Profile Green Car Projects Lotus Engineering Invests in Low Carbon Vehicle Programmes June 17, 2008 - Group Lotus PLC: Lotus Engineering, the world renowned automotive consultancy division of Lotus has won two contracts as part of winning project consortia announced by the UK Government Technology Strategy Board. These two project consortia will be allocated part of a total £23 million for 16 innovative low carbon vehicle development programmes. Including investments from companies such as Lotus, these projects collectively represent a total value of £52 million. Zero Emission London Taxi Commercialisation Lotus Engineering is a key consortium member of the Zero Emission London Taxi Commercialisation project and is working alongside Intelligent Energy, LTI Ltd and TRW Conekt. Building on Lotus’ considerable experience in developing high technology hybrid demonstrator vehicles, and supporting its many clients on electric vehicle programmes, this project will see the introduction of commercial fleets of zero-emission fuel cell hybrid taxis primarily for London by 2012, and other cities by 2014. The fuel cell taxi project pushes the complexity of this type of vehicle to a new level of advanced technology. Lotus Engineering will integrate the fuel cell engine with the electric drive train and hydrogen storage system, firstly bench testing, then integrating them back into a ‘buck’ vehicle and finally packaging the assembly into two taxis for full vehicle testing. Limo-Green The second project, Limo-Green, takes a Jaguar as a basis for the development proving out the concept of a large luxury hybrid executive saloon, utilising an advanced drive motor, small battery pack and a small Auxiliary Power Unit (APU) for sustained cruising. In a collaboration between Lotus Engineering, Jaguar Cars Ltd, MIRA Ltd and Caparo Vehicle Technologies, the project aim is to demonstrate a large, prestigious executive saloon with less than 120 g/km emissions. Lotus Engineering will design and build a number of prototype Auxiliary Power Units and provide technical support for installation into the vehicle. The APU is an extremely efficient system, with ultrahigh thermal efficiency and high power output. Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus Plc said: “We are committed to driving forward with high technology advances into areas such as hybrid and electric vehicles, and we are delighted to be major contributors to two of the low carbon vehicle development projects. There is a world-wide drive to reduce CO2 emission levels and this is something to which we are dedicated, for both our Lotus cars and our global engineering clients. We wholeheartedly endorse the government’s initiatives through this investment from the Technology Strategy Board, which will assist in taking forward research, development and demonstration of these environmentally conscious and green transport solutions.” Commenting on the Technology Strategy Board's investment in the two projects, its Chief Executive,
Iain Gray, said: "We are delighted to invest in these important research, development and
demonstration projects. Cleaner and more efficient vehicles are a vitally important part of our response
to global climate change challenges and will help the UK to meet demanding new CO2 standards for
new vehicles. This is why we are investing in innovative low-carbon technology development through
Lotus Lightweight Structures Limited New Lotus Manufacturing Company Offers Greater Flexibility, Lower Weight Solutions May 15, 2008 - Group Lotus PLC: Group Lotus plc, the world famous sportscar manufacturer and globally renowned automotive Lotus Lightweight Structures, which employs 120 skilled engineers, technicians and sales
staff, will be based at the former Holden Lightweight Structures Limited site in Worcester, UK
and will continue to manufacture light weight aluminium and composite structures and
components for its extensive client base as well as growing its business globally through the Lotus Lightweight Structures will continue to assemble the award winning Lotus Elise, Exige and Europa aluminium chassis as well as the all new chassis for the yet to be launched Lotus Project Eagle. The strategic acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited and the subsequent creation of Lotus Lightweight Structures enables Lotus to: • Create, adapt and change its range of products quickly and effectively, catering for changing global customer demands. • Provide an additional in house manufacturing facility. •
Add an additional manufacturing solution for Lotus Engineering’s global client base,
providing lightweight aluminium and composite vehicle components and structures.
Mike Kimberley, Chief Executive of Group Lotus plc, “I am delighted to announce the creation
of Lotus Lightweight Structures following the strategic acquisition of Holden Lightweight
Structures Limited. With this facility, we will continue to expand and lead the world in
lightweight vehicle research, development and production to help our global client base find
ways to reduce the weight and cost from their vehicles. Weight reduction is one of the most Mike Kimberley continues, “Lotus Lightweight Structures provides additional facilities, capabilities and expertise to the Lotus Manufacturing portfolio. The Worcester facility, and dedicated team, complements our Hethel Headquarters and does not substitute any of the operations in Norfolk, but instead enables our strategic global expansion programme toproceed to plan. We are now just ten weeks from the unveiling of the next all new Lotus, code named Project Eagle at the British Motorshow, and we are working hard to bring this fabulous 2+2 to the market in the Spring of 2009. The Project Eagle chassis structure will be the first product from our new Lotus Lightweight Structures facility. We look forward to increasing our support to customers, clients and new ecologically driven projects worldwide.”
Lotus/ Spyker Deal Carmakers Sign Agreement to Share Parts and Technology
The deal includes a ‘Parts and Platform Commonality Agreement (PPCA), a Parts and Accessories Supply Agreement pursuant to which Lotus would provide certain parts for Spyker’s new C8 Aileron super sportscar, and a concept Design and Engineering Agreement relating to all of Spyker’s future models’, Spyker said in a statement. Michael Kimberley, CEO of Lotus Cars, said he was delighted that Lotus will be Spyker’s preferred Engineering supplier for these unique ‘high Brand Image’ cars. ‘We look forward to working with Spyker to expand our global business opportunities, projects and interests for our mutually synergistic Products and Technologies,’ he added. ‘Lotus Engineering has a great heritage and solid track record in developing innovative solutions for clients and we look forward to using Lotus’ advanced light weight vehicle know-how and vehicle dynamics technology to enable Spyker to establish itself as a dynamic premium automotive player.’ Victor R. Muller, CEO of Spyker Cars said: ‘Our company has had a very fruitful cooperation with Lotus, developed over the past four years, relating to engineering services in respect of certain components of our cars, as well as in respect of worldwide certification. ‘Spyker and Lotus have now come to the conclusion that they need to intensify their cooperation to the point that we intend to share parts and platforms, as well as an agreement on the supply of parts. ‘Moreover, Lotus Engineering has become Spyker’s preferred subcontractor in respect of a number of engineering projects relating to the Spyker C8 Aileron and the Spyker D8 Peking-to-Paris.’
Lotus Celebrates Diamond Anniversary 60 Years of World Class Innovation From Britain’s Finest Sports Car Manufacturer. Group Lotus March 20, 2008: In this its 60th year, Group Lotus plc is taking the ‘diamond’ element of their anniversary to heart and is celebrating in style. A variety of high profile events have been planned for 2008 that will pay homage to the heritage of the marque and look forward to the future of the international brand. The pinnacle of the campaign is a landmark event held at the Lotus Headquarters in Hethel, England on 14th September 2008 and will be opened by Hazel and Clive Chapman. Lotus has a history of holding fantastic public events and the 60th Birthday Party will follow this vein. It was in 1948 that Colin Chapman built his first racecar. A pioneer, his breakthrough engineering firmly Group Lotus Plc CEO Mike Kimberley speaks passionately about celebrating Lotus milestone, “This is a An invitation is extended to all to join Lotus on 14th September 2008 for a day’s celebrations and with it
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