Article from BTNews 1 OCTOBER 2018
Lotus celebrates 70 years and expansion
Exclusive car manufacturer Lotus celebrated 70 years since its creation in a North London small lock-up workshop by the late Colin Chapman with a massive party at its Hethel, Norfolk headquarters last Saturday (29 September). 
Over 700 Lotus cars, said to be a world record figure for a single marque, lapped the company test track.
In attendance was Chapman’s widow Hazel, and son Clive whose Classic Team Lotus paraded a selection of Formula One cars including perhaps the greatest of them all, the 1967 Lotus 49 which took 12 wins and contributed to two drivers' and constructors' world championships, before it was replaced by the Lotus 72 during 1970.
Lotus is majority-owned by the Chinese automotive manufacturing company Geely, investor in Volvo and the London black taxicab firm LEVC.
Lotus chose the occasion to unveil ambitious plans for a customer experience facility, heritage centre and museum.
Speaking on the occasion, Group Lotus chief executive officer Feng Qingfeng said: “The progress of these developments at Hethel demonstrates our commitment to Lotus and its bright future. Hethel is rightly the centre of the brand and what better place for customers, aspiring owners and staff to experience our values?
Hethel is, and will always be, the heart of Lotus and our plans are the next step in readying the site for the next 50 years.”
Enjoy the first four minutes of this video.
And this one too, but click to 4hr 28min unless you want to view many varied Lotus on the test track.
Hethel on video - 70 Years - Saturday 28 September 2018
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