Lotus – Red Dot Design Awards

Archive for 2024

Lotus – Red Dot Design Awards

Posted by Allaster Gair

Member of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA), Lotus Cars Europe, was recently awarded two Red Dot Design Awards in Product Design for its hyper electric vehicles, the Eletre (a hyper-SUV) and the Emeya (a hyper-GT).

The Awards are a prestigious global competition recognising excellence in design, judged on criteria such as aesthetics, functionality, innovation, and smart design. The jury praised these vehicles for combining Lotus’ 76-year heritage in British sports car design with advanced technology, comfort, and dynamic performance, creating electric cars that are both fun to drive and practical for daily use.

Lotus’ achievements reflect the brand’s dedication to excellence and innovation, reinforcing the strong global identity of our members as leaders in the automotive industry.

Monterey Car Week

Posted by Allaster Gair

Members of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) continue to lead the way in innovation and craftsmanship at Monterey Car Week 2024, showcasing their latest masterpieces.

Pagani Automobili has once again set the benchmark with the introduction of the Utopia Roadster. This stunning drop-top variant of the Utopia features a Mercedes-AMG twin-turbocharged 6.0-litre V12 engine and a bespoke seven-speed manual transmission by XTrac. Elsewhere, the Pagani Zonda Arrivederci will debut at The Quail.

Hispano Suiza brought their Carmen Sagrera to Monterey, continuing the celebration of their 120th anniversary. Following the dynamic debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Carmen Sagrera boasts an upgraded 103kWh battery, delivering an impressive 298 miles of range. With 1,114bhp, this all-electric supercar accelerates from 0 to 62 mph in just 2.6 seconds.

Rimac Automobili has teased car enthusiasts with the promise of a new hypercar reveal. At the time of writing, details remain under wraps, however, all eyes are on Rimac to see if this new model will surpass the groundbreaking Nevera. Last year, the Nevera Time Attack edition captivated Monterey Car Week, selling out all 12 units before the official reveal.

McLaren Automotive Ltd has this year returned to Monterey Car Week to celebrate the 30th Anniversary of Ayrton Senna’s legacy. The brand will host an exclusive experience, offering guests unparalleled access to McLaren’s world, complete with a five-day itinerary filled with thrilling activities and luxury accommodations. This tribute, hosted by Bruno Senna, underscored McLaren’s ongoing commitment to innovation and the enduring impact of Ayrton Senna on the world of motorsport.

ESCA is proud to support these pioneering manufacturers who continue to push the boundaries of automotive excellence.

Automotive Manufacturing

Posted by Allaster Gair

Automotive manufacturing is at the heart of job creation in the European Union, and according to data from the European Automobile Manufacturers’​ Association (ACEA), the industry provides employment for 3.1 million people across the continent.

Between 2022 and 2023, members of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) employed approximately 9,000 people directly, and a further 9,000 through their relevant supply chains. From Woking, England to Barcelona, Spain and Sveta Nedelja, Croatia, our SVM and USVM members are helping lead the charge in fostering growth and creating employment opportunities in the automotive sector.

Through the innovative manufacturing work done by each of our members, they are also significantly contributing to the advancement of automotive technology and positioning Europe as a global leader in this field. Their dedication to these efforts ensures that our members are not just keeping pace with the evolving market demands, but actively shaping the future of automotive manufacturing for years to come.

Autocar Great Women 2024 Awards

Posted by Allaster Gair

Earlier this year, the winners of the Autocar Great Women 2024 Awards were announced. We were delighted to see representatives of McLaren Automotive Ltd, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, Lotus Cars Europe and INEOS Automotive nominated throughout the various categories.

We would like to congratulate all of these outstanding individuals on their achievement, and in particular, President of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA), Helen Foord, on her nomination.

Run by AutoCar in association with the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), Great Women celebrates the achievements of the most influential women across the motoring sector.

Goodwood Festival of Speed

Posted by Allaster Gair

At the recent Goodwood Festival of Speed, the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) was represented by a series of high-profile automotive debuts and displays from our members.

Only a few weeks after being revealed by Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, the Valiant, driven by Fernando Alonso, made its global debut on the historic Goodwood Hillclimb. Across the remainder of the Festival, the Valkyrie, Valour, Victor, Vantage and DBX707 were also out on display.

BUGATTI made the public debut of the recently announced Bugatti Tourbillon, powered by an all-new 8.3 litre naturally aspirated V16 engine. Those attending the Festival were also able to see the Bolide, Mistral and other iconic models from Bugatti over the weekend.

Hispano Suiza revealed the Carmen Sagrera hypercar for the first time outside Spain. The Carmen Sagrera completed its first kilometres on the famous Hillclimb driven by Luis Pérez-Sala, Hispano Suiza ambassador and former Formula 1 driver.

