Iconic British brand Lotus has officially unveiled the Hethel Performance Hub as it develops its UK presence to develop new premium vehicles.
The automaker said the new Hub would transform Lotus's ability to develop high-performance vehicles in the UK.
It added that the initiative builds on the brand's headquarters, which has previously been responsible for engineering and manufacturing.
The new Hub will turn the site into a collaborative environment with manufacturers, technology companies and academic institutions.
Lotus's site is now operational, with active engineering and manufacturing programmes underway at the Norfolk-based facility.
It stated that brands were already working at the site, including a UK-based performance car brand, an international electric vehicle manufacturer and a European low-volume producer.
Lotus, which was founded 74 years ago, highlighted how high-performance and niche auto segments are often hamstrung by high costs and a lack of scale.
The Hethel Performance Hub aims to break down those barriers by offering an alternative model, with a heavy emphasis on collaboration and real-world delivery.
Iconic British brand Lotus has launched its new Hethel Performance Hub
|LOTUS
Matt Nice, Deputy Managing Director of Lotus Cars, said: "Hethel Performance Hub is about unlocking the full potential of what exists here.
"We're taking world-class capability - engineering, manufacturing, motorsport - and turning it into a platform for partnership. Crucially, it's not just about access, it's about bringing the right people together.
"By creating an environment where partners can collaborate, develop and deliver side by side, we enable a faster, smarter way to innovate in a sector where traditional models often slow things down."
The Hethel Performance Hub has been built on more than £150million of recent investment across the brand's UK operations.
LATEST DEVELOPMENTS
The Lotus Emira is one of the brand's flagship models | LOTUSThis includes its sports car headquarters in Hethel, as well as its Lotus Advanced Structures facility in Norwich.
It added that the long-term goal of the brand was to become a globally recognised centre for high-performance innovation and specialise in low-volume production.
Industry Minister Chris McDonald MP praised the new Performance Hub, saying that it was proving how the Government's Industrial Strategy was working to support the UK car sector.
"By bringing together industry, academia and technology partners, this investment will help boost exports, drive high-performance automotive production, support skilled jobs and cement the UK’s position as a global leader in automotive innovation," the Labour MP for Stockton North added.
Lotus has invested more than £150million into its UK operations recently
| LOTUSFurther work is being completed at the Hethel facility as part of a broader phase of development and infrastructure in the local area.
This includes new access and connectivity improvements to "unlock significant development land and enable future expansion".
Mike Hawes, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, said the Hethel Performance Hub was proof that collaboration could bring a huge competitive advantage.
He continued, saying: "By bringing partners together to develop, test and industrialise new technologies more quickly with reduced risk, initiatives like this will help strengthen Britain's position as a leader in advanced high-performance and low-volume vehicle manufacturing."