Lotus Emira launch

[philthy]

Probably to do with heat soak, that engine won’t like being crammed into the back of a car with a serious lack of cooling.

I popped into lotus at hethel on my way home yesterday to try get a look at one (cheeky I know but worth a try) but I was effectively told to piss off and go on the website

Fully ready to pay a deposit but not until I can see one.

[tonyg]

Agree ref being odd about spec info etc.

The A45 donor car is 415bhp, so see no reason it'll not be similar in the Lotus, and a 360bhp V6 is kinda standard now, plus I'd wager the V6 being older tech will be a cheaper complete drivetrain with manual compared to the modern AMG linked to 8spd DCT...

Yes, the V6 really ought to be cheaper. Ok, it has a supercharger and charge cooler bolted on, but it is otherwise the same lump you'll find in thousands of Camry hire cars in the US. The AMG I4 on the other hand is state of the art, hand built with forged internals - it really should be more expensive.

My bet is the AMG engine will be pegged to around 360bhp for now, then the V6 will be dropped a couple of years into production, allowing Lotus to unleash the 4 pot to over 420bhp. I still want the V6 though for the snarly character and manual box, and I reckon it has the potential to become a classic in years to come. The last of the manual Ferraris seem to command quite a premium over their flappy paddle equivalent.

The impression i got was that the V6 will need to go due to not meeting upcoming environmental regulations?

[ryallm]

The impression i got was that the V6 will need to go due to not meeting upcoming environmental regulations?

I think that is probably right, at least for the European market. The V6 may live on longer for the US. Ain't no replacement for displacement and all that...

[TarmacTerrorist]

I'd be very surprised if the V6 drove much different to a current evora.

[Scotty C]

Can someone edit the thread to add Emira?

[Corranga]

The last of the manual Ferraris seem to command quite a premium over their flappy paddle equivalent.

Shame the last can't be said about the last manual Maserati's...



The Emira is a wonderful looking thing, it looks like Lotus have nailed it, much more than the awkward lines of the Evora, or the let's try it again nature of the Elise/Exige (which should have been great, but outside of, well, us, no one really wants a 3/4 ton go kart), and as has been said, makes the Evija fit in too.
I haven't liked a new car this much since... I really don't know when.
£60k starting seems a good point for it to be too, in a world where proper super cars are becoming too much for roads, a £60k mini-super car makes so much sense. Imagine pulling up in one of those next to a Cayman, or... well anything else <£100k really!

The only off putting thing is the engine selection (and perhaps lack of clarity on pricing though I guess that will come), which seems very old school Lotus to me. 2 engines that theoretically could be rivals rather than different options. 1 looks to the future, 1 to the past, each paired with the gearboxes it comes with.
I guess the V6 screams US with it's crappy old auto option and large displacement.
The I4 screams Europe, but the DSG is disappointing, meaning the V6 manual is potentially the only choice for dinosaurs like me that want a stick in the middle.

Also, more colours would be nice

Alas, I've checked down the back of the sofa, and my S1 doesn't have anything to worry about

Good luck to Lotus, hopefully they sell like hotcakes.

[ryallm]

The only off putting thing is the engine selection (and perhaps lack of clarity on pricing though I guess that will come), which seems very old school Lotus to me.

Yup, very old school Lotus. Launching a car when they can't even say exactly what the power outputs are or what it costs does seem a bit daft. I suspect the Goodwood FOS date has bounced them into launching it too early when there is still a lot of testing and homologation work to do.

[Scotty C]

so the 390 Exige FE starts at £64, Emira with finish it has, tech and powered with the same toyota V6 cant be £60K?

[woody]

so the 390 Exige FE starts at £64, Emira with finish it has, tech and powered with the same toyota V6 cant be £60K?

The V6 is the more expensive variant apparently.

New factory setup should make productivity way more efficient over the Elise / exige hand assembled production line.

[graeme]

£85k for a launch-spec V6 Emira.

[scott_e]

£85k for a launch-spec V6 Emira.

Is this confirmed or a guess ?

[ryallm]

Everyone is guessing on price at the moment, even the dealers. My guess for the specced up launch edition cars: I4 360bhp £70k, V6 416bhp £80k. If the V6 is less than that it will be a very nice autumn surprise

[campbell]

The EVO mag article is a good (if short) read.

[j2 lot]

Lotus staff at the FOS said £70-75k for the launch edition 4pot and £75-80k for the V6. Current colour selection is for launch edition, more choice will follow. The waiting list is into 2023 already.

[ryallm]

Lotus staff at the FOS said £70-75k for the launch edition 4pot and £75-80k for the V6. Current colour selection is for launch edition, more choice will follow. The waiting list is into 2023 already.

Interesting - possibly only £5k difference between the 4 pot and the V6.

That waiting list - wow! After Lotus struggling for so many years it really is great to hear. A few years back I really didn't rate Lotus's chances of survival, especially after Bahar so royally screwed things up.