Elsewhere, Koenigsegg Automotive AB introduced the CC850, while the Lotus Cars Europe Evija set a new record time of 51.6 seconds for a two-seater production car on the Hillclimb.

McLaren Automotive Ltd paid tribute to Ayrton Senna by running his 1991 championship-winning MP4/6, driven by his nephew Bruno Senna, with Emerson Fittipaldi driving his championship-winning M23. Johnny Rutherford’s Indianapolis 500-winning M16C/D was on display for those at the Festival alongside the impressive Senna Supercar. Two-time Formula World Champion, Mika Häkkinen, also took to the wheel of the McLaren Solus GT.

This year saw Pagani Automobili attend with the largest selection of automobiles in their history of participation at Goodwood Festival of Speed. Throughout the Festival the Imola Roadster, Huayra Epitome, Utopia, Huayra R, Huayra Roadster, and Zonda Roadster were on view.

Finally, Praga displayed both their R1 race car and Bohema hypercar, while Rimac Automobili showcased the exclusive and newly revealed Nevera 15 Year Anniversary Edition in the Hillclimb.

2024 British Grand Prix

Posted by Allaster Gair

Members of the Small Volume Car Manufacturers’ Alliance (ESCA), Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd and McLaren Automotive Ltd, showcased impressive performances at the British Grand Prix last weekend. As the F1 2024 Season continues on, both teams demonstrated remarkable skill on the Silverstone Circuit and secured vital points in the Championship.

Their commendable performances highlight the technical iniquity of of our members, and we would like to wish them both the best of luck for the remainder of the F1 2024 Season.

Electric Revolution

Posted by Allaster Gair

According to the European Automobile Manufacturers’​ Association (ACEA), over 20% of new cars sold in the EU are now electrically chargeable.

Hispano Suiza, member of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA), recently unveiled their new all-electric hypercar – the Carmen Sagrera. This not only represents the perfect blend of the brand’s legacy with cutting-edge technology, but the broader commitment of our members to constantly evolving the automotive landscape of Europe.

Lotus Cars Europe are also on their way to developing a fully electric fleet of vehicles. Since 2023, Lotus have committed to all new mainstream production vehicles being electric and will become a certified net-zero business through their commitment to being a SBTI (Science-Based Target initiative) organisation. Both of these initiatives are fantastic examples of how our members are helping to drive Europe towards a more sustainable future for the automotive sector.

ESCA 2024 Q2 Meeting

Posted by Allaster Gair
Earlier this week, the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) met for our Q2 Meeting in Woking, England. We would like to thank Helen Foord and McLaren Automotive Ltd for hosting and providing a wonderful day for all our members.

Throughout the meeting, members engaged in insightful discussions about the recent EU Election outcomes and the upcoming UK General Election, analysing their potential impacts on the automotive industry and specifically on small volume manufacturers.

During the discussion, members also tackled crucial policy issues, diving deep into the implementation of Euro 7, the General Safety Regulation, and the Regulation on Batteries and Waste Batteries.
 

Sustainable Automotive Practices

Posted by Allaster Gair

In recent decades, car manufacturers in Europe have been successful in transitioning to more sustainable automotive practices. For example, according to the European Automobile Manufacturers’​ Association (ACEA), European car manufacturers have lowered both their CO2 emissions and energy use from car production by 30% since 2005.

Members of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) have been at the forefront of sustainable automotive practices in recent years. In 2022, Goupil installed solar panels on the roof of their premises and on the shade of the parking lot for their staff, providing a great example of our members using their space to produce green and local energy sources.

Furthermore, in their Sustainability Report for the year 2023, McLaren Automotive Ltd announced a 25% reduction in Scope 1 and Scope 3 emissions from their fuel and facilities since 2019. Likewise, Aston Martin Lagonda Ltd, through their ‘Racing.Green’ strategy, achieved a 23.3% reduction in CO2 emissions per car manufactured when compared to 2022.

These efforts demonstrate ESCA’s commitment to environmental responsibility and paving the way for a greener future in transportation.

EU Green Week

Posted by Allaster Gair

The commitment of members of the European Small Volume Car Manufacturers Alliance (ESCA) to EUGreenWeek is reflected by the adoption of high-performance electric vehicles in their fleets.

From the Carmen, Carmen Boulogne and newly announced Carmen Sagrera, Hispano Suiza have pioneered a new ‘hyperlux’ electric vehicle line, which combines hypercar-rivalling performance with exquisite luxury, craftsmanship and meticulous attention to technical and engineering details.

Likewise, Goupil‘s fully electric G2, G4 and G6 utility trucks are now used in over 40 countries worldwide. Due to their versatility and modulated design, each Goupil utility truck has the ability to offer specific transportation solutions across a variety of business sectors.

Briefing Papers

ESCA advocates on behalf of some of the most recognisable and iconic automotive brands in the world. We work with European and international decision makers to ensure the interests of high performance road and racing cars are represented alongside the mainstream automotive industry.