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Facing the end of Evora production, I've decided that whilst the Emira will be lovely, the interior electronics is absolutely not my thing. So I've "invested" in trading in my Aquamarine (will miss that colour, not going to lie) NA for one of the last brand-new GT410s. Currently being prepped, PPF-ed and ceramic-coated by Topaz Detailing, will pick up Monday. I love the easier access and the softer suspension, which is really not far off the NAs other-worldly ride. I always thought they'd have to bury me in the blue Evora, but it will be a green one instead! Definitely not the end of the Evora for me.

The first ever post was made on what was then 'LEF' Things have changed somewhere! We're very close now to 1,000,000 annual visits and 5,000,000 annual pages served, nuts! Onwards and upwards folks

Hey everyone, Thought I'd share some images having been playing around in Photoshop with the paint samples, big thanks to Tom and everyone else for posting millions of pictures. Let me know if you think any are way out, although I've matched the colours from the paint samples the 'brightness' of each paint is really just interpretation. Please don't read too much into these, just me having a play about. I've included blue for reference (the paint is unedited), the wheels are blacked out though.

Answers as promised (sorry for the delay, been moving a muck-heap, spreading and harrowing - payback for last night's excitement): What driving aids/ limiters etc are actually on the car? (I'm hoping minimal) - Contrary to Bibs' post elsewhere, I was categorically told last night that the FE would have adaptive cruise control. Go figure. If they get the homologation done before July the 8th (when the legislation is scheduled to come in to effect, there would be no speed limiter for the V6 FE. They were unsure if this would impact i4 cars (as they would be homologated at a later date in theory), but are looking in to it for me. They did suggest that the date for the legislation might slip, as in their experience they regularly do. When are i4 FE's scheduled to be delivered and what is the time-scale for configs, additional deposits etc? i4 FE Configurator is (at present) scheduled to go live some time in November but, as we already know, they are focussing on V6 Fe's first. 2nd deposits etc will follow the same pattern as those going for the V6. Autumn deliveries. What are the proposed servicing intervals? I got varying answers on this, but 12K miles or annual seemed to be the consensus (although there was some talk of the V6 following the Evora with 9K/ annual. Fixed price servicing. When will factory tours be available again/ available to deposit holders? Spring if all goes according to be plan. There was talk of looking at factory deliveries... Any indication on tyre costs/ tyre wear expectancy? Nothing yet, all mules are running a mix of tires and mostly running on the track so the data would be pretty meaningless right now. In November when the roadgoing "shakedown" cars become available they should start getting this data. When will deposit holders get a test drive? Dealers should be getting their demonstrators late Feb/March (more likely March) The ride for Sport was described to me as very similar to Evora Sport 410 but, as stated elsewhere, it was emphasised that Touring was probably going to be the sweet spot for all but the most committed track gods. They are looking at Service plans. I didn't see the question on the wheel/arches. Sorry. The event last night didn't go to plan (no reveal etc), BUT... the LOTUS staff were on hand and helpful, and obviously - and rightly so - proud of their baby. If someone I was talking to didn't have the answer, they went and grabbed the right person. Chris and the team at Hendy Poole were on hand, and did a great job. The car is stunning. With a bit more time made available to you to look and get as much of a feel for the car as you can without driving it, there is no doubt in my mind that this is a winner of a car. Yes, it's heavier etc. Still felt and looked like a Lotus should. Driver centric, just more useable. I am absolutely delighted.

***** Straight from my heart......!! I lived 28 years (from 50-78 years of age) with my 1990 LHD Esprit Turbo SE.......it was a memorable love story. In April 2021 I traded her in for the last available new "2021" GT 410 Sport IPS in the Netherlands.......there are a total of 3 GT 410 Sport's now in the Netherlands and approx. 20 other new Evora types sold by the Dutch Lotus importer v.d. Kooi between 2010 and 2021. The GT 410 Sport cost you a rib off your body with the resp. official MSRP's of GBP 155k in 2018 and GBP 137k in 2019. I felt lucky to step in with a that time GBP 7,65k reduced price of GBP 118,5k......for my Esprit I received GBP 32k. ......a total investment of < GBP100k My Esprit was sold by v.d. Kooi within 1 week for GBP 38.250,- to a Ferrari + TVR owner. 🙄 It was difficult to trade in my perfect Esprit; especially because of my age and long time of ownership and love relation........however buying my (probably) last Lotus was a real challenge and I did it. I am very, very happy with the GT 410.....it is extremely exclusive in the Netherlands....it was my 1st "automatic" car with my between 1-1,5 million miles car history.....I feared the IPS, however I had to take it because it was part of the deal......now I am very, very happy with this IPS and his peddels.....I can drive the Evora both as a "man of age" and as a "youngster". I was aware of the coming Emira but felt better with the Evora GT 410 Sport which was the last and most improved version....it felt bombproof......furthermore I did not want to wait 1-2 years and to be confronted eventually with possible initial and small quality problems (sorry). And a Porsche would never be the car I would desire.

