Westfield founder sells the company
New owner Potenza says it plans to invest
Westfield
The company started life 24 years ago producing Lotus XI replicas, and now produces three different models, each with different engine options including the blistering performance from its current flagship car, the Sport 2000S with 250-plus bhp featuring a six-speed sequential gearbox. All meet European legislative requirements, and Westfield claims to be both the first company to win a Low Volume Type Approval certificate and at the forefront of the introduction of Single Vehicle Approval to the kit car industry.
Potenza said it'll build on Smith's ethos of constant development, firstly by investing to meet Euro 4 regulations to allow the Duratec-powered vehicles to be registered across Europe and beyond.
The team will be run by a new managing director, Julian Turner, who has experience in business, engineering and kit car manufacturing. Managers Holly Bond and Richard Smith will continue with Westfield under the new ownership.
Turner said that as a Potenza director, he had seen how bringing wide ranging business, engineering and financial knowledge to support existing management could transform companies, even industries. Potenza's parent company Potenza Enterprises said it saw possibilities for development in the kit car industry.
Smith said: "Escalating costs of modern automotive development has made it difficult for Westfield to compete on a global level. Backed by the new investors and expertise Westfield will now have the opportunity to introduce new innovation and technology to the kit car and specialist car industry, enabling it to grow to its full potential.
"Until now, Westfield has been run as a family business, and this is a very emotional time for the both family and our loyal enthusiastic work force. The new team is dedicated to keeping the infectious, friendly atmosphere that the Westfield enthusiast has come to enjoy over the past 24 years. This is beyond doubt an exciting opportunity to open the next chapter in the Westfield experience.
"Westfield is already renowned for the high quality specification of its kits and complete cars," said Turner. "I'm looking forward to working with the whole of the team at Westfield to ensure that our products consistently redefine the quality, engineering and technology standards within our industry."
Sorry, I was being facetious. What I meant was, the Westfield proposition is unique enough that you either want one or you don't; I'm not sure they "compete" like Audi vs BMW vs Merc.
It just seemed a strange reason to give for selling, but obviously I don't understand Westfields business!
Sorry, I was being facetious. What I meant was, the Westfield proposition is unique enough that you either want one or you don't; I'm not sure they "compete" like Audi vs BMW vs Merc.
It just seemed a strange reason to give for selling, but obviously I don't understand Westfields business!
you would have to understand what the term compete means and with whom. I would imagine that they with the 7 they would be competing with tiger, Caterham, Dax, Donkervoort, Birkin and other 7esque vehciles. some of these are EU4 and the market is swimming with these types of cars. Similarly the other cars have competition albeit in their own sectors.
I think that we all predicted a restructuring of this industry, and it seems like quite a few big players, are being effected , but maybe it's only the Sevenesque builders?.
We just saw Robin Hood, Luego and a now Westfield change hands, but I'm sure we haven't seen the end of it yet.
They recently bought Ginetta out and have the LNT over here in the UK.
I'm sure somebody will tell me how wrong I am, but I'm fairly sure that's right.
If you look in the Ginetta forum and the G50 thread (or one the ones near the top anyway) there's a reference to them and a photo of one of their cars. Seems they make good chassis - which is why nobody has heard of them - nobody likes to know of a US setup that can do chassis
ETA - I think I was wrong there - I think maybe LNT (who is a person and posts on PH btw) owns them both, rather than them owning LNT.
They recently bought Ginetta out and have the LNT over here in the UK.
I'm sure somebody will tell me how wrong I am, but I'm fairly sure that's right.
Dave, I think you are confusing them with Panoz...
D'Oh!
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