Simon Bateman

The digital speedo on my 400 reads 2mph more than the GPS on my phone (at 70mph). The analogue speedo does appear to less accurate, but I don't pay much attention to it really.

Same here. It's tuned to run on super unleaded and based on the typical mileage of a Lotus owner, is not much of a cost uplift in the overall scheme of things. My understanding is that all UK sold cars 'can' run on 95 octane, but I suspect it won't run as sweet or to it's optimum performance. Lotus also state they will run on E10 but why bother. I did the sums a while back and for 5000 miles per year, super unleaded was the same cost as a curry for me and wifey 😀

Probably run out fuel given the current situation 😀

A mate of mine loves a gadget. He gave me a go on his 'chipped' electric bike and its bonkers. He reckons he's clocked it above 30mph on the flat and has overtaken mopeds on it. Still seems like cheating to me.

We also drove up the Col de Iseran, (highest paved alp) which had some lovely views. I'd like to have a go on my bike, but in truth I'd need need to drop half a stone and also change my rear cassette for at least a 28.

At the top of the Stelvio in 2019. I've been up both sides and actually prefer the less twisty side in the photo, which was a ball ache when we did it and was full of moterhomes and cyclists 😫😫

I think Lotus are a bit fixated with taking Cayman sales and as such, around 416ps is comparable with even a GT4. The consensus seems to be that the engine as standard can be coaxed to around 475ps, which would then compete with a GT3, but thereafter, it would need 550ps + to be a true junior supercar. In between 475ps and 550ps, it's sort of marooned between a rock and hard place in terms of market placement. Clearly at that point the investment required to source a new engine or modify the internals of the current one, just don't stack up.

I'm not sure I'd agree that the V6 is 'woefully' short of torque. I had an RX8 and the torque on that was woeful 😫 Clearly Lotus have had to manage the torque of the engine to work within the constraints of the gearbox, but IMO that's a reflection of the gearbox and not the engine. To me, a supercharged engine feels closer to NA than it does to a Turbo, despite being forced induction. That gives a less stepped and a more linear performance. My 320ps type R often feels quicker than the 400, but has around 10lbs/ft less torque, but as you said, they 'feel' quicker and turbo engines always do, because even the recent ones still have a small lag before the shove, but the sudden push is what we experience. I think it comes down to what people want. I've no doubt the AMG 4 pot will feel quicker than the V6. Around a track I'd expect the V6 to 'maybe' be slightly quicker, but in the end, its whether people want a large (ish) capacity engine, with an almost NA feel, or a 4 pot turbo that is not a million miles different to some of the better hot hatches currently available.

You clearly have good experience of the V6, but from your comments, it seems you are more concerned with its design age, rather than its overall performance. Journos will always fill magazine paragraphs with whatever they want. If it's a Porsche, they would write that it has the 'classic, high performing, proven engine from previous model'. In a Lotus, it would have 'the same old V6 from a Camry' But if the engine has good performance, sounds great, is ultra reliable and returns good mpg, isn't that the most important stuff to focus on?

It will be interesting to see if Lotus can actually get the V6 to sound as good as the current cars, now that they will have to fit a PPF and also (I assume) will no longer be allowed to fit a loud button to the exhaust.

I've got a decent 4 pot turbo in my type R. It puts out 320bhp, but it doesn't sound like the Evora. I'm sure the AMG engine is great, but just about every current hot hatch has a 2 litre 4 pot turbo. They just dont feel special enough for me. We will have to wait and see how many of these engines in the A45 have issues as the miles go on. Either way, I dont see Lotus setting these up with more power than Mercedes are offering in their cars and as for the V6.....get it while you can, is my view.

