1 00:00:02,043 --> 00:00:03,883 You've probably heard of Lotus. 2 00:00:03,923 --> 00:00:06,203 It made championship winning racing cars. 3 00:00:06,243 --> 00:00:09,203 ARCHIVE VOICEOVER: Jim Clark crosses the finish line to win 4 00:00:09,243 --> 00:00:11,443 the 500 with a comfortable lead of more than... 5 00:00:11,483 --> 00:00:14,923 It made iconic lightweight sports cars. 6 00:00:14,963 --> 00:00:18,363 Last year the company increased its car production by 48% 7 00:00:18,403 --> 00:00:21,363 - the Lotus has become a success story for Britain. 8 00:00:21,403 --> 00:00:23,563 They even made cars for the stars. 9 00:00:23,603 --> 00:00:26,883 Orders are already pouring in from America for the same colour 10 00:00:26,923 --> 00:00:28,523 scheme as Bond's car. 11 00:00:30,563 --> 00:00:32,163 It's still around today, 12 00:00:32,203 --> 00:00:35,123 even though the one thing it's never been good at in recent years 13 00:00:35,163 --> 00:00:36,683 is making money. 14 00:00:38,283 --> 00:00:40,083 There's been money issues. 15 00:00:40,123 --> 00:00:42,003 Lots of changes of management. 16 00:00:42,043 --> 00:00:43,803 Things have got to change... 17 00:00:43,843 --> 00:00:47,163 Phwoff! It's been a baptism of fire. 18 00:00:47,203 --> 00:00:51,003 I've slept better in Afghanistan than I have working here. 19 00:00:51,043 --> 00:00:54,843 Lotus has to become a proper, profitable carmaker 20 00:00:54,883 --> 00:00:57,563 or admit defeat and shut up shop. 21 00:00:59,163 --> 00:01:02,603 It's a commercial business and we can't just produce one, 22 00:01:02,643 --> 00:01:04,163 we've got to produce thousands. 23 00:01:06,083 --> 00:01:08,963 To give it one last shot, there's a new boss... 24 00:01:09,003 --> 00:01:10,523 I don't want to just keep it going. 25 00:01:10,563 --> 00:01:14,563 I want to lay the foundation so that Lotus is going to be secure. 26 00:01:14,603 --> 00:01:18,603 ..and soon their first new car in over a decade. 27 00:01:18,643 --> 00:01:21,723 This car is make or break for Lotus, basically. 28 00:01:21,763 --> 00:01:24,283 They can't afford to get this wrong. 29 00:01:33,403 --> 00:01:36,083 This is step one of the Lotus revival plan - 30 00:01:36,123 --> 00:01:40,963 an all-new all-electric 200mph hyper car 31 00:01:41,003 --> 00:01:42,763 called the Evija. 32 00:01:47,083 --> 00:01:50,683 And its power comes from four electric motors 33 00:01:50,723 --> 00:01:53,043 making a total of 2,000 horse power. 34 00:01:55,523 --> 00:01:59,083 As a result, this is nothing less than the most powerful 35 00:01:59,123 --> 00:02:00,883 production car in the world. 36 00:02:02,123 --> 00:02:05,363 It costs £2 million. 37 00:02:10,243 --> 00:02:14,443 The second step of the revival plan is another model - 38 00:02:14,483 --> 00:02:16,083 the Emira. 39 00:02:18,363 --> 00:02:22,683 This is the more affordable sports car on which Lotus' future rests. 40 00:02:27,603 --> 00:02:31,483 Senior engineer John Sharp is part of the crack team 41 00:02:31,523 --> 00:02:35,123 responsible for getting this vital new car into production. 42 00:02:36,523 --> 00:02:39,963 So, here we have one of the most confidential places on site. 43 00:02:40,003 --> 00:02:41,483 We're completely locked down. 44 00:02:41,523 --> 00:02:44,803 We don't want anything to do with this getting out. 45 00:02:45,923 --> 00:02:49,243 Until we reveal to the world exactly what we're doing, 46 00:02:49,283 --> 00:02:50,683 we need to keep this under wraps. 47 00:02:52,283 --> 00:02:56,123 These cars look like a current Lotus model but they're not. 48 00:02:57,323 --> 00:03:01,523 Under the familiar skin, it has been remodelled to fit a brand-new 49 00:03:01,563 --> 00:03:03,803 chassis and engine. 50 00:03:03,843 --> 00:03:07,963 Sometimes on forums you, you might see a picture of one of these cars 51 00:03:08,003 --> 00:03:11,963 and lots of speculation as to what's going on and you can 52 00:03:12,003 --> 00:03:15,723 just chuckle away to yourself as to what everybody's speculating about. 53 00:03:15,763 --> 00:03:20,203 One way to make a new sports car exciting is with the sound. 54 00:03:20,243 --> 00:03:21,723 LOW HUM 55 00:03:23,243 --> 00:03:24,723 It sounds really good. 56 00:03:24,763 --> 00:03:27,203 It sounds a bit jet fighter, to be honest. 57 00:03:29,083 --> 00:03:33,163 To power its first new car in ten years, Lotus has done a deal 58 00:03:33,203 --> 00:03:35,843 with German engine wizards AMG 59 00:03:35,883 --> 00:03:38,843 so that it goes as well as it sounds. 60 00:03:42,603 --> 00:03:46,083 Old Lotuses were bought by hard-core enthusiasts. 61 00:03:46,123 --> 00:03:48,563 This new one needs to lure people away 62 00:03:48,603 --> 00:03:51,163 from other luxury car manufacturers. 63 00:03:53,603 --> 00:03:56,203 To do that, Lotus has to get the car right, 64 00:03:56,243 --> 00:04:00,603 but it also has to remind people of its rich history. 65 00:04:00,643 --> 00:04:03,643 Colin Chapman, ex RAF, ex aircraft engineer 66 00:04:03,683 --> 00:04:06,563 and racing driver turned car designer. 67 00:04:06,603 --> 00:04:10,443 The company was founded in 1947 by Colin Chapman, 68 00:04:10,483 --> 00:04:14,243 an engineer and innovator every bit as brilliant as Enzo Ferrari 69 00:04:14,283 --> 00:04:15,643 or Ferdinand Porsche. 70 00:04:16,803 --> 00:04:20,683 One car usually sold as a kit of parts can be noted here - the Lotus. 71 00:04:22,203 --> 00:04:25,123 Chapman's racing cars soon started winning 72 00:04:25,163 --> 00:04:27,723 and led the way to British dominance in F1. 73 00:04:35,763 --> 00:04:39,483 Today, many of these machines live at the heritage centre 74 00:04:39,523 --> 00:04:42,603 just across the road from the main factory... 75 00:04:42,643 --> 00:04:44,083 ANSWERS PHONE: Classic Team Lotus. 76 00:04:44,123 --> 00:04:47,083 ..cared for by Colin Chapman's son Clive. 77 00:04:48,643 --> 00:04:50,363 I could look at this all day. 78 00:04:50,403 --> 00:04:52,923 It's just the most fantastic car. 79 00:04:52,963 --> 00:04:56,563 It's the only 72 with its original specification. 