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Lotus to upgrade Hethel headquarters as part of Engineering division expansion

Lotus is upgrading its Norfolk headquarters as part of a push for expansion of its new engineering consultancy sector.

The updates, which are being applied to the firm’s Hethel base, will allow Lotus Engineering to expand its customer base through the introduction of new state-of-the-art testing facilities.

It will sit alongside Lotus Cars as it pushes forwards to deliver a new series of performance cars – the first of which will be revealed next year.

Lotus investment
Prototype engines can be designed, built and tested in one place

The improvements – which are part of a multi-million-pound investment – will bring a new Electric Drive Unit (EDU) test centre, as well as updates to the Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) test and development areas. The former area allows engineers to test electric powertrains, while the latter allows Lotus to thoroughly develop combustion engines. Both the propulsion prototype workshop and vehicle emissions lab will be overhauled, too.

Matt Windle, executive director of engineering at Lotus, said: “We see huge potential to put Lotus Engineering right at the cutting edge of automotive innovation, further building on our core competencies as well as increasing our capability in growth areas.”

New Lotus facilities
All areas of the site are being upgraded

“An example is electrification; the challenges around weight reduction and improved dynamics are a major factor in the quest for more efficient electric vehicles, and those link back directly to the Lotus core values. What we continue to learn on the Lotus Evija all-electric hypercar programme creates knowledge and experience which we can use to help other businesses.”

Not only that, but Lotus’ 2.2-mile test track – a key part of the site’s makeup since the firm took residence in Norfolk in 1966 – has been updated too. New protective trackside barriers have been installed, while full-track CCTV cameras have been fitted too.