Lotus creates lightweight structures division

The philosophy of Lotus founder Colin Chapman was always to make his cars as light as possible. He is reported to have said at various times "to add speed, add lightness" and "simplicate, than add lightness." Over the years, Lotus cars have often been among the lightest of their kind and innovations in weight reduction continue to this day. The work that Lotus has done in developing low mass vehicle structures for cars like the Lotus Elise and the Tesla Roadster is set to expand with the acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited. Worcester, UK-based Holden has been assembling the aluminum chassis for the Elise and other Lotus models and will now be renamed Lotus Lightweight Structures as it becomes part of Group Louts plc. As mass reduction becomes increasingly important to reducing fuel consumption and emissions in the coming years, Lotus is hoping the acquisition helps them better serve its engineering client base. The Hethel-based company can provide its design expertise as well as manufacturing capabiity. The Lotus press release is after the jump.



Press Release:

Lotus Lightweight Structures Limited

New Lotus Manufacturing Company Offers Greater Flexibility, Lower Weight Solutions and Reduced Time to Market for World's Motor Industry.

Group Lotus plc, the world famous sportscar manufacturer and globally renowned automotive engineering consultancy, announces the creation of Lotus Lightweight Structures, following the acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited today, 15th May 2008.

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 company's association with Group Lotus plc.

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 attainable ways to lowering CO2 emissions in vehicles today, as well as improving fuel economy and performance, and we have a duty to share our technology with the world's car makers for everyone's long term benefit."

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 to Lotus Lightweight Structures Limited

New Lotus Manufacturing Company Offers Greater Flexibility, Lower Weight Solutions
and Reduced Time to Market for World's Motor Industry.

Group Lotus plc, the world famous sportscar manufacturer and globally renowned automotive engineering consultancy, announces the creation of Lotus Lightweight Structures, following the acquisition of Holden Lightweight Structures Limited today, 15th May 2008.

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 company's association with Group Lotus plc.

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 attainable ways to lowering CO2 emissions in vehicles today, as well as improving fuel economy and performance, and we have a duty to share our technology with the world's car makers for everyone's long term benefit."

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 to proceed 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."

[Source: Lotus]