80 00:04:56,603 --> 00:04:58,403 The chassis is all original. 81 00:04:58,443 --> 00:05:00,883 Emmerson won five Grand Prix in this car. 82 00:05:00,923 --> 00:05:04,163 The black and gold winning the British Grand Prix, 83 00:05:04,203 --> 00:05:06,763 and my dad throwing his hat in the air whenever it won a race. 84 00:05:06,803 --> 00:05:09,003 Emerson Fittipaldi wins! 85 00:05:10,563 --> 00:05:13,603 Colin Chapman's cap is in the air. 86 00:05:13,643 --> 00:05:16,763 The list of Lotus' F1 innovations was endless. 87 00:05:18,363 --> 00:05:21,163 The first monocoque chassis ever... 88 00:05:21,203 --> 00:05:24,083 Engines that were part of the chassis... 89 00:05:24,123 --> 00:05:27,683 Lightweight cars that painted themselves to the road, 90 00:05:27,723 --> 00:05:29,603 and active suspension. 91 00:05:30,963 --> 00:05:32,803 And Emmerson's was no different. 92 00:05:32,843 --> 00:05:36,963 The type 72 revolutionised F1 by putting the radiators on each side 93 00:05:37,003 --> 00:05:39,883 of the driver, allowing it to be a wedge. 94 00:05:41,683 --> 00:05:45,923 So, the 72 is a wedge shape which, it's obvious to everybody 95 00:05:45,963 --> 00:05:49,403 is gonna reduce the drag and improve the airflow. 96 00:05:49,443 --> 00:05:52,563 In particular, it's gonna improve the airflow to the rear wing 97 00:05:52,603 --> 00:05:54,603 so you're gonna get more down force. 98 00:05:54,643 --> 00:05:57,443 Recently voted the greatest ever Formula 1 car 99 00:05:57,483 --> 00:05:59,403 and we're not gonna argue with that! 100 00:06:01,243 --> 00:06:05,003 Chapman's streamlined racers had a profound effect on another member 101 00:06:05,043 --> 00:06:10,243 of the Lotus team, the appropriately named chief designer Russell Carr. 102 00:06:10,283 --> 00:06:13,763 This is a really important car for me, 103 00:06:13,803 --> 00:06:16,843 because when I was a kid 104 00:06:16,883 --> 00:06:19,723 the type 72 was the racing car. 105 00:06:19,763 --> 00:06:22,803 The famous black and gold colours. 106 00:06:22,843 --> 00:06:26,043 I had no interest in things like football and other sports. 107 00:06:26,083 --> 00:06:28,043 Formula 1 was my thing. 108 00:06:28,083 --> 00:06:31,803 And this amazing looking car that was just wedge shaped 109 00:06:31,843 --> 00:06:33,443 and looked so modern. 110 00:06:33,483 --> 00:06:36,803 Of the 40 plus cars that Russell has worked on, 111 00:06:36,843 --> 00:06:40,083 this one was his first big hit. 112 00:06:40,123 --> 00:06:44,403 This was a very early sketch I did as part of the Elise programme. 113 00:06:44,443 --> 00:06:47,083 These are just like little gull wing panels 114 00:06:47,123 --> 00:06:49,003 so it's like getting into a light aircraft. 115 00:06:49,043 --> 00:06:52,563 So, a combination between a racing car and a light aircraft. 116 00:06:52,603 --> 00:06:55,843 Russell always knew he wanted to design cars 117 00:06:55,883 --> 00:06:57,923 but getting there wasn't easy. 118 00:06:57,963 --> 00:07:00,403 I was probably 16 years old. 119 00:07:00,443 --> 00:07:04,403 I went to the careers officer at school and then they said, 120 00:07:04,443 --> 00:07:06,643 "There's no such job as a car designer. 121 00:07:06,683 --> 00:07:08,723 "Cars are designed by engineers 122 00:07:08,763 --> 00:07:11,323 "and you're not clever enough to be an engineer. 123 00:07:11,363 --> 00:07:15,363 "But have you thought about working at the local water treatment plant?" 124 00:07:15,403 --> 00:07:20,123 Russell bypassed a career in sewage and for the last 26 years 125 00:07:20,163 --> 00:07:23,563 he's built an impressive career designing sports cars. 126 00:07:23,603 --> 00:07:26,683 We'll probably make the lower edge of the car quite dark 127 00:07:26,723 --> 00:07:29,523 just so that it lightens the vehicle as well. 128 00:07:29,563 --> 00:07:32,523 This line running through the car's really important 129 00:07:32,563 --> 00:07:37,323 and this line rises and it mimics the way the air flows into the car. 130 00:07:37,363 --> 00:07:41,003 The all new Emira is Russell's latest work. 131 00:07:50,803 --> 00:07:54,043 I think it makes a connection with the Evija hyper car, 132 00:07:54,083 --> 00:07:57,123 so anybody buying this is getting a little bit of that action 133 00:07:57,163 --> 00:07:59,083 from that car, as well. 134 00:07:59,123 --> 00:08:02,443 Starting with a simple sketch in Russell's notebook, 135 00:08:02,483 --> 00:08:06,323 the new car's design was then finessed and refined in 3D. 136 00:08:09,123 --> 00:08:11,603 So, this is part of the design process. 137 00:08:11,643 --> 00:08:15,323 This blue car isn't a car at all. 138 00:08:15,363 --> 00:08:17,963 It's carefully painted clay. 139 00:08:18,003 --> 00:08:21,123 Clay modellers are incredibly skilled craftsmen 140 00:08:21,163 --> 00:08:23,803 and they have to have an artisan skill 141 00:08:23,843 --> 00:08:26,803 to model the surfaces with extreme accuracy. 142 00:08:26,843 --> 00:08:29,643 And this is what we use to get the theme approved. 143 00:08:29,683 --> 00:08:33,523 They need to interpret what the designer wants and turn it into 3D. 144 00:08:33,563 --> 00:08:36,563 When it's heated, it goes soft, we can spread it onto the model, 145 00:08:36,603 --> 00:08:39,003 and then when it cools we can work it. 146 00:08:39,043 --> 00:08:42,803 And we use that because it allows us to adapt the model as things change 147 00:08:42,843 --> 00:08:45,643 so it's a very flexible tool. 148 00:08:45,683 --> 00:08:49,683 The curves and sinews of the new car's skin try to reflect 149 00:08:49,723 --> 00:08:52,563 the DNA of Colin Chapman's racing cars. 150 00:08:53,843 --> 00:08:57,123 There's a very well known phrase in aviation, 151 00:08:57,163 --> 00:08:59,643 "If it looks right, it flies right," 152 00:08:59,683 --> 00:09:03,123 and certainly we think the same with sports car design. 