JimH

Assuming an Emira production crossover (or there's no need for the new buildings to house a second production line) with Type 135 I would imagine that the new buildings (currently a greenfield site adjacent to the test track and behind the Hethel Engineering Centre) are probably on the critical path for a production start date and would take at least a year or two to construct once permission (applied for last Summer) is eventually granted.... The Emira production line in the new(est) Chapman building was in place for development and testing around a year before production-ready customer cars started being delivered in any sort of volumes.....

The planning permission for the new assembly, logistics and staff buildings at Hethel hasn't been approved yet (submitted last summer....)

Mine was built last July (Hendy Eastleigh Demonstrator), HVAC resistor pack died in October after collection journey back from Southampton to Norwich in heavy rain, replaced in December by Stratton Motors (confirmed 10 hours). I've heard of another one that was replaced around the same time failing again since so am avoiding heavy rain/road spray at least until I'm back from Ypres Lotus Day (which is a 3-day trip for me) in May..... 🙄

There seems to be some sort of part-transition between 1st edition (only i4 available on those European websites now too?) and base + options happening...... What's there at present is neither 1st edition "as was" or full base + options pricing as base audio and some other base + option prices aren't there and the first choice is "1st Edition" still.....

Apparently the Chinese market i4's have the hardware but not the software (yet) for all of the ADAS functionality - the "pod" above the front numberplate is the visual clue (unless it's been "tidied away" since). Doesn't appear to be fitted to