Lot of relevant comments on this thread for me. I should introduce myself. Had two Elise's between '97-'05 but been yearning for an Evora since launch. In May I was hearing that production was due to stop, so went to spec my perfect new car only to hear "too late". I went for the next best thing, the unused GT410 demonstrator. There was excitement building around the soon to be revealed Emira but I'm a late adopter and preferred to go with the tried and tested. I've been tapped into all Evora reviews for over a decade so felt I knew what I was getting. Besides the Emira had been announced as 2 seats only, so 2+2 Evora still an essential element for family duties. The Emira reveal and subsequent comment that "Evora prices will tumble" had me wondering if I had done the right thing... Yes I think I have. It's everything I hoped it would be dynamically and IMHO looks sublime. It sits in an odd segment space between sports car, GT, and supercar and looks like nothing else. Even petrol head friends ask what is it? The Emira will be a far more common sight and for me is a little too far towards junior supercar. Lotus deserve to be successful with it, but I'm loving having its rare and slightly quirky older brother.

I liked the "Phil's spec" Evora so much, I've just bought one. Wanted something as soft as the NA but with the performance/interior of the S2s and the GT410 delivers that in spades. Seems much quieter (NVH-wise) too. Will be picking up on Monday (currently being prepped /PPF-ed at Topaz Detailing).

I’ve just sold my 91 964 Turbo after nearly 10 years of ownership and have ordered an Exige 420 FE. Will be one of the last built apparently, December I’m told, with delivery to NZ in the NY. Know very little about these machines but drove a 390 last week and loved it. Given NZ is the last stop on the line, didn’t have much choice in options but pretty happy with where I’ve landed: essex blue, yellow calipers, black wheels, alcantara sills and steering wheel, carbon roof, carbon diffuser, lightweight battery, kill switch and extinguisher, full carpets, cruise control (not sure if this is of use). Standby for stupid questions. Exige 7 Giltrap 420 Blue.pdf

It’s interesting how we all share a passion for Lotus but have varying expectations of past, present and future cars. I grew up with posters of an Esprit, Type 72 and Countach on my wall. My dad collected Bentleys, about as polar opposite from “add lightness” as you could get. My cousin’s Excel was the first Lotus I rode in. My own first cars were hot hatches until I could get an M100 Elan. For me Lotus isn’t about ultimate lightness, it’s about nimbleness and a feeling of connection to the car and the road. So many cars are just a way of getting A to B, with little engagement. The Elan was (and still is) an amazingly capable FWD car that handled and drove like nothing else. Of course Elises set a new benchmark and the pared-back driver-focused philosophy was fantastic (right up to when mine lost it’s “connectedness” with the road one dark frosty January morning and we took off into the scenery - I’m forever grateful that Lotus engineers protected me from my lack of talent with only minor injuries). The Evora was a bold attempt at a different tack and an unsung hero in that. A car that handled like a Lotus but was practical enough for road trips, dad’s taxi, daily driving, track days and ferrying cases of wine, TVs and bikes. The absolute weight didn’t matter, because it handled brilliantly and sounded awesome and did everything I wanted. The Emira won’t be the lightest in class, or the fastest or most powerful. But it will drive like nothing else. And this time it’s a Lotus that unequivocally looks on point and will feel like a great space to sit. It’ll tick boxes that mean more people will consider it, drive it and maybe be converted. And it’ll raise a smile every mile, whether threading over the moors or grand touring around France or blasting down to Goodwood for a track day, or just popping to the shops. And on days when I want to practice yoga, sweat bucket loads, jar my teeth and scare myself sideways to prove you can drive something weighing 750kg (half a 911) on the road at what feels like warp factor 10 then I can always take the Exige.