153 00:09:03,163 --> 00:09:07,083 Creating a brand-new car is a complicated business 154 00:09:07,123 --> 00:09:09,283 and once the design is signed off 155 00:09:09,323 --> 00:09:12,563 then you've got another challenge - how to make it. 156 00:09:15,923 --> 00:09:18,803 There's no soulless mass production here. 157 00:09:18,843 --> 00:09:21,203 Each Lotus is built by hand 158 00:09:21,243 --> 00:09:23,083 and always has been. 159 00:09:23,123 --> 00:09:26,123 That's it, all done. Looks good. Yeah. 160 00:09:26,163 --> 00:09:28,803 The customer will be really, really happy. 161 00:09:28,843 --> 00:09:30,243 Lovely, thank you. 162 00:09:30,283 --> 00:09:32,923 Team leader Tracy Cushing makes the seats. 163 00:09:34,243 --> 00:09:37,323 In a year, we do 1,200, 1,300 cars, 164 00:09:37,363 --> 00:09:39,963 so that's twice as many seats, but, yeah, 165 00:09:40,003 --> 00:09:41,603 super proud of what we make in the trim. 166 00:09:41,643 --> 00:09:42,963 This is all handmade. 167 00:09:46,763 --> 00:09:49,803 The seat is probably the hardest thing to learn. 168 00:09:49,843 --> 00:09:53,483 It's a fantastic product that the team make day in, day out. 169 00:09:53,523 --> 00:09:55,683 A lot of them have been here a long, long time. 170 00:09:57,483 --> 00:09:59,363 So, I'll start off with the arms. 171 00:09:59,403 --> 00:10:01,323 These are the bits that run down the side of the seat 172 00:10:01,363 --> 00:10:03,203 where you actually have your seat belt fixing. 173 00:10:03,243 --> 00:10:06,563 The Norfolk-born seamstress is entering her third decade 174 00:10:06,603 --> 00:10:08,363 for the company. 175 00:10:08,403 --> 00:10:11,803 When I was 16, left school, got offered a job in a factory 176 00:10:11,843 --> 00:10:13,683 that made jackets and suits, 177 00:10:13,723 --> 00:10:16,963 so it was all the big heavy woollen fabrics, materials. 178 00:10:17,003 --> 00:10:21,003 And now, sewing leather, making seats for sports cars, 179 00:10:21,043 --> 00:10:23,123 it's the total opposite. 180 00:10:23,163 --> 00:10:24,963 It's really calming, 181 00:10:25,003 --> 00:10:26,483 it's kind of like my happy place 182 00:10:26,523 --> 00:10:29,203 where I don't have to worry about anything, I can just sit and sew, 183 00:10:29,243 --> 00:10:30,523 and just enjoy. 184 00:10:30,563 --> 00:10:34,203 Long serving employees like Tracy have seen a lot of ups 185 00:10:34,243 --> 00:10:36,123 and downs for the company. 186 00:10:36,163 --> 00:10:37,603 There's been money issues. 187 00:10:37,643 --> 00:10:39,603 Lotus do have a bit of a reputation 188 00:10:39,643 --> 00:10:42,043 of having lots of different management, 189 00:10:42,083 --> 00:10:45,243 lots of changes of management and it does prove unsettling. 190 00:10:46,723 --> 00:10:50,723 Lotus wants to treble the number of cars it makes which means 191 00:10:50,763 --> 00:10:53,723 a major rethink for every single department, 192 00:10:53,763 --> 00:10:56,403 but Tracy remains upbeat. 193 00:10:56,443 --> 00:10:59,043 The company who are looking after us 194 00:10:59,083 --> 00:11:02,123 have poured a lot of investment into the business. 195 00:11:02,163 --> 00:11:05,603 Staff are really excited about the future and, yeah, 196 00:11:05,643 --> 00:11:09,043 everybody's really, really positive again, you know. 197 00:11:22,323 --> 00:11:25,283 Amid the fields of rural Norfolk 198 00:11:25,323 --> 00:11:28,523 lies an enclave of engineering ingenuity 199 00:11:28,563 --> 00:11:30,443 and cutting-edge technology. 200 00:11:31,723 --> 00:11:35,443 Max Ryan is the prototype vehicle workshop manager 201 00:11:35,483 --> 00:11:39,123 for the car company's new flagship, the Evija. 202 00:11:39,163 --> 00:11:40,763 As you can see, it's quite a beast. 203 00:11:40,803 --> 00:11:44,523 This is our halo car, in terms of the design, the technology, 204 00:11:44,563 --> 00:11:47,443 the power outputs, everything. 205 00:11:47,483 --> 00:11:50,843 This is Britain's first pure electric hyper car. 206 00:11:50,883 --> 00:11:54,043 Its body is made entirely from carbon fibre 207 00:11:54,083 --> 00:11:57,723 and it houses the most potent car battery in the world. 208 00:11:57,763 --> 00:12:01,323 This allows us to run at a maximum capacity of 2,000 horse power. 209 00:12:01,363 --> 00:12:04,843 We have a lot of the latest technology inside this battery cell. 210 00:12:04,883 --> 00:12:08,243 I'm not gonna dive into it because we don't wanna give too much away. 211 00:12:09,523 --> 00:12:13,883 But the Evija isn't going into full production until later this year 212 00:12:13,923 --> 00:12:19,283 and for new MD Matt Windle, his focus is on the all-petrol Emira. 213 00:12:32,403 --> 00:12:36,283 So this is my uh, soon to be man shed. 214 00:12:38,203 --> 00:12:41,843 We've recently moved in so I'm just starting to, as you can see, 215 00:12:41,883 --> 00:12:44,803 get sorted out with the stuff we have here. 216 00:12:44,843 --> 00:12:47,723 Having worked at Lotus for over 20 years, 217 00:12:47,763 --> 00:12:50,643 he was appointed MD just last year. 218 00:12:50,683 --> 00:12:54,723 To be MD of Lotus is, uh, incredible, really. 219 00:12:56,323 --> 00:13:00,403 I feel responsible for the people and the history that's gone before. 220 00:13:00,443 --> 00:13:04,443 Matt's rise to the top has been far from easy. 221 00:13:04,483 --> 00:13:06,723 I came from a single parent family. 222 00:13:06,763 --> 00:13:09,643 Unusually, I grew up with my dad 223 00:13:09,683 --> 00:13:13,803 so that was where my passion of cars came from because we used to spend 224 00:13:13,843 --> 00:13:17,283 hours and hours and hours going up to my grandparents in Hartlepool 225 00:13:17,323 --> 00:13:21,243 and all the way up there, I was, I was quizzing my dad about cars 226 00:13:21,283 --> 00:13:25,283 and I could tell any make of car by its headlight or its tail light. 