Latest news with #MattWindle
Auto Express
04-07-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Crunch time at Lotus as UK factory is placed 'under review'
The future of Lotus's UK factory Hethel is under review, as its Chinese owner, Geely, takes drastic action to fix the loss-making British sports car brand. The car maker is trapped in a perfect storm, buffeted by tariffs that have inflated the cost of UK sports car exports to the United States, and exorbitant American import duties on its Chinese-built lifestyle EVs that make sales commercially impossible. Lotus is also grappling with inconsistent electric car demand, and growing the brand from a tiny customer base. Advertisement - Article continues below Geely has pumped billions of investment into Lotus, funding the clean-sheet electric technology that underpins the Eletre SUV and Emeya sports saloon and a factory in Wuhan, China, with a 150,000-unit capacity. It has also invested £100 million in its Norfolk site, yielding new production lines to build the petrol-powered Emira sports car and pure electric Evija hypercar. Nonetheless, Lotus sold only 12,134 vehicles in 2024, and deliveries slid 42 per cent in the first three months of this year to just 1,274. Sports cars contributed 555 of those, but volume will have taken a further dive since, with Hethel having to stop production in May in the aftermath of President Trump's announcement of global tariffs. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The US is a critical market for the Emira sports car, accounting for a fifth of Lotus's global volume in 2024. 'We hit a bump in the road,' Lotus Europe boss Matt Windle told Auto Express a few weeks ago. 'But pricing is agreed and cars [will begin] flowing again.' With the new prices incorporating the 10 per cent import tariff agreed between the US and UK, deliveries are scheduled to recommence in August. But the structural decline in sports car sales, the recent production hiatus and underperforming sales to date for the £2.4 million Evija electric hypercar have triggered multiple rounds of job cuts in Norfolk. And now Geely has ordered a strategic review into Hethel, as part of its drive to get Lotus to break even in 2026. Advertisement - Article continues below The review will look at ways to boost sales of the existing line-up, decide whether a hybrid or pure electric sports car should replace the Emira, and even consider closure of the factory. News of the review, including the extreme option of shuttering Hethel, leaked to the Financial Times, which reported in late June that Geely had decided to shift sports car manufacturing to the US. The report sparked intense talks with the Department for Business and Trade, with state support potentially on the table to help Lotus through this bleak period. The following statement was also issued: 'Lotus Cars is continuing normal operations, and there are no plans to close the factory. We are actively exploring strategic options to enhance efficiency and ensure global competitiveness in the evolving market.' Shifting sports car production to the US is unlikely: more logical is that Geely fast-tracks US localisation of the Eletre and Emeya, which will introduce 'hyper-hybrid' powertrains from next year. It already owns a factory in South Carolina producing the Volvo EX90 and Polestar 3, although Volvo expects to add the 2026 EX60, eating up capacity. Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below The hyper-hybrid powertrain will be shared with Chinese entrants Zeekr and Lynk & Co: Geely chairman and founder Li Shufu outlined his plans to scale technologies more deeply across group brands – including Lotus, Volvo and Polestar – in his Taizhou declaration in September 2024. Advertisement - Article continues below Zeekr and Lynk & Co have a plug-in hybrid set-up that combines a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine packing up to 275bhp with front and rear electric motors. Total output can eclipse 850bhp, 0-62mph takes less than 5-seconds and the system is supported by a big battery with more than 100 miles of electric range. Lotus will have access to this hardware to deliver its hyper-hybrids, starting with the Eletre in 2026. Chinese executives are said to be acutely aware of the iconic status of Hethel, home to Lotus since 1966, its triumphant Formula One racers and competitive sports cars. 'I think there's a place for Hethel, it's the home of the brand,' Matt Windle told us. 'When I spend time in China with my Geely colleagues, they really buy into the brand story; other companies just haven't got that legacy or history.' Geely plans to decide Lotus's future unilaterally: it has exercised an option to buy Malaysian partner Etika Automotive's 49 per cent stake in the Hethel sports car business and engineering consultancy. The deal should be complete by the end of the year. Join us on Whatsapp to keep in touch with all the latest car news and reviews... Find a car with the experts Big plans for the Lotus Emira with hybrid tech on the cards Lotus is plotting a raft of developments for its mid-engined Emira sports car – with combined petrol/electric power a future option The Lotus electric car rebirth is struggling, but will new hyper-hybrids save the day? Despite huge Chinese investment to electrify Lotus, sports car sales still prop up the loss-making business. Can Lotus achieve take-off? Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more Best cars & vans 23 Jun 2025 Lotus backtracks on electric-only plan in favour of new 'Hyper Hybrid' tech New plug-in hybrid powertrain on the way, with 'EV-centric' driving experience and over 100 miles of zero-emissions range Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production Range Rover Sport SV gets massive £35k price drop as it enters series-production There's also a new SV Black trim, and a Range Rover Sport Stealth Package for non SVs Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand's latest entry-level model Arrivederci Roma: new Ferrari Amalfi slots in as brand's latest entry-level model A slick new look and more power are the headlines for Ferrari's new baby, but it's probably some simple new buttons that will get customers' attention Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV Geely is coming to the UK, and its assault will start with EX5 SUV Geely has looked to Lotus to ensure it's new electric SUV lives up to our driving expectations
Auto Express
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Big plans for the Lotus Emira with hybrid tech on the cards
The Emira is a strong performer for Lotus, accounting for more than 5,000 of the brand's 12,000 sales in 2024. The firm has just announced the V6 Turbo SE with a revised manual gearbox to boost precision, suspension adjustments to improve ride and handling, and a tweaked cooling system that trims weight, plus Racing Line editions with yellow pinstripes and high gloss black wheels. Advertisement - Article continues below But with Lotus slowing down plans for an all-electric, mid-engined sports car, the firm is investigating how to electrify its existing two-seater. 'Everything's possible; we could squeeze [a hybrid] in,' Lotus Europe CEO Matt Windle told Auto Express. Expect a very different approach from the 'hyper hybrid' system bound for the Eletre SUV and Emeya saloon, which packs a 2.0-litre turbo engine with high-power standalone electric motors on the front and rear axle. Given the packaging constraints of the 4,412mm-long Lotus where every millimetre counts, the Emira is more likely to mirror the Ferrari 296 GTB and McLaren Artura by shoehorning an electric motor generator between the engine and transmission, boosting power and harvesting some energy for a modest battery. There's no word yet on which of the Mercedes-AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre or Toyota-supplied 3.5-litre V6 could get the hybrid treatment. The very different characters of the four-pot and V6 make for the key customer choice at the moment, because both SE models pack 400bhp. Why, we asked Matt Windle? Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below 'We didn't want to derate any of the power,' grins the sports car boss. 'We could have done that but the main driver for the engines was gearbox application, [not] power.' The four-pot comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission for ultra-fast changes (and the fastest 0-62mph time of 4 four seconds flat), whereas the slightly slower V6 comes with a manual or six-speed torque converter. The Emira is available in GT4 racing spec, with more power from the V6, a sequential racing 'box and enhanced aero. Is this a template for stripped out, roadgoing Emiras following the blueprint of Porsche's 718 Cayman GT4? 'We're pretty much at the power we can be on those engines,' counters Windle – until the hybrid comes on stream. An open-top version is likely to filter through in time: the chassis was developed with sufficient stiffness for a spider version, like the classic Elise. An open Emira would sell well in the vital US market, where Chinese imports of the Eletre SUV and Emeya saloon are non-starters due to tariff barriers. Given that sister brand Volvo has a factory in South Carolina, could Lotus use it to assemble the big EVs in the States? 'At the moment, there are no plans for production over there,' says the European boss. Tell us which new car you're interested in and get the very best offers from our network of over 5,500 UK dealers to compare. Let's go… Find a car with the experts New Volvo EX60 electric SUV: latest details and confirmed reveal date New Volvo EX60 electric SUV: latest details and confirmed reveal date The upcoming, all-electric Volvo XC60 alternative is designed to 'keep learning and evolve with time' BYD and Octopus Energy team up for 'all-inclusive' EV deal BYD and Octopus Energy team up for 'all-inclusive' EV deal Octopus' 'Power Pack Bundle' includes a leased BYD, a wallbox charger and charging all for less than £300 per month New Skoda Epiq baby SUV could be a Tardis on wheels New Skoda Epiq baby SUV could be a Tardis on wheels The new Skoda Epic will sit below the Elroq and Enyaq in the brand's ever-expanding SUV range and is set to offer plenty of space despite its compact …
Auto Express
27-06-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Express
Stunning new Lotus hyper-hybrids to rescue brand from its EV woes
