Radford Type 62-2 finishes testing

Radford’s new Type 62-2 has completed final testing and is ready to hit production ahead of expected customer deliveries in 2022.

The Radford company was revived thanks to fresh investment from ex-F1 champion Jenson Button and two other main investors, Ant Anstead and designer Mark Stubbs.

As per the name, only 62 units will be produced although each one will be unique and personalised by its owner, including custom liveries for the exterior.

The final testing was completed by Button, who piloted the previously shown Type 62-2 with a John Player Special livery and extra performance equipment around the track at Lotus’s headquarters in Hethel, UK.

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There are three variants produced, called Classic, Gold Leaf, and JPS. The Classic variant is more affordable, but has the lowest power output at 320kW, coming from the same 3.5-litre V6 found in the other two models. It is mated to a six-speed manual transmission.

The Gold Leaf produces a mightier 375kW from the supercharged V6 through a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, while the JPS goes up to a thumping 450kW. Performance figures are 0-100km/h in 2.9s and a top speed of 300km/h.

The Type 62-2 Gold Leaf shown is finished in the same red-and-white livery as Graham Hill’s 1968 Lotus Type 49B Formula One racer, with the JPS edition using the iconic black and gold theme.

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At the final testing, Button said the Type 62-2 is a car that will appeal to both driving purists and those wanting something with a polished, luxurious finish.

“To finally drive the type 62-2 for the first time was obviously a very special moment, the cockpit already feels like home,” he said.

“The car felt great, well-balanced in high and low-speed corners and ran faultlessly all day which is the perfect base for the months of setup tweaking that will follow for me. We want to ensure that this car is a pure driver’s car which pays both due respects to the DNA of Lotus but also delivers the luxury of a Radford.”

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Over the Gold Leaf, the racey JPS variant has the same chassis setup, but with a large rear diffuser, carbon composite wheels, monobloc callipers and carbon-ceramic brake discs. Despite its obvious track focus, Radford says owners will be able to use the Type 62-2 every day, and buyers can option a nose lift system to allow the car to get over speed bumps, along with a custom luggage set from Mason and Sons.

Deliveries are expected to commence in early 2022 with a price starting over the equivalent of $700,000.