227 00:13:25,323 --> 00:13:28,003 And that was just from the amount of time we spent on the A1 228 00:13:28,043 --> 00:13:30,843 driving up and down in the dark. 229 00:13:30,883 --> 00:13:35,043 I didn't do very well at school and, yeah, I've just worked hard. 230 00:13:35,083 --> 00:13:37,763 My dad instilled that into me. 231 00:13:37,803 --> 00:13:41,363 Like many at Lotus, Matt has worked his way up. 232 00:13:41,403 --> 00:13:44,843 He began his career as an apprentice coach builder. 233 00:13:44,883 --> 00:13:48,083 This is where it all started for me. 234 00:13:48,123 --> 00:13:51,723 So these were public service vehicles. 235 00:13:53,123 --> 00:13:55,403 So, as you can see, 236 00:13:55,443 --> 00:13:57,923 they're drawn 10th scale. 237 00:13:57,963 --> 00:14:00,563 Drawn by myself in, 238 00:14:00,603 --> 00:14:03,403 in July 1993, so I was 22! 239 00:14:05,683 --> 00:14:09,563 It's been a really difficult time for Lotus. 240 00:14:09,603 --> 00:14:12,323 Digby, get off my draw... 241 00:14:12,363 --> 00:14:14,003 Ah, no! 242 00:14:14,043 --> 00:14:16,043 I've carried that round for 30 years, 243 00:14:16,083 --> 00:14:19,043 it's now got dog prints on it. 244 00:14:19,083 --> 00:14:22,643 Over the last couple of decades, it's been a really difficult time. 245 00:14:22,683 --> 00:14:25,043 Some of the staff have been there a long time 246 00:14:25,083 --> 00:14:29,723 and have shown real loyalty to the company and we need to repay that 247 00:14:29,763 --> 00:14:32,643 now by looking after them and developing the facilities. 248 00:14:37,803 --> 00:14:41,643 The company's first new car in 12 years will more than treble 249 00:14:41,683 --> 00:14:47,283 production from 1,500 to over 5,000 cars a year. 250 00:14:47,323 --> 00:14:50,083 This production hall is brand-new. 251 00:14:50,123 --> 00:14:52,763 This is where we can build the new Emira. 252 00:14:58,003 --> 00:15:02,843 The all new assembly hall is the size of 1.5 football pitches. 253 00:15:02,883 --> 00:15:06,083 But for Matt, it's the little things that count. 254 00:15:06,123 --> 00:15:08,003 I don't have OCD. 255 00:15:08,043 --> 00:15:11,123 But uh, I've asked the production director how, 256 00:15:11,163 --> 00:15:13,083 how they're gonna align the cars down here 257 00:15:13,123 --> 00:15:15,323 and he's promised they'll be within three millimetres 258 00:15:15,363 --> 00:15:18,083 so when we look down you'll see a nice clean line of cars 259 00:15:18,123 --> 00:15:19,403 going down there. 260 00:15:22,483 --> 00:15:24,163 Hi, Phil, how's it going? 261 00:15:24,203 --> 00:15:26,963 Yeah, not too bad. Yeah, come and show us where we're at. 262 00:15:27,003 --> 00:15:29,363 Although mass production hasn't begun, 263 00:15:29,403 --> 00:15:31,323 several prototypes are being worked on 264 00:15:31,363 --> 00:15:33,923 to finesse the production process. 265 00:15:33,963 --> 00:15:36,443 So, this might look like a strange car 266 00:15:36,483 --> 00:15:40,443 but these here are literally the first parts that we've received 267 00:15:40,483 --> 00:15:45,203 for Emira, so we're getting them all checked through this queue. 268 00:15:45,243 --> 00:15:48,883 What that allows us to do is cycle panels through very quickly. 269 00:15:48,923 --> 00:15:52,123 If we've got a quality issue, we can see where the problem is, 270 00:15:52,163 --> 00:15:55,843 we'll know if they're good enough to go to the production line. 271 00:15:55,883 --> 00:16:00,123 So you can see here, the left-hand fender. 272 00:16:00,163 --> 00:16:04,923 As first-off parts, these look very good, very, very good. 273 00:16:04,963 --> 00:16:08,203 We talk about the step up in quality that we want to make. 274 00:16:08,243 --> 00:16:10,163 This is the investment we're making 275 00:16:10,203 --> 00:16:12,843 to get that quality we want on vehicles going forward 276 00:16:12,883 --> 00:16:15,763 so that we get a precision car that goes together right every time. 277 00:16:15,803 --> 00:16:19,123 But quality isn't the only thing on Matt's mind. 278 00:16:19,163 --> 00:16:22,723 In four weeks' time, the Emira will be announced to the world at 279 00:16:22,763 --> 00:16:27,323 legendary motor sport event the Goodwood Festival Of Speed. 280 00:16:27,363 --> 00:16:31,723 To ensure survival, Lotus is sticking to Chapman's mantra - 281 00:16:31,763 --> 00:16:34,603 add only lightness and simplicity. 282 00:16:34,643 --> 00:16:37,443 Nothing seems to damage this amazing material. 283 00:16:37,483 --> 00:16:40,203 You can hammer it, you can let the kids jump on it, 284 00:16:40,243 --> 00:16:41,843 and it still keeps its shape. 285 00:16:41,883 --> 00:16:45,123 In pursuit of this, Chapman pioneered the use of the composite 286 00:16:45,163 --> 00:16:47,883 materials that have now become the norm. 287 00:16:47,923 --> 00:16:50,723 We think that it's only a matter of time before the vast 288 00:16:50,763 --> 00:16:53,763 majority of cars are built out of plastic rather than steel, 289 00:16:53,803 --> 00:16:56,523 and therefore this is vital to our business. 290 00:17:02,723 --> 00:17:06,203 The type 12 chassis frame weighs just 17kg. 291 00:17:06,243 --> 00:17:08,243 You can pick it up with one hand. 292 00:17:08,283 --> 00:17:11,483 Um, this is the original car, the prototype, 293 00:17:11,523 --> 00:17:14,323 the very first one, and we couldn't believe it 294 00:17:14,363 --> 00:17:17,083 when we stripped it down and, and found it was that light. 295 00:17:17,123 --> 00:17:21,163 A real mantra of this Lotus and Lotuses after then. 296 00:17:21,203 --> 00:17:23,363 "Never mind the hat," says Graham Hill, 297 00:17:23,403 --> 00:17:25,083 "I can only just wear the car!" 298 00:17:25,123 --> 00:17:28,643 I think the 12 really captures the ethos of Lotus today 299 00:17:28,683 --> 00:17:31,643 because it's brave and it's bold. 300 00:17:32,923 --> 00:17:36,203 Exactly what you want as the foundations of a race car or 301 00:17:36,243 --> 00:17:39,843 a brand-new road car. 302 00:17:41,243 --> 00:17:43,723 Five miles from the main Hethel plant, 303 00:17:43,763 --> 00:17:46,923 they're building another factory. 