Lotus is a test case on how hard the road to electric motoring will be. The legendary British sports car brand has introduced two impressive clean-sheet EVs – the Eletre SUV and Emeya saloon – in just over a year, yet its petrol-powered, mid-engined Emira sports car almost matches their sales volume. Advertisement - Article continues below Then there's the power of politics to make life hard for the car industry. Tariffs are impacting Lotus exports from China, while President Trump rolls back American EV incentives and Prime Minister Keir Starmer moves in the opposite direction by reconsidering a 2030 ban on UK sales of new combustion cars. Given the climate, you'd understand if Matt Windle, the managing director of Lotus sports cars, passed on adding Europe's commercial performance to his responsibilities. Instead, the laid-back Lotus leader is 'excited' about his broader remit. Before Chinese auto group Geely – also owner of Volvo, Polestar, Smart (in a joint venture) and a number of domestic brands – commenced the brand's growth spurt, Windle told me Lotus was a 'sleeping giant'. What is it now? 'It's waking up, it's coming out of hibernation,' he grins. 'We are starting to [realise] the opportunity we have. We've got the best products in our history, for technology, for quality. And the global volume is higher than ever.' Lotus delivered 12,134 cars last year, with the lifestyle EVs accounting for 57 per cent. But the ambition is far higher, especially with Lotus' Wuhan factory having a 150,000-unit capacity. Isn't Windle frustrated by the slow growth? Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below 'Is it quick enough? No, but I've learned to be patient. The time for impatience is when people don't do what they say they'll do.' With commendable understatement, he continues: 'There are a few external aspects that have had an impact: [sluggish] economies, wars and tariffs – and a lot of them you couldn't have predicted.' He points out that deliveries in 2024 climbed 74 per cent on 2023's, and are in another league compared to the 1,710 cars that Hethel (the Norfolk sports car factory) assembled in 2021, the last year of the Elise, Exige and Evora. Hethel also produces the Evija, the extraordinary hypercar that kicked off the Vision80 plan to transform Lotus from threatened minnow to luxury electric player by 2028. Getting the four-motor, 1,973bhp monster into production has caused a huge headache, with engineering sign-off running years late and the Evija proving a tricky sell – just like its fellow electric hypercars from Rimac and Pininfarina. The ambition was 130 units at £2.4million each: how many orders does Lotus have? 'I'm not going into the numbers,' says Windle, politely but firmly. 'Do I want more? Yes. And the car is going to be out there this year, in front of potential customers, and people now taking delivery of their cars will be advocates for an incredible product. As with every Lotus, you need to get people to drive it and then they understand it.' What has Lotus learned from the Evija project? 'I could write a book on it!' jokes the sports car boss. 'Hypercars are very difficult: you're producing a car to operate at extreme performance levels while making sure it's safe.' Writing the software to manage the delivery of the enormous 1,704Nm of torque to all four wheels was the biggest challenge. Being an electric sports car pioneer has clearly given Lotus pause for thought. The Vision80 blueprint announced the Type 135 (all Lotus projects get a sequential 'type' number), a pure electric coupe destined to replace the Emira. Full of confidence, Lotus even showed a prototype chassis stacking the batteries in the classic mid-engined position, four years ago. What's the latest? Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below 'We need to understand where the market is going,' replies Windle. 'We've got a range out there we're incredibly proud of right now…which will help with the product strategy. [Future planning] is an incredibly difficult job at the moment. As you'd expect, we're working in the background with R&D and looking at the possibilities.' Will it help that Porsche and Alpine should both introduce electric sports cars in the next year or so? 'Yes, it does. Relative to those guys we are small, and you need to be absolutely certain there's going to be the market share for it. I think there is – and that we've got to go that way as far as legislation is concerned.' Windle is also reticent about the Type 134, a smaller electric SUV beneath the Eletre, though he concedes it's still an aspiration. The priority is 'organic market growth' with the existing products, though Lotus has confirmed it must broaden its powertrain line-up with petrol/electric 'hyper hybrids' to attract more customers. The Eletre is likely to get the powertrain first in 2026, and its 'hyper' label shows engineers will not compromise on the electric SUV's mighty performance. Parent Geely is rolling out a new plug-in hybrid system that mixes a 275bhp 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine with a 389bhp front electric motor and 496bhp rear unit: that would be sufficient firepower to eclipse the base Eletre S's 4.5-second launch from standstill to 62mph. And with the group trying to use more technology across more brands, the engineering team is likely to finesse that system for Lotus. 