Everyone who thinks it is too wide, seat position too high, 400bhp not enough power, too much like a sportscar, too little like a supercar, like an Evora, not like an Esprit - please cancel your deposit immediately so I can get my V6 manual FE sooner!

I've put together a piece including photos of my views on visiting the car at Rybrook in case anyone is interested. https://rmsmotoring.com/feature/lotus-emira-first-edition/

Magma Red on Fire Red Verdant Green on Motorsport Green - this really shows how the colour changes from almost black to metallic green depending on the light, very like Empire Green on the Lotus Carlton Hethel Yellow on Solar Yellow Shadow Grey on Metallic Grey Shadow Grey: bluey fleck Seneca Blue: silver fleck Magma Red: copper/gold fleck Nimbus Grey: silver fleck and the colour is more silver than grey Verdant Green: small fine copper/gold fleck Hethel Yellow: solid colour

Ah, we have the same story. I also sold my long time keeper to make way for my Evora. For me it was 31 years with my Triumph TR7. Not as valuable as an Esprit, but I needed to make garage and financial space to upgrade. I also got the last new one available in my country (Scotland). I also did not consider anything else. Perhaps I should have at least test driven a Porsche or even AlpineA110!! I also, to my surprise, would have considered an IPS, but it was only the manual available and I am glad now I did 'stick' with the manual. I also feel very comfortable having the tried and tested old model, right here, right now. I know what I have, and I love it. Here's a gratuitous shot of the Evora behind my old departed Triumph.

Taken by the official photographer on the French adventure.

Came out of the supermarket yesterday and as I approached my Evora parked all on it's own I spotted an elderly gent wandering around it and peering inside. I asked him if he liked it and he replied "it's beautiful but I might have difficulty getting in and out" .. I opened the door and said "Try it" and while I unloaded the trolley into the boot he got in quite easily - because I slide the seat back to get out and forward after I'm back in. I took my trolley to the shelter and returned to my car and he got out quite easily with the biggest of smiles and said "I want one." He asked about mpg, I said "mid 20's when I boot it round the lanes when it's all 3rd gear, but much higher on a run. I'm now driving carefully because I'm low on fuel and getting higher mpg round the lanes" and he mentioned the local garage was out of diesel and E10 unleaded so they had nozzle covers padlocked and cones across the entrance but still had E5 Super working. Drove 1/2 mile to the only local garage, others are 15 miles away, through the cones, straight up to the pump and filled up, £55, and Range now showing 365 miles so I'm back to 'booting it.' That was a useful conversation!

Arriving at Bibracte archeological site for lunch, we were treated to a meal which would have been served up in medieval times on wooden benches. It's fair to say that whilst the fare was interesting, we were relieved not to have lived during those times. The afternoon included a drive up the top of the hill to see the continuing excavations of what was a town of 20,000 inhabitants back in the day, followed by a spirited drive to visit the spectacular Chateau de Sully, where we were treated to a tour, and back to the hotel again.

Nice to hear so many people talking about the Forum at the event. Here is a video of the unveiling tonight if anyone wants to see. Russell Carr was there and gave a good presentation walking through some design elements of the car which was a nice touch for me, great presenter too. It was funny when no one clapped as the cover came off as too busy looking at the car! Mainly due to fresh drinks in one hand and phone in the other. I am new too and had similar concerns. I managed to park without issue and there were a couple of lotus representatives helping in the car park when i arrived. I won’t lie, there wasn’t tons of spare spaces I’ve sat in the dark grey car which has the plain black leather interior and now also the blue show car tonight, both felt fine to me. If it helps, part of my brief to my partner on the way over to B&C tonight was to rank in comparison to my F type and Z4 where the Emira sits on the list for the following: The exterior first glance wow factor of the car, the material quality and how special it felt to be sat in the car, as in the interior design. I can confidently say for my own personal opinion that the car has more wow factor than the f type & Cayman. It's going to have huge road presence, the material quality inside is lovely, it’s not Rolls Royce shaggy rug but it’s more than satisfactory and it feels a very nice place to be inside, the alcantara interior gives it a much more “special” feeling in comparison to black leather in my opinion. I don’t think you should take the show car as a good example of build quality though, Russell Carr did add a disclaimer in his speech, mainly as a please be careful not to yank at everything @Evotion😂 because it is a model show car. Essentially saying it’s fragile, which to me meant when you close the door and it sounds crap don’t be alarmed as its just a model. Hope my ramble helped somewhere there 😅

Wasn't today, but still happy about it today. Became a Dad for the first time, beautiful baby girl born yesterday evening.