304 00:17:46,963 --> 00:17:50,123 My name's Claire Moxon, I'm the manufacturing supervisor 305 00:17:50,163 --> 00:17:54,403 here at Lotus Advanced Structures, and I have a team of 34 general 306 00:17:54,443 --> 00:17:58,723 operatives where we are training them to build the new Emira model. 307 00:17:58,763 --> 00:18:03,283 So, this is our chassis assembly area. 308 00:18:03,323 --> 00:18:07,083 As Lotus embarks on a plan to build more cars, it's had to 309 00:18:07,123 --> 00:18:08,923 bring in more people. 310 00:18:08,963 --> 00:18:12,683 I've been steadily recruiting personnel and training them up 311 00:18:12,723 --> 00:18:16,323 to build cars. A lot of them have never built a chassis before. 312 00:18:16,363 --> 00:18:19,763 Even supervisor Claire is new. 313 00:18:19,803 --> 00:18:22,763 I am very new to the automotive industry. 314 00:18:22,803 --> 00:18:26,163 Um, I was in the RAF as an aircraft technician prior to that 315 00:18:26,203 --> 00:18:30,843 for 22 years. I left the RAF last July and came to Lotus. 316 00:18:30,883 --> 00:18:32,443 It's been a baptism of fire. 317 00:18:32,483 --> 00:18:36,843 I've slept better in Afghanistan than I have working for Lotus! 318 00:18:42,443 --> 00:18:46,123 Robots are used to bond the outer subframe together. 319 00:18:46,163 --> 00:18:50,443 But the more intricate parts of the chassis are built by hand. 320 00:18:50,483 --> 00:18:53,203 How's it going, guys? Temperature all right for the glue? 321 00:18:53,243 --> 00:18:54,643 Yeah. Yeah. 322 00:18:54,683 --> 00:18:57,723 So a lot of people don't realise that we actually glue these 323 00:18:57,763 --> 00:19:00,803 cars - it's lighter than welding, 324 00:19:00,843 --> 00:19:06,043 and actually the adhesive is even stronger than a welded join. 325 00:19:06,083 --> 00:19:11,123 This strength is achieved by baking the glue at a high temperature. 326 00:19:11,163 --> 00:19:13,003 OK, guys, let's get the car in the oven. 327 00:19:15,163 --> 00:19:18,483 When the factory is complete, the process of putting the chassis 328 00:19:18,523 --> 00:19:23,203 in the oven will be automated, but for now it will be done manually. 329 00:19:24,643 --> 00:19:29,163 Claire's 20 years of military experience is clearly paying off. 330 00:19:31,203 --> 00:19:34,043 Does that one need to come in a little bit there? 331 00:19:34,083 --> 00:19:36,323 It looks as if it's going off to the right there. 332 00:19:36,363 --> 00:19:38,563 What my training from the military gives me 333 00:19:38,603 --> 00:19:41,083 is a hard stance on certain things. 334 00:19:42,403 --> 00:19:43,363 Whoa. 335 00:19:43,403 --> 00:19:46,683 But also that we have to nurture people and we have be supportive. 336 00:19:46,723 --> 00:19:49,163 Like the Incredible Hulk going in there. 337 00:19:54,923 --> 00:19:58,203 I don't think people realise how difficult it is to assemble 338 00:19:58,243 --> 00:20:01,563 a car, and the length of time it takes to train the people to 339 00:20:01,603 --> 00:20:03,203 be able to build that car. 340 00:20:07,243 --> 00:20:09,603 Now the Emira is in the oven cycle, 341 00:20:09,643 --> 00:20:13,523 so we're going to put that on to 180 degrees 342 00:20:13,563 --> 00:20:16,243 for an hour and a half, much like a chicken. 343 00:20:18,003 --> 00:20:21,563 With everyone focused on ironing out any problems to get the new 344 00:20:21,603 --> 00:20:23,643 model onto the production line... 345 00:20:23,683 --> 00:20:26,763 As you can see, there's a bit of work to be done on this. 346 00:20:26,803 --> 00:20:31,083 ..MD Matt Windle has come to inspect another one of three prototypes. 347 00:20:31,123 --> 00:20:33,203 This is just the body shell. 348 00:20:33,243 --> 00:20:36,843 We use the time now to prepare us when we're at volume. 349 00:20:36,883 --> 00:20:39,283 Because if you hit an issue when you're trying to build 350 00:20:39,323 --> 00:20:41,563 at volume, you've got major issues on your hands. 351 00:20:41,603 --> 00:20:44,963 But even before production flaws are ironed out, Lotus is 352 00:20:45,003 --> 00:20:48,123 planning on announcing the car to the world. 353 00:20:48,163 --> 00:20:50,843 In just three weeks' time, this Emira will 354 00:20:50,883 --> 00:20:55,563 make its debut at Britain's most famous celebration of motor sport. 355 00:20:55,603 --> 00:20:57,883 It's really important for us that we're at Goodwood 356 00:20:57,923 --> 00:21:00,363 and we will hit those dates. 357 00:21:00,403 --> 00:21:04,123 The problem we've got here at the moment is we're still 358 00:21:04,163 --> 00:21:07,163 building our current range, so it's a bit of a jigsaw puzzle to try 359 00:21:07,203 --> 00:21:09,763 and build a new factory around our current production. 360 00:21:09,803 --> 00:21:12,443 If you think about everything that we got to achieve, it'd send 361 00:21:12,483 --> 00:21:13,923 you slightly mad. 362 00:21:13,963 --> 00:21:17,763 When it comes to selling high-end sports cars, it's not just 363 00:21:17,803 --> 00:21:21,203 looks that will persuade customers to part with their cash. 364 00:21:21,243 --> 00:21:24,683 They also have to be sold on the sound. 365 00:21:25,923 --> 00:21:29,483 Noise and vibration engineer Kirsty Aaron is using an older 366 00:21:29,523 --> 00:21:31,923 model as a benchmark for the new car. 367 00:21:34,323 --> 00:21:37,603 So this room is a vehicle semi-anechoic chamber 368 00:21:37,643 --> 00:21:39,523 for noise measurement. 369 00:21:39,563 --> 00:21:43,323 Basically the cones on the walls stop the noises that we're measuring 370 00:21:43,363 --> 00:21:46,443 being reflected back, which makes for a more accurate measurement. 