Do some research on the V6, or better still, drive one! Its design life is a minimum of 300k miles and is bullet proof. Sorry, no offense to anyone, but there is a bit of BS being spouted about the V6. I've driven Porsche and Nissan 6 pots in the last 10 years and have enjoyed the engine in my 400 the most. It's a decent capacity, free reving and very linear. It sounds bloody epic and has excellent all round performance. I did a 75mph motorway run to Leeds at the weekend and averaged over 37mpg. These won't be around for long and in the not to distant future i suspect a V6 will become the engine of choice in many supercars, up to the switch to full electric. I don't care how good the AMG engine is, or whether it's made of exotic materials and is lubricated with unicorn sperm....its still a 4 pot and a fairly well stressed one at 400+ BHP. I know what I'd have.....

I spoke to him earlier and as suspected, work and home life has reduced the amount of usage. He did manage a trip to scotland, so he's actually clocked up 1800 miles, but couldn't really see much usage thereafter. It's now nicely run in for the next owner and has been dry stored from new, so should be a good buy for someone 👍

Sorry, only just seen this..... Interesting......I spoke to him about two weeks ago and he didnt mention it. I know he was a bit frustrated with the lack of use his job and home life was causing. I'll investigate 😉

This is another reason why I'm sticking with Michelins. As well as being great tyres, they seem to last longer, which means less visits to the fitters 😀 That said, the ones I use are actually very good. I always tell them the pressure I want and all I ask is that they balance them properly and don't damage the wheels. I'm happy to wash off the muck myself and would rather do this anyway. I wouldn't even know the correct torque settings, but do always double check a few weeks later to ensure the bolts are still tight.

Visiting friends in Norfolk yesterday. They have a Shelby super snake Mustang. Not quite the Lotus mantra of adding lightness.....they just added power......720 bhp 😀

I'll definitely take some pics if the access is good. Funny enough, wifey was looking at Waze yesterday and the route did seem a bit rural. We will have a proper look nearer the time and make sure we avoid the overly narrow roads - thanks for the tips.

Yes, full access at Snetterton, with some great viewing spots. Yep...Oulton Park next. We are doing all UK rounds this year. Looking forward to it and our first time there 🇬🇧👍

I was at Snetterton yesterday as well. Same crap weather as Silverstone, but still a nice day out.

That's a good point. The V6 manual would claw back some weight over the AMG auto. I'm thinking that both engines are similar, add in the weight of the supercharger on the V6 and add in the double clutch auto on the 4 cylinder and there wouldn't appear to be much overall weight difference between them.

If I was having a punt.....I'd say that the M139 weight figure does include the turbos (could be wrong) but I suspect a turbo charged application would be the only configuration used for that engine. If you think back to the weight gain for the original Evora to the supercharged S model and the fact that the Emira will be charged cooled, I think it won't be lower than 50kg.

The sills on the 4×× cars were lowered by 53mm and narrowed by 46mm (on each side) from the original Evora. The Emira doesn't look much different from the photo.

The 4×× series cars were much easier to access, with the lower and narrower sill. I had a Cayman before the 400 and access was very similar with either car.

I go up to see my cousin in Scotland once a year and even in the 400 doing 75mph, my average MPG on the gauge sits between 36 and 37. With the 13.2 gallon tank, the car has a very reasonable range.

I think to some extent it depends what you are coming from. Clearly on public roads 400 or 600 Bhp is neither here nor there, but that doesn't stop people from buying 700bhp + supercars Some Evora owners, particularly those with 4xx series cars, were looking for something that moved the game on a bit more. Personally I'd have been happy to see the Emira with 450 + bhp, 25mm lower (now that rear seats are gone) and 50mm longer, with more boot space. Almost competition against a McLaren 540C. Obviously with a price north of the 75k muted for the V6, but still well under 100k. Ultimately though, it doesn't really matter what I want, as this appears to be an exercise primarily in capturing Cayman owners and you have to say that, with the response so far, Lotus seem to have got things right with the Emira. In my sales blurb for the 400, Lotus said that the 400 was two thirds new from the Evora S, so I'm not surprised by their statement that the Emira is ALL new. 😉