Nathan Pitman

I had a response to at least some of my queries which I'm sure Lotus wouldn't mind me sharing here to the benefit of other deposit holders: 1) Will Lotus be making photos of the other paint finishes available ahead of finalisation of configuration. 2) Will samples of the light grey leather interior be available to view ahead of finalisation for configuration. 4) Will you be providing a “UK track safe” exhaust option for the V6? 6) Can you confirm what improvements have been made to the auto box since the Evora 400?

Hi all. So I have a deposit down on the Emira but have a few questions which Lotus don’t seem able to answer direct, so hoping someone here can help - perhaps with a prod at Lotus HQ. 1) Will Lotus be making photos of the other paint finishes available ahead of finalisation of configuration or the option to visit Hethel and see car shells in the option colours? The samples provided at the preview event were not sufficient to evaluate how they behave on a sculptural surface. 2) Will samples of the light grey leather interior be available to view ahead of finalisation for configuration. I was very keen to see this but no sample was made available at The preview event. 3) Will it be possible to visit Hethel to sit in a production car to check seat height and pedal position (clutch travel in particular). I did not get on with the Evora seating or clutch position so I am cautious about confirming without having sat in a production spec car. 4) Will you be providing a “UK track safe” exhaust option for the V6? I would like to track the car but the current range of V6 cars cannot be tracked without significant aftermarket modification. 5) Assuming that points 1, 2 and 3 cannot be satisfied before confirming an order, how many days will I have to return the car if I am not happy with the colour, interior finish, seat/pedal position etc and are returns at no cost? 6) Finally (sorry!) can you confirm what improvements have been made to the auto box since the Evora 400 and whether the paddles will be plastic (per the show car) of metal (per the Evora)? I am considering this as an option to mitigate point 3! Final bonus question, how easy will it be to remove the “First Edition” badge on the exterior? Not a fan - would much prefer a Union Jack as per the Evija.

Spotted you in Bracknell this week driving towards the twin bridges roundabout. Local?

Ah yes I follow you there already (lotusforthedrivers).

Saw you driving towards and over twin bridges roundabout in Bracknell. Was in my "boring family car" so didn't flash. Are you local to Bracknell/Berks?

Yea I would expect to see decent size paint and fabric colour samples at the dealers. I wouldn’t commit to a colour based on the configurator.

A run for their money on looks for sure. It’s super car looks for sports car money, that’s the USP Lotus can leverage over the likes of Porsche.

Hmm, Bhp for v6 not declared there. Would be lovely if it was 430.

The car on display (blue) is for photos only, not a runner. The dark grey left hand drive car is the first runner. A Lotus person there told me i4 def the lighter car so performance would be nigh on identical between the two.

Some other possible reasons for launching with the V6: 1) Lotus have a long standing relationship with Toyota and probably have a better margin on that engine than the AMG so they’ll want to kick of production with the more profitable option. 2) As others have said, minimise unknowns in the launch car, they can be confident not only that they can reliably mate that engine but also servicing is established so no additional work to do there immediately. 3) From a media perspective the launch reviews will be of the higher powered car with the better sounding engine and (likely) a manual. Those first reviews stick and that’s the review they want people to see. 4) By launching with the V6 they mitigate all the moaning about lack of character from existing Lotus owners!

V6 is straight from the Evora 400/410 but only delivering 360? Car magazine also quoted spring for V6 at 60k and i4 later in the summer. Leading with the lower power car seems an odd choice.

Pretty sure all the controls in the new Ferrari’s are capacitive so really not any better than a screen and certainly not as usable as a real button/dial.

Unless this is truly a variant of the Evora with a facelift then surely the V6’s appeal (sound) will be hobbled by particulate filters anyway, that begs the question as to what this will really offer over the 4 pot for road driving if it doesn’t have the V6 howl?

I was hoping that the V6 would be a wide body variant too but then apparently it was too costly for Porsche to continue doing this with the 911 so not much chance of Lotus doing it.

I’d like to see that too, or a nice large sun roof which rolls right back over the engine bay.