371 00:21:50,683 --> 00:21:54,123 People judge the car on what it looks like to begin with, and 372 00:21:54,163 --> 00:21:56,683 then obviously what it sounds like - and it's the same 373 00:21:56,723 --> 00:21:59,763 with people, right? You judge someone and as soon as you see them. 374 00:21:59,803 --> 00:22:03,003 If they're wearing something like bright or colourful, you're like, 375 00:22:03,043 --> 00:22:06,043 "Oh, they look a bit funky!" and the same with your sound as well. 376 00:22:06,083 --> 00:22:11,003 But today it's not the engine noise that Kirsty's measuring - 377 00:22:11,043 --> 00:22:12,843 it's the indicators. 378 00:22:12,883 --> 00:22:15,963 This is one of the things that we want to focus on to show that 379 00:22:16,003 --> 00:22:18,123 we're improving on quality. 380 00:22:18,163 --> 00:22:20,923 I'm going to take a few different measurements 381 00:22:20,963 --> 00:22:24,523 so that we can take an average, and then we use the objective 382 00:22:24,563 --> 00:22:27,443 and subjective data to decide where we want 383 00:22:27,483 --> 00:22:30,683 to place our product in terms of perceived quality. 384 00:22:30,723 --> 00:22:35,523 So Kirsty picks the best sounds and gets the engineers to copy them. 385 00:22:35,563 --> 00:22:39,523 We basically have a rating scale of like how we subjectively 386 00:22:39,563 --> 00:22:41,523 assess vehicles, 387 00:22:41,563 --> 00:22:44,883 and it goes from sort of being like - no-one's going to pick it up 388 00:22:44,923 --> 00:22:46,243 to, like, SOME people might, 389 00:22:46,283 --> 00:22:49,763 REALLY fussy people will, EVERYONE will, kind of thing. 390 00:22:49,803 --> 00:22:54,123 This one, I'd say is quite a pleasant noise for an indicator. 391 00:22:54,163 --> 00:22:58,083 But equally, you've got to make it loud enough that people know 392 00:22:58,123 --> 00:23:01,283 that it's there, just in case they have to click it off again. 393 00:23:01,323 --> 00:23:05,883 However you don't want it to be too loud so that it's offensive. 394 00:23:05,923 --> 00:23:08,603 We've got to up our game from a quality standard. 395 00:23:08,643 --> 00:23:11,163 If we want to sell cars, we've got to 396 00:23:11,203 --> 00:23:13,203 be, like, going for the big guns. 397 00:23:14,643 --> 00:23:17,683 To do that, Lotus needs to broaden it's appeal. 398 00:23:18,843 --> 00:23:22,083 We've been making road cars in the last 25 years. 399 00:23:22,123 --> 00:23:26,203 But most people associate them with being very enthusiast-driven, 400 00:23:26,243 --> 00:23:27,563 very track-focused. 401 00:23:27,603 --> 00:23:31,163 Lotus has never been known for luxurious interiors, 402 00:23:31,203 --> 00:23:34,723 but it's hoping the new car will change all that. 403 00:23:34,763 --> 00:23:37,763 So this is really a car that, you know, you can use every day. 404 00:23:37,803 --> 00:23:41,163 We have some really strong competitors in this market 405 00:23:41,203 --> 00:23:44,883 and so this car is a car without apologies, without compromise. 406 00:23:44,923 --> 00:23:46,963 It's the most complete Lotus ever made, I think. 407 00:23:58,883 --> 00:24:02,963 The huge new investment in Lotus' bid to improve output 408 00:24:03,003 --> 00:24:06,763 from 1,500 to over 5,000 cars a year 409 00:24:06,803 --> 00:24:09,683 is not without consequence. 410 00:24:09,723 --> 00:24:12,483 As the firm aims to treble the number of cars it builds, 411 00:24:12,523 --> 00:24:16,323 some of the in-house ways of making things can't keep pace. 412 00:24:16,363 --> 00:24:20,003 So the work will be outsourced and those departments shut down. 413 00:24:20,043 --> 00:24:22,563 Hello. Hi, Trace, how are you? I'm good, thank you. 414 00:24:22,603 --> 00:24:24,803 So we'll go up and have a look in the engine build first. 415 00:24:24,843 --> 00:24:26,283 OK lovely, thank you. 416 00:24:26,323 --> 00:24:28,443 One of those departments is the trim shop, 417 00:24:28,483 --> 00:24:31,123 which means workers like Tracy Cushing will need to find 418 00:24:31,163 --> 00:24:33,243 new roles within the company. 419 00:24:33,283 --> 00:24:35,883 For me personally it is an end of an era, quite sad. 420 00:24:35,923 --> 00:24:39,003 But for engine supervisor Mike Antoniades... 421 00:24:39,043 --> 00:24:42,123 OK, if you can run those volts in please, Tracy. 422 00:24:42,163 --> 00:24:45,763 ..this could be the perfect opportunity to recruit from within. 423 00:24:45,803 --> 00:24:47,523 Is there a set order to do these or, is it? 424 00:24:47,563 --> 00:24:49,963 No, you can do them in any order because we're not tightening 425 00:24:50,003 --> 00:24:51,763 them up at the moment. 426 00:24:51,803 --> 00:24:54,523 Mike's got lots of new roles to fill 427 00:24:54,563 --> 00:24:58,363 and staff from other departments bring transferrable skills. 428 00:24:58,403 --> 00:25:00,723 It's a ratchet spanner, which I know you're familiar with 429 00:25:00,763 --> 00:25:02,083 from working in trim. 430 00:25:02,123 --> 00:25:04,443 And just do them up hand tight please. What, like a torque? 431 00:25:04,483 --> 00:25:06,323 Yeah, that's what you're doing, exactly. 432 00:25:06,363 --> 00:25:08,323 Are you sure? Yeah. 433 00:25:08,363 --> 00:25:11,003 Really? Yeah. 434 00:25:11,043 --> 00:25:12,483 Yep, that's it, cool. 435 00:25:12,523 --> 00:25:15,243 Tracy has spent 20 years in the trim shop 436 00:25:15,283 --> 00:25:17,483 but, like many, she will have to adapt 437 00:25:17,523 --> 00:25:19,723 if the company is to move forward. 438 00:25:22,323 --> 00:25:24,283 Yep, that's good. 439 00:25:24,323 --> 00:25:27,003 I bet it could be more fun than the sewing machine. 440 00:25:27,043 --> 00:25:28,523 It could be my new love, eh?! 441 00:25:30,523 --> 00:25:32,163 That's it, well done. 442 00:25:32,203 --> 00:25:33,683 What do you think of all that, then? 443 00:25:33,723 --> 00:25:36,043 Well, I'll be looking for a job in here, it's good fun. 444 00:25:36,083 --> 00:25:38,523 It's really good fun. Good. 445 00:25:38,563 --> 00:25:41,163 So, it's important to do this to show others in the teams 446 00:25:41,203 --> 00:25:43,403 the challenges that we've all got in front of us 447 00:25:43,443 --> 00:25:45,523 and the opportunities we can all take. 448 00:25:45,563 --> 00:25:47,643 And it's not such a scary world out there 449 00:25:47,683 --> 00:25:49,603 after we finish in the interiors. 