'The products will be based on the performance where we are now, but then you get that addition of range,' says Windle. The Eletre has the space for a big battery, its 800-volt electric architecture may be upgraded to 900 volts for rapid recharging, and a 500-mile combined range should be possible: the battery alone is reportedly good for more than 200 miles. Advertisement - Article continues below Skip advert Advertisement - Article continues below Rolling out hybrids should accelerate Lotus's growth – is 30,000 annual sales realistic? 'It's feasible,' he muses. 'Whether it's achievable is a different matter. It's important that we don't chase [a] number. We need to build the business from the bottom up.' The company – whose operations lost $786m last year – hopes to break even in 2026. The UK and Europe account for 40 per cent of Lotus's volume, with Lotus striving to keep a lid on price rises despite the 29.9 per cent import duty on EVs going to the mainland. Windle's growth plan is to look for territorial gaps which could entice new retailers, venture into EV-hungry markets such as the Nordics, and tap the love for Lotus in car-mad countries such as Germany. Likewise the brand can now enter the corporate market, where tax incentives fuel EV sales. But the scale of the task is huge: Lotus only has 16 retailers in the UK, and they've needed to develop a new capability of servicing EVs. Our discussion is in HR Owen's flagship Lotus store opposite London's Ritz hotel, and it's heartening to see faces young and old pressed up to the glass, gazing at the green Evija and Type 72 Formula 1 racer from 1975. Windle, ever the car guy, persuaded Classic Team Lotus boss Clive Chapman to let him drive it. 'It was one of my best ever days,' he beams. 'Clive stood [beside the Hethel test track] and watched me do a lap, get a feel, go a bit quicker. I just felt so engaged with that car. It was the most thrilling but the most never-racking thing ever.' A ground-breaking F1 car couldn't be much more distant from the big electric cars flanking it. But if Lotus can inject the passion it triggers into the new portfolio, the brand has a chance. 'Think of the [ageing, niche] cars we had just seven years ago to where we are now as a portfolio,' urges Matt Windle. 'We're on a journey – and we've already come a long way.' Treating yourself to a Lotus? Tell us which model you're interested in and get top offers from our network of over 5,500 UK dealers. Let's go… Find a car with the experts Hot new car products: the latest and greatest kit for your car The latest additions to the world of automotive products from floor mats to dash cams... Product reviews 26 Jun 2025 Your dream car colour could actually be a financial nightmare Paul Barker ponders the price of paint, and how mica and metallic mark-ups are leaving car buyers in the shade over the true cost The Nissan Leaf redefined mobility. To save itself, the brand must be daring again Andy Palmer, former Nissan COO, explains why Nissan's latest EV is a crucial one Best new cars coming soon: all the big new car launches due in 2025, 2026 and beyond These are the most important new cars headed our way, from brands including Audi, BMW, Dacia, Ferrari, Ford, Skoda and more Best cars & vans 23 Jun 2025 New Volvo EX60 electric SUV: latest details and confirmed reveal date New Volvo EX60 electric SUV: latest details and confirmed reveal date The upcoming, all-electric Volvo XC60 alternative is designed to 'keep learning and evolve with time' BYD and Octopus Energy team up for 'all-inclusive' EV deal BYD and Octopus Energy team up for 'all-inclusive' EV deal Octopus' 'Power Pack Bundle' includes a leased BYD, a wallbox charger and charging all for less than £300 per month New Skoda Epiq baby SUV could be a Tardis on wheels New Skoda Epiq baby SUV could be a Tardis on wheels The new Skoda Epic will sit below the Elroq and Enyaq in the brand's ever-expanding SUV range and is set to offer plenty of space despite its compact …
Motor 1
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The Lotus Emira Could Ditch Its V-6 for a V-8
The Emira might be the last great Lotus you can buy , but it might get even better before production is supposed to cease in 2027. In a recent earnings call, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng said that the brand is "currently investigating the feasibility of the V-8." He didn't offer any specifics about the potential powertrain, according to Autocar . Lotus offers the Emira a Toyota-sourced, supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine or a turbocharged 2.0-liter Mercedes-AMG four-cylinder. The Emira V-6 makes 400 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and any potential V-8 will likely deliver well above that. Photo by: Lotus Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle told the publication that the company likely hasn't "exploited" the Emira's full potential, so it's "looking at all the options," and it certainly has them. Mercedes already provides a four-cylinder engine to Lotus, and it could easily supply a few V-8 engines for an even meaner Emira. Lotus revealed the Emira in July 2021, but it didn't go on sale in the United States until 2024 . The company had to pause shipments here in early April due to tariffs, which forced it to announce that it would lay off up to 270 people due to the "volatile and evolving market conditions, including the US tariffs." According to the Autocar report, Windle said the company has yet to restart shipments to America, even though the US and UK recently agreed to lower tariffs. 21 Source: Lotus Check Out More Lotus News: Lotus Emira With Yellow Exhaust Tips Pays Tribute to an F1 GOAT Lotus Delays Electric Sports Car, Hybrid Emira Could Happen Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Lotus Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
