Despite being told that the new Lotus would not be built outside of the UK, it transpires that Proton, Lotus’s parent company have entered into an agreement with a company that builds buses. The Jinhua Neoplan Vehicle Co will be building the new car at their plant in Jinhua, China. If you believe what is written in the Chinese press.

The Lotus will be the one of two cars that will be built in China; the other is a four door Proton.

It is believed that once the plant is up and running they should be able to produce around 150,000 Lotus Europa’s per year, initially they will be sold in China, but as the stock increases then they will be available for export and the target marketplace will be the USA.

Yet from the UK, Lotus Cars still denies that the car will be built in China, in an email to staff, Lotus Chairman, Mike Kimberley has reassured them that there are no plans to build Lotus Cars outside of the UK plant at Hethal.

Clearly this is just another one of those stories that spring up every now and then, yes there is truth in the fact that Proton have agreed to build a new four door car in China, as for Lotus they say no cars will be built outside of the UK. Mind you China can get around that by just renaming one of their cities to “UK”!

Source [Left Lane News]

Lotus recently lent out their new 2-eleven roadster to MotorTrend magazine for a test drive. But just from a first impression of this car on the track begs the question: did they build a new roadster or the worlds fasted Go-kart?

With a zero-to-60 time of 3.8 seconds and 252-horses galloping behind you in this rear-engine car you will be sure to turn heads. Just pack a cushion for your bum because it is going to be a bumpy ride.

Not that i wouldn’t mind a few laps in this lean machine myself. This is as close to a two-seater motorcycle as you might get.

It is unlikely you will ever see this car on your commute to work, and there are few James Deans out there that would drive their race car to the track these days. However, with a full helmet so you are not eating bugs, this might be the ultimate road course car.