Blooming by design

When UK manufacturing bemoans the loss of its automotive industry, people often seem to forget that we have one of the most vibrant automotive OEMs on our doorstep in the shape of

.

What distinguishes Lotus from Morgan, Bristol and other specialist limited production sports car makers is Lotus Engineering — a dedicated and independent automotive design and R&D facility with access to Lotus' ride and handling test track.

Lotus Engineering is centred around its testing workshops and custom build facilities. The technologies used in these facilities are at the heart of the design work that Lotus Engineering undertakes, both for its external clients and for itself, with testing equipment, software and specialist expertise in metalworking, bonding and vehicle architecture combining to give its expertise in product design.

Like the rest of the UK auto industry, Lotus has had a chequered history but, since its takeover by Malaysian car maker Proton in 1996, it has not looked back. Despite its offshore ownership, it is a distinctively British enterprise in its outlook and the investment keeps on coming. The Lotus factory in Hethel, near Norwich, is state of the art — it boasts two design studios, one exclusively for Proton and the other for Lotus and the external clients of Lotus Engineering.