Group Lotus has just appointed Russell Carr as its new head of design, replacing the outbound Donato Coco (best known for designing the ill-fated five Lotus concepts). Carr isn't new to the company, of course, as he had held the same position long ago before ex-CEO Dany Bahar brought in Coco, his old colleague from Ferrari.

The main hand behind the Lotus Evora (pictured above), Carr has been in the Lotus family since 1990. Under the leadership of new CEO Jean-Marc Gales, the Briton will likely oversee a major update for the ageing Evora as well as the planned Lotus SUV and sedan, which could share tech with Proton.

Recently, the Malaysian-owned company hired former Kia Europe executive Jean-Charles Lievens to develop the brand's sales network in Europe and ex-Millbrook Proving Ground boss Miguel Fragoso as engineering director. The plan is to turn Lotus into a "leaner, more competitive organisation," as part of its latest restructuring programme.