Hethel-based Group Lotus has remained in the growth fast lane after mounting its best monthly sales performance since March 2011.

The EDP Top100 firm sold 226 sports cars in July – a 65pc rise on the same period last year – while the UK was up 110pc and Germany boosted its sales by 83pc over the same period.

It comes as the company announced yesterday that it would continue international expansion after appointing Wolfgang Momberger to its cars commercial team as head of Central Europe.

Jean-Marc Gales, chief executive officer of Group Lotus, said: 'The improved sales results for July reward our efforts over the last months and I look forward to continuing this sales trend in the future.'

He added: 'Wolfgang's vast experience fits in perfectly with our exciting plans for Lotus in the future. Central Europe is one of the regions where we see additional growth for our award winning Elise, Exige and Evora sports cars and we look forward to introducing the Lotus brand to those who desire an authentic, competitive and pure driving experience.'

The company saw 31pc surge in global sports car sales for the first three months of the year, with 505 Norfolk-made cars between April 1 and June 30 – compared to 386 during the same period last year.

The highest increase in sales for the three-month period was in France, Germany, Switzerland, and Japan and the firm attributed the improved performance to increased demand for all three vehicles in its range – the Evora, Exige and Elise.

Bosses said the expansion has helped it deliver the best first financial quarter results for three years, while June sales of 192 cars were also at a four-year high.

It follows the news last year that Lotus would be taking on 100 new staff, as part of 300 posts it is looking to create as it boosts its research and development base after receiving £10m from the government's regional growth fund.

The sales success is good news for DRB-Hicom, the Malaysian conglomerate which owns its parent company Proton, and administered a £100m shot in the arm to help stabilise the loss-making carmaker.