I have to agree with your first point because I'm one of the people that have been wooed away from the German alternatives but I don't consider a GT4 as a boring box either!! I've considered Lotus' plenty of times in the past but no matter what model has been available, nothing really fitted the bill for me. Until the Emira, all previous Lotus models seemed a little too hardcore for road driving and a little too pricy for a track tool so I've always opted for a track car (cheapish) and a sports car for the road. The reason I sold the GT4 in fact was because you just couldn't get the full potential out of it on the road and I couldn't afford to repair it if I crashed it on track! I went from the GT4 to an AMG GTR which was fantastic in nearly all instances but I wouldn't have ever left it anywhere and thus limited it's use to possibly once a week at best during the summer and it was ultimately a very expensive garage queen - which is not what I want either. I think the Emira bridges the gap between a track focused road car and a super car and that's what's drawn me to the brand.

Committing to a newly-launched car that's not yet in production and you can't test drive or read press reviews is a big ask and not for everyone. Lotus had a big dilemma between (a) revealing the car when there was enough to show people but it wasn't finished but they could get it visible earlier and gauge demand for the new £100m factory they'd built in order to build an order book and get suppliers/production scheduled, or (b) wait until they had a fully production-ready car with press and demo cars but have much less idea on demand or be able to plan their start of production. It's slightly strange to me that a lot of people are saying it's not fair having to commit with so little info - the simple solution is not to! You don't have to commit now, you could wait until press reviews in Feb/Mar or test drives in Mar/Apr. There is a process Lotus are pursuing, but deposits are still refundable and will be for a while yet, or you can ask to slip down the queue. There are plenty of people who'd like to move up the queue. If you don't want a First Edition car then you're going to have a year or more to decide. If I turn your question around, what is it about your Exige that makes you want to consider replacing it with another 2-seater Lotus that's less hardcore, bigger, heavier, slower, plusher and with more gadgets?

Once the Emira dust has settled and people calm down a bit here and elsewhere I think there will be others who quite reasonably prefer the Evora. GT410s are particularly handsome things I struggle to see the Emira as better looking. Sadly I think Lotus would be very opposed to an Evora vs Emira comparison, I hope someone finds a way to make it happen anyway, would be really intriguing but far too backward looking for ‘New Lotus’. Evora is now the car they want to airbrush out as they have done literally already from some promotional pictures! There is something about driving an Evora that I still struggle to articulate. A genuinely unique sensation, some strange alchemy producing both electric response and serene composure. A ravenous appetite for corners combined with a willingness to lope along on a motorway without quite the same yearning to come off at the first junction that you get in Elise or Exige. It’s very refined for a Lotus but feels like a track car compared to most GTs, looks big parked next to an Elise but always surprisingly compact compared to most others. Steering is light but full of detail, it’s a car of contradictions, perhaps not as well finished, single-minded or cohesive as a Cayman GT4 but a richer, more multi-layered experience with a more enduring appeal as a result. Must be a good food analogy to be had here! Malt Whisky vs grain Whisky perhaps? They both achieve a similar effect on the consumer and yes grain whisky is a lot more commercially successful and produced on a much bigger scale but there’s a bit more to savour in a fine single malt! 😁

! Pics of the french sunny and cloudy last weekend 'Esprit d'aventure' 2nd edition ! Always a great journey 🙃

Personally I don't think it's that bad, I think speculation and lots of communication between depositors on the forum can lead to the anxiety which some people are having(me included). If I wasn't on the forum and was fairly relaxed about the whole thing then when you look at it on the surface we put a deposit down, they said they would send more info in September which they've done and that cars will be delivered starting with FEV6 in Spring 2022 and FEi4 later in the year. None of that info has changed and we just have to wait for a new car. Anyone who was expecting the first edition cars to be £60k were naive to put it bluntly, it was no secret the cars would have £15k of options as a first edition and that wasn't going to be free. I really wouldn't be surprised if other manufacturers launches don't have forums saying the exact same thing as we are now. Come April 2022 i think we can be more justified to say it's a shambles but it's pretty early days for that give them a chance 🤣

Late afternoon run after a proper valet - just love this car 😍

We did that with the Evora back in 2009 and I've suggested the same with the Emira. Watch this space!