The Drive
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Drive
The Lotus Emira's V6 Can't Pass Emissions So It May Get a V8 Instead
The latest car news, reviews, and features. Lotus is in a bit of a pickle with the Emira. As beloved as the supercharged V6 and manual transmission combination has been, Lotus needs an alternative, and fast. The 3.5-liter Toyota-sourced engine won't be emissions compliant when Euro 7 regulations take effect in 2026. To stay in compliance and also catch the eye of American buyers, it looks like Lotus is, shockingly, considering a V8. According to Autocar , during a recent earnings call, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors that 'We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8.' In the immortal words of Keanu Reeves: Woah. OK, but why a V8? The Emira already has another engine option; why not just roll with that exclusively? Well, because it's a four-cylinder. Specifically, it's Mercedes-AMG's 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, and it makes 400 brake horsepower, 354 lb-ft of torque, and it pairs exclusively to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic. That sounds good, so what's wrong with that? Americans, apparently. The four-cylinder Emira just hasn't been popular enough in the U.S. market for Lotus to confidently sell the Emira here without a bigger engine option. Lotus Emira V6. Lotus 'The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car. It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward,' CEO of Lotus Cars in Europe Matt Windle told Autocar . If Lotus does want to stuff a V8 into the tiny, mid-engine Emira, it really only has one option at the ready: Mercedes-AMG's 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8. 'There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it,' Windle said. As thrilling as it would be to have an AMG sledgehammer powering a mid-engine Lotus, it doesn't actually make much sense. Not only would that torquey, twin-turbo engine not match the Emira's lightweight, sports car vibes, but it's currently only offered with an automatic gearbox. And part of the current V6's charm, and why it's so popular in the U.S., is that it can be shifted manually. Especially when you consider that, per Autocar , Qingfeng's announcement of a possible V8 was in response to a U.S. dealer asking Lotus for a more powerful, more hardcore Emira to take on the Porsche 911 GT3. A thunderous V8 with an automatic isn't the tool for that job. Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter supercharged V6. Lotus But now, there's also the consideration of tariffs. The U.S. and the UK have agreed to a lower tariff on imported UK-built cars, which is now down to 10%. And that lower tariff is something Lotus can work with, but it's yet to restart shipments to the United States. 'The headline numbers have gone out there, but actually the specifics behind it still haven't been clarified,' said Windle. 'There's product that's ready to ship, but what we don't want to do is jump the gun and end up getting clobbered.' So, jumpstarting production into a new V8 model specifically because it will sell well in the United States market is unwise until there's clarity on market viability. Developing a V8 model isn't as easy as just machining some new engine mounts and transmission adapters. Sure, getting a V8 to fit likely won't be an issue, especially if Lotus can make a deal for a smaller displacement V8 from, say, Cosworth, rather than the one AMG offers. However, that's only the beginning of the development process. Then there's emissions testing and making sure it's compliant with Euro 7 regulations and beyond. Once that's done, there's crash testing that needs to be done and homologation for every market's own needs. The entire development process for offering an entirely new engine is long and expensive, so Lotus needs to determine whether it's worth it. Lotus It's for that same reason that we likely won't see a Hemi V8 in the new Charger. While we learned that it's technically possible for the Charger to house a V8, the development cost for an engine that won't be emissions-compliant soon is likely too high. And the same might end up happening for Lotus and the Emira. That doesn't mean Lotus can't offer a more powerful engine, though. There are plenty of powerful six-cylinder engines that it can borrow and will continue to be emissions-compliant past 2026. Lotus certainly has options. However, it's nice to know that the brand is even considering a V8, however unlikely that may be, in this current era of downsizing and hybridization. So while it's doubtful, Lotus deserves kudos for even publicly considering a V8 Emira. Let's just hope that whatever engine replaces the current V6 will continue to have a manual option. Got tips? Send 'em to tips@ Nico DeMattia is a staff writer at The Drive. He started writing about cars on his own blog to express his opinions when no one else would publish them back in 2015, and eventually turned it into a full-time career.
