British car designer Peter Horbury dies age 73

Renowned car designer Peter Horbury, known for his work at Ford, Volvo, and Lotus, has passed away at the age of 73 in China.

Current executive vice-president of design at Lotus, Horbury’s career spans nearly five decades, with contributions to numerous brands and models throughout his time as a car designer.

Horbury's extensive portfolio includes stints at Chrysler, Ford (twice), Volvo (three times), China's Geely Group, and then Lotus, where he made significant contributions to each brand’s design language.

Horbury also freelanced for automakers such as Bentley, BMW, Mercedes-Benz, MG, Rolls-Royce, and Triumph, among others.

One of Horbury's notable achievements was his pivotal role at Volvo, shifting the brand's focus from safety to design.

Collaborating with Chrysler, Ford, and Geely across their brand portfolios showcased Horbury's versatility and influence on multiple projects.

In recent years, Horbury applied his talents to the new design language of Lotus.

In a statement, Lotus confirmed the passing of Horbury. “It is with great sadness that we announce the death of Peter Horbury, executive vice-president of design, Group Lotus.

“He passed away earlier this week while visiting colleagues in China, doing what he has always done – leading, inspiring and mentoring others to challenge conventions and be the best that they can be.

“Peter was the most charismatic man, and one of the most influential automotive designers that the UK has ever produced. He joined Lotus in 2021, the culmination of a career which had lasted nearly half a century, and which saw him design some of the world’s most significant and pioneering cars.”