In order to process the volumes of customers for the Emira, can we please ask that all deposit holders sit tight and await their phone call from Lotus Customer Services. Please be assured that your date of initial deposit is key here and will remain so, the order of phone calls (while ideally in that order) makes no difference to the priority list that you are on and your place in it. With so many incoming calls, this is delaying us getting in touch with customers so we ask if you could please be patient with us while we work through all priority deposit holders, we will be calling you very soon.

You'll be very pleased to know... The Speed Limiter, fitted as standard that comes with Cruise Control (also fitted as standard) is the traditional Speed Limiter and it is not the one required by the Regulation (EU) 2019/2144. With this you can set an upper speed limit for when driving through roadworks etc. Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) will be offered as optional in the vehicle lifetime and include features such as: Adaptive Cruise Control, Anti-Collision System, Fatigue Alert, Road Sign Information, Adaptive Speed Limiter, Lane Departure Warning, Rear Cross Traffic Alert, Lane Change Assist. This information is from the Emira Head of ADAS, so can be considered very definitive as an answer.

Not had my chance to sit in it yet. The colours are somewhat different. Red is more red than we thought. Yellow has a bit of mustard like the Elise. Blue is blue. Dark grey is er, dark. Nimbus is metallic and looks great. The green is metallic nut very very dark. It will appear black in anything but direct sun.

Y A Y !!! My phone rang... 0330 726 7864 I answered with excitement and glee: "Ah, Mister Bond. I have been expecting you!!" Reply: "Hello? This is Samsung Support about your Television" 🙈

This will probably be my last update as I have now sold this car to a fellow TLF member. So a big thank you to everybody who allowed me to buy all those missing obsolete parts. It was certainly a challenge but between us we've managed to save another one from the scrap heap. When I factor in all the other parts I've personally donated to the project I broke even, which is fine with me as I think the car has gone to a good home. I hope the new owner will keep us updated on his progress and I look forward to seeing it back on the road in the future

More yesterday than today, but what made me ecstatic was the unexpected news that the US is opening its borders in November! Literally 2 minutes later the wife was on the phone booking our flights to go and see our son for the first time in 2 years.

https://www.thelotusforums.com/latest-news/lotus-cars-news/lotus-reveals-pioneering-blueprint-for-next-generation-of-electric-sports-cars/

Picked up mine yesterday afternoon, took the long way home - window open all the way, exhaust bypass switch ON. It's LOUD 😁 It was just getting dusk, the photos don't do Plum Crazy justice. Do I regret buying a final edition? What do you think?! 😉

Mine is finally at the dealer!

A little driving on a Saturday night…. (ok it is Friday, but anyway..) 😉

A Luvverly pair

Car ready to ship out, got some final photos this evening.

Well I loved it today. Stunning from every angle. So much nicer in front of you than in a 2D picture. Scott couldn’t have been more welcoming and helpful. I want one 👍😊

I have been a happy owner to this Esprit

Scott is the Head of UK Sales at Lotus and an all round legend 👍

This is the green against the darkest green Evora I could find outside...

I think the news outlets need to take a long look at themselves. They have been getting worse and worse over recent years generating their own drama which stokes people up and causes issues. They don't report news anymore, they generate it. They also like to have their own agenda pushed. I understand that tabloids lab one way or another as they are largely entertainment but the BBC should be neutral and just report facts. They are totally irresponsible these days, winds me up

I call it @@@@ing brilliant!

E...'ello MrBlueSky. Spot on analysis. Lotus are going in a different direction now and rightly (if not lightly) so. The old cars will soon be revered by a much wider circle for the brilliant and unique machines they are. Justin