2025 Year-End Summary
2025 was a full year—sometimes rewarding, sometimes challenging, and rarely boring. The economy did what it does best these days: kept everyone guessing. Despite that, we launched new products, expanded our service capabilities (including entering the Porsche market), hosted and supported events, and continued building cars the way we think they should be built.
Parts
The QUADloc Harness Bar for the Lotus Emira stands out as a highlight. It delivers a safe, functional solution while preserving rear storage—something rarely achieved. We’ve been building harness bars since 2005, and this is easily the most innovative design we’ve produced. Our Nitron suspension development for both Emira variants has also been extremely rewarding, with owners reporting meaningful improvements in control and confidence.
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We also introduced the KATANA275 and NA215 power kits for the Elise and Exige. Both have been running on our own cars since summer with excellent results. The balance these provide is excellent and provides options for clients who want forced induction or for those that want to remain naturally aspirated.
Additional product launches included ULTRAdiscs for the Emira and, for the Elise/Exige, oil temperature and pressure kits, ignition 111coils, OCDpipe, the 111key for ’06+ cars, CAIs and further refinements to the KATANA3 bracketry and to our beloved shiftR 2.0s.
The launch of LotusRestored.com, in partnership with AutoEurope, marked an important step toward long-term support for the Lotus cars we value most. This initiative will continue to grow, ensuring these cars remain viable on both road and track. Expect expansion into Evora and then Emiras in the future.
Service
We serviced dozens of Lotus cars in 2025, including several that were close to being written off. OE parts availability remains inconsistent, but we remain persistent. LotusRestored will become an increasingly important source of quality, used components, allowing us to keep these cars alive and usable.
Cars continued to arrive from across the country as transport logistics become simpler. We recognize that competent shops willing to work on older sports cars are becoming harder to find, and we take that responsibility seriously.
This year also marked our formal entry into the Porsche 996/997 and earlier markets. The 996RR project accelerated our understanding of IMS bearings and related systems. A 964 and a 996.2 also passed through the shop, each requiring a different approach and scope of work.
We’ve been servicing Vanderhall three-wheelers for several years, and in November the factory invited us to become an Authorized Service Center. We’re now carefully integrating these vehicles into our workflow.
Our blog, active since 2008, saw 36 new posts in 2025. Many focus on service and technical education for owners who work on their own cars or want deeper insight into how they function. Based on feedback, this resource continues to play an important role for many of you. We introduced ~11 new videos on our YouTube channel and dozens of shorts from our shop. We remain active on Instagram with our Facebook activity needing some attention!
Many of you continue to schedule appointments on our Session with Shinoo appointment feature. Since 2004, I have talked with 1000s of enthusiasts, and it is truly one of the things I enjoy the most with this business. Don’t hesitate to book a free Session!
Niche Cars
The most significant new project this year was the 996RR. This build confirmed that our tuning philosophy and supplier network translate well into the Porsche world. The response has been overwhelmingly positive and reinforced what we already suspected—there is a strong crossover between Lotus and Porsche enthusiasts. The 996RR is a true analog sports car, and it delivers exactly what we value most.
Kit car registration in California has become increasingly difficult due to regulatory changes and unresolved gaps in the process. As a result, we registered a Drakan in Michigan with help from our friends at AutoEurope. The car is currently in Florida, being shown to prospective clients during the winter months.
After over a four-year wait, we finally received an Atom 4. It represents a meaningful step forward over previous generations, and we’re looking forward to another arriving soon.
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We also completed two Electrogenic EV conversions this year: a Series 3 Jaguar XKE and a Land Rover Defender 90. These builds, along with last year’s S1 XKE, were also upgraded with new hardware and software enabling Level 3 charging. Electrogenic continues to demonstrate a long-term commitment to this niche, and their steady improvements have earned our continued trust.
Events & More
2025 was full of well-attended events. We hosted multiple technical seminars, including Brake Tech, Upholstery, and an in-depth look at the 996RR build, along with the Hocking Hills Road Rallye with AutoEurope and several 2econd Saturdays gatherings with my other company, BrandXTR.
We also sponsored LOG44 in Pittsburgh and Lotus vs. the Dragon in Tennessee. This driving event is a must attend - Josh puts on an amazing weekend! LOG44 was especially meaningful this year, highlighted by the announcement of LUG—Lotus United Gathering—a joint event planned for 2026 with the Golden Gate Lotus Club. This is something I’ve hoped to see come together for over 20 years.
I also visited a new domestic engine builder specializing in Porsche 996/997 platforms. Given the known challenges with these engines, aligning with a reputable partner was an important step toward properly supporting our Porsche clients.
2026 Projections
In 2026, we’ll continue investing in service to ensure analog sports cars remain supported. A new Shop Foreman will be joining the team, bringing decades of experience with Porsche and older English vehicles. Growth into the Porsche segment should allow us to add another lift and technician by year’s end.
While Porsche will receive increased attention, Lotus remains central to who we are. This will never change.
New products are already in development, including Emira Stage 1 tuning and additional calibrations for both variants. We plan to introduce street-focused uprights for the Elise and Exige to further reduce unsprung weight. Depending on demand, additional suspension options for the Emira—and possibly the Evora—may follow. A new baffled 111tank is being installed and will be tested in January. Heck, we had to produce a rear subframe brace for our 996RR build. New parts for Porsche are inevitable...
A new website is underway that will support international shipping quotes and orders
Two more EV conversions are underway: a DeLorean scheduled for January and another Series 3 XKE planned for late winter. While the broader EV market has cooled, these conversions remain a practical way to keep otherwise sidelined classics on the road.
At our core, we’re sports car enthusiasts. We like driving, we value mechanical honesty, and we still believe a good road can fix a bad week. Our goal remains simple: keep these cars alive, supported, and driven as intended—especially the Elise and Exige—for as long as we’re able.
To do that, we’ll continue evolving in ways that keep the business sustainable, even as the broader market gets distracted by trends, screens, and features that no enthusiast asked for. Since 2004, we’ve weathered multiple economic downturns, navigated shifting regulations, managed currency fluctuations and waited on more backordered parts than seems reasonable—yet we’re still here, tools in hand, lights on, and ready for the next challenge.
Thank you for your on-going support, we could not have made it this far without you!
Have a great New Year, and we hope to see you on the road, the track, at an event, or in the shop in 2026.
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