450 00:25:49,643 --> 00:25:52,203 We can all do new things, we can all learn new things. 451 00:25:53,843 --> 00:25:57,163 Carefully prepared engines in lightweight chassis 452 00:25:57,203 --> 00:26:00,403 have always allowed Lotus cars to punch above their weight. 453 00:26:02,443 --> 00:26:06,163 And that was especially true on the track. 454 00:26:12,163 --> 00:26:16,723 By 1967, Lotus had two F1 world titles to its name 455 00:26:16,763 --> 00:26:20,763 and was poised to make another leap into the future... 456 00:26:20,803 --> 00:26:23,283 COMMENTATOR: A shout of victory from Colin Chapman. 457 00:26:23,323 --> 00:26:27,123 ..as the car company's founder unleashed the Lotus 49. 458 00:26:27,163 --> 00:26:31,683 My father knew how to identify the people who could build good engines 459 00:26:31,723 --> 00:26:36,443 and he was always on the lookout for the best source of power. 460 00:26:37,763 --> 00:26:41,923 The Lotus 49 realised the biggest ever step in performance 461 00:26:41,963 --> 00:26:45,723 year on year in Formula One and it's never been beaten. 462 00:26:45,763 --> 00:26:50,403 The 49 was designed in conjunction with the Ford Cosworth DFV 463 00:26:50,443 --> 00:26:53,443 engine, which would go on to dominate F1 464 00:26:53,483 --> 00:26:55,603 for the next 15 years. 465 00:26:57,363 --> 00:27:01,763 Today, the long term plan for Lotus is to become an all-electric 466 00:27:01,803 --> 00:27:05,803 carmaker, which means the new Emira will be the last 467 00:27:05,843 --> 00:27:09,243 internal combustion engine car they ever make. 468 00:27:10,643 --> 00:27:14,123 In the new factory, another milestone is approaching. 469 00:27:14,163 --> 00:27:15,643 There you go mate hold on. Ten? 470 00:27:15,683 --> 00:27:18,003 No, it's a nine, we haven't got a ten at the moment. 471 00:27:18,043 --> 00:27:22,403 30 year Lotus veteran Simon King will be mating the 400 horsepower 472 00:27:22,443 --> 00:27:27,043 Emira engine to its chassis on the shop floor for the first time. 473 00:27:27,083 --> 00:27:29,403 Exciting but nervous, you never know, 474 00:27:29,443 --> 00:27:33,043 but, yeah, fingers crossed it's going to go in. 475 00:27:33,083 --> 00:27:37,243 Helping Simon will be Andy, arguably the best man for the job. 476 00:27:38,483 --> 00:27:39,883 Yeah, yeah best friends, yeah. 477 00:27:39,923 --> 00:27:41,803 Best...best man at his wed...at my wedding. 478 00:27:41,843 --> 00:27:44,523 Take your T-bar off Andy. Yeah. 479 00:27:44,563 --> 00:27:47,003 Yeah, we've been working together 20 years so, yeah, 480 00:27:47,043 --> 00:27:49,203 good fun, good fun. 481 00:27:52,763 --> 00:27:55,523 It demands a pair of highly experienced technicians 482 00:27:55,563 --> 00:27:59,043 to go through this delicate fitting of engine to chassis. 483 00:27:59,083 --> 00:28:01,643 So, down, Si. Down a little bit? Yep. 484 00:28:01,683 --> 00:28:04,083 Little bit more. So, what, go down a little bit more, Andy? 485 00:28:04,123 --> 00:28:05,603 Hang on, one sec. 486 00:28:05,643 --> 00:28:07,483 Need to go towards you a bit. 487 00:28:07,523 --> 00:28:09,843 OK, hold on, mate. How we looking? 488 00:28:09,883 --> 00:28:14,243 Eventually, this fiddly task will take under 20 minutes. 489 00:28:14,283 --> 00:28:15,763 There you go, Andy, I'm loose now. 490 00:28:15,803 --> 00:28:17,123 Are you in, Andy? 491 00:28:17,163 --> 00:28:18,883 It went in but it ain't coming out! 492 00:28:18,923 --> 00:28:21,963 But for the moment, it's a steep learning curve. 493 00:28:22,003 --> 00:28:25,003 It's quite a fiddly job and cos it's so much weight, 494 00:28:25,043 --> 00:28:27,083 it's a lot to jiggle about and, uh, 495 00:28:27,123 --> 00:28:29,603 just to get the bolts in straight away. 496 00:28:29,643 --> 00:28:31,963 But we'll get there. We'll get there. 497 00:28:32,003 --> 00:28:34,563 How we doing under there? 498 00:28:34,603 --> 00:28:36,323 Ah, this is a bugger. 499 00:28:36,363 --> 00:28:38,403 There's just no clearance at all. 500 00:28:38,443 --> 00:28:40,963 This trial run will help iron out the kinks... 501 00:28:41,003 --> 00:28:42,323 Here we go. 502 00:28:42,363 --> 00:28:46,563 ..before the factory is at full chat, making 5,000 cars every year. 503 00:28:46,603 --> 00:28:48,803 Green is good. 504 00:28:48,843 --> 00:28:50,563 Where's me hat? 505 00:28:50,603 --> 00:28:52,243 Today, it took two and a half hours. 506 00:28:52,283 --> 00:28:54,523 Good, gents? Yeah, all good thank you. 507 00:28:54,563 --> 00:28:56,363 Lovely, thank you very much. 508 00:28:56,403 --> 00:29:01,723 So, yeah, first one, very happy with and let's move onto the second. 509 00:29:01,763 --> 00:29:03,523 Do you want me to take this wheel off. Simon? 510 00:29:03,563 --> 00:29:06,563 Yeah, do you want to jack, just jack her up? Yeah. 511 00:29:06,603 --> 00:29:10,643 But for many at Lotus, like Kevin and Simon, 512 00:29:10,683 --> 00:29:14,843 the last combustion engine car is met with mixed feelings. 513 00:29:14,883 --> 00:29:17,563 Don't know where the string lines are, do you know where they are? 514 00:29:17,603 --> 00:29:19,603 Um, on the top of my tool box. Ah, that's all right. 515 00:29:19,643 --> 00:29:21,923 This is, unfortunately, the last combustion engine car 516 00:29:21,963 --> 00:29:23,883 that we're going to develop here at Lotus 517 00:29:23,923 --> 00:29:26,203 and it's a shame, really, cos we're all, uh, 518 00:29:26,243 --> 00:29:28,563 petrol heads through and through here. 519 00:29:28,603 --> 00:29:30,803 Go right, I've got that zero point there Simon. 520 00:29:30,843 --> 00:29:32,883 Bang on 600. 521 00:29:32,923 --> 00:29:35,083 It's the same as the other car, so... Excellent. 522 00:29:35,123 --> 00:29:37,883 So, we're spot on with that. 523 00:29:37,923 --> 00:29:40,523 It is the future and you have to go with it. 524 00:29:40,563 --> 00:29:42,883 It's going to be pretty sad when the last petrol engine car 525 00:29:42,923 --> 00:29:44,243 comes off the line. 526 00:29:44,283 --> 00:29:47,603 I'll probably be here for the last of the petrol cars and then 527 00:29:47,643 --> 00:29:51,723 I can slide into retirement and play with my own petrol cars. 528 00:29:51,763 --> 00:29:56,243 The Emira will be shown off to the world in just two weeks' time 529 00:29:56,283 --> 00:29:59,523 and everyone at Lotus is beginning to feel the pressure. 530 00:29:59,563 --> 00:30:02,963 Commercially, for the company this is such an important product. 531 00:30:03,003 --> 00:30:05,283 So there is a certain trepidation that you just don't 532 00:30:05,323 --> 00:30:07,723 know how the car's going to be judged. 533 00:30:07,763 --> 00:30:11,043 For Russell Carr, who led the Emira's design, 534 00:30:11,083 --> 00:30:14,923 revealing the car at Goodwood has an added personal resonance. 535 00:30:15,963 --> 00:30:19,803 So, this is the picture at Goodwood in 1960. 536 00:30:19,843 --> 00:30:22,123 In the picture here you got Jack Brabham, 537 00:30:22,163 --> 00:30:24,523 who was then the reigning Formula One world champion. 538 00:30:24,563 --> 00:30:25,883 Donald Campbell. 539 00:30:25,923 --> 00:30:28,483 Uh, Donald Campbell's wife Tonya in the background 540 00:30:28,523 --> 00:30:31,403 and there's...there's my father. 541 00:30:31,443 --> 00:30:33,843 So, he worked with Donald Campbell, who's a very successful 542 00:30:33,883 --> 00:30:35,763 water speed record holder. 543 00:30:35,803 --> 00:30:38,403 And then in 1960, he decided he was going to go for 544 00:30:38,443 --> 00:30:42,203 the land speed record at Bonneville Salt Flats. 545 00:30:42,243 --> 00:30:46,043 Russell's father was the project manager for Campbell's Bluebird - 546 00:30:46,083 --> 00:30:49,563 a land speed record breaking car that was first shown off 547 00:30:49,603 --> 00:30:52,443 in 1960 at Goodwood. 548 00:30:52,483 --> 00:30:56,323 In front of the car, you can see Campbell and my father again, 549 00:30:56,363 --> 00:30:58,843 with the famous stand behind there. 550 00:30:58,883 --> 00:31:01,003 I guess a little bit like we're going to be doing 551 00:31:01,043 --> 00:31:03,483 with Emira fairly shortly. 552 00:31:03,523 --> 00:31:06,123 Vehicles, for both of us, were important 553 00:31:06,163 --> 00:31:09,003 and I was surrounded by that sort of passion for vehicles 554 00:31:09,043 --> 00:31:11,683 and thought they were important. 555 00:31:11,723 --> 00:31:15,683 Yeah, it was quite sort of touching, my dad was quite proud, I think so. 556 00:31:24,843 --> 00:31:27,523 With the assembly line kinks ironed out, 557 00:31:27,563 --> 00:31:31,123 this new facility will now produce more cars than ever - 558 00:31:31,163 --> 00:31:34,243 creating hundreds of new jobs. 559 00:31:34,283 --> 00:31:36,163 It's a bit mad, really. 560 00:31:36,203 --> 00:31:38,843 Ten years, this structure's stood here waiting for this 561 00:31:38,883 --> 00:31:40,683 production facility to be built. 562 00:31:40,723 --> 00:31:42,443 This is our future here. 563 00:31:42,483 --> 00:31:46,123 But for the moment, all hands are on prototype number one, 564 00:31:46,163 --> 00:31:50,483 as Lotus prepare to reveal their new car to the world's press. 565 00:31:53,403 --> 00:31:55,083 ENGINE REVS 566 00:31:58,803 --> 00:32:00,523 CHEERS AND APPLAUSE 567 00:32:02,083 --> 00:32:04,403 But it won't be the journalists who will determine 568 00:32:04,443 --> 00:32:06,843 if this car is a success or not... 569 00:32:06,883 --> 00:32:08,523 And it's absolutely beautiful. 570 00:32:08,563 --> 00:32:10,283 ..it'll be their fans... 571 00:32:10,323 --> 00:32:11,963 I really like it, actually. 572 00:32:12,003 --> 00:32:14,083 It's something a little bit different from Lotus. 573 00:32:14,123 --> 00:32:16,643 ..at the Goodwood Festival of Speed. 574 00:32:18,523 --> 00:32:21,843 The legendary motor sport event has arrived. 575 00:32:21,883 --> 00:32:24,843 First stand you see coming to Goodwood is Lotus. 576 00:32:24,883 --> 00:32:28,083 Big presence and we got a big crowd here as well. 577 00:32:28,123 --> 00:32:32,083 For Russell, it's almost 61 years to the day 578 00:32:32,123 --> 00:32:35,403 that his father revealed Bluebird for the first time. 579 00:32:37,683 --> 00:32:40,683 I think he would be proud that I'm doing something that I'm passionate 580 00:32:40,723 --> 00:32:43,003 about and he was a Lotus fan as well, 581 00:32:43,043 --> 00:32:46,043 so I'm sure he'd be really excited. 582 00:32:46,083 --> 00:32:49,283 For years, Lotus have struggled to make money 583 00:32:49,323 --> 00:32:52,163 but they hope this car marks a change. 584 00:32:52,203 --> 00:32:55,163 I've had Lotuses for years and it just looks like 585 00:32:55,203 --> 00:32:57,963 the next generation should do. 586 00:32:58,003 --> 00:33:01,523 And it's not just the die-hard fans who are impressed. 587 00:33:01,563 --> 00:33:04,003 Ooh, oh, oh! 588 00:33:04,043 --> 00:33:06,883 It just holds the road so well. 589 00:33:08,563 --> 00:33:11,083 We're taking orders as we speak. 590 00:33:11,123 --> 00:33:13,243 It's a fantastic piece of kit. 591 00:33:13,283 --> 00:33:14,883 For Matt Windle and the team, 592 00:33:14,923 --> 00:33:17,203 Goodwood could not have gone any better. 593 00:33:17,243 --> 00:33:19,963 Brimming order books and renewed confidence. 594 00:33:20,003 --> 00:33:22,163 It's where we are as a business, it shows our progress. 595 00:33:22,203 --> 00:33:24,203 It's the last combustion engine car we're doing, 596 00:33:24,243 --> 00:33:25,803 so we wanted to make it best in breed. 597 00:33:25,843 --> 00:33:28,043 It's the most accomplished Lotus that's ever come out 598 00:33:28,083 --> 00:33:29,323 the gates of the factory. 599 00:33:34,523 --> 00:33:37,443 Buy whether this new car marks the bright new beginning 600 00:33:37,483 --> 00:33:41,123 everyone craves, only time will tell. 601 00:33:58,003 --> 00:34:00,083 Subtitles by Red Bee Media