Potenza Sports Cars has bought the kit car maker Westfield Sportscars. Westfield founder Chris Smith stays on as a consultant and remains an investor.
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."