Zenos Cars signs Heads of Terms with Lotus Cars for Hethel Performance Hub production centre

• Lotus Cars Limited’s Hethel Performance Hub officially opens
• Zenos Cars has signed Heads of Terms with Lotus Cars, with a view to using the Hethel Performance Hub as a centre for the production of vehicles into the future

• Industry Minister, Chris McDonald MP, opened the centre in Norfolk
• New Zenos E10RZ on display in Hethel for opening event
• Zenos continues its founding principle of delivering light-weight, highly advanced sports cars

Already globally recognised as a centre of excellence, the famous Hethel site’s transformation to a nucleus of high-performance automotive innovation will power a new era of advanced vehicle design and manufacture in the UK.

Part of wider programme of investment, new infrastructure and development, it will fuel further expansion and support long-term regional growth. The new, integrated centre for automotive engineering, manufacture and testing was officially opened by Industry Minister, Chris McDonald MP., with Zenos Cars on hand to explain it products and approach.

Joining the other Hethel Performance Hub partners, Zenos Cars displayed the new high-performance Zenos E10RZ road and track model alongside programmes already underway at Hethel. Covering component supply, engineering initiatives and vehicle development activities, the site offers tremendous breadth and flexibility of purpose to its partners.

Returning to its roots – having been originally founded nearby in 2012, Zenos Cars has signed Heads of Terms with Lotus Cars, with a view to using the Hethel Performance Hub as a centre for the production of vehicles into the future.

Chris McDonald MP was joined by industry leaders, partners and regional stakeholders for a tour of the facilities, highlighting the potential of housing engineering, manufacturing and testing capacities within a single site, before taking to the on-site test track. The Industry Minster also unveiled a plaque to mark this major milestone in the development of Lotus’ Norfolk site.

Speaking of the Hethel Performance Hub’s opening, Alan Lubinsky, Chairman Zenos Cars, said: ‘To have a centre that seamlessly pulls together so many of the disciplines needed to deliver highly advanced vehicles for clients globally represents a significant opportunity for Zenos Cars. Today the barriers to low-volume, high performance automotive engineering are considerable and, with the Hethel Performance Hub able to tap into and draw from the region’s already strong reputation for excellence, we are excited for what lies ahead.’

Zenos Cars and the E10 range
Zenos Cars was born though innovation and the great British tradition of building light-weight, highly capable sports cars. Drawing on advanced chassis design, cutting edge production techniques, and the latest powertrain technologies, it remains committed to the UK as the base of its operation and delivering cars to clients worldwide.

Celebrated for its core engineering principles, the original Zenos E10 combined time honoured engineering concepts with new materials and approaches, and reset expectations for lightweight British sports cars.

However, for its return the new E10 has been completely revised to receive fresh enhancements and engine configurations. The headline 2.0-litre turbocharged powertrain includes CAN bus control and a new induction and intercooler package – paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox. Providing 380bhp at 6000rpm (approx.) and 510Nm at 3000-4500rpm (approx.) it offers benchmark performance.

Using a large, single aluminium extrusion spine, the chassis provides excellent torsional rigidity, while the addition of a carbon fibre tub and full carbon fibre body keep kerb weight to a minimum.

The fully independent front suspension utilises pushrod and inboard-mounted dampers to reduce drag, lower un-sprung mass and improve ride and steering response. At the rear, conventional coil over dampers mount directly to the extruded aluminium subframe, which holds the engine and gearbox. A limited slip differential maximises traction when cornering at higher speeds.

The new Zenos E10 range will start from approx. £130,000 OTR, with full details released later this year.
Photo credit: Zenos Cars
Posted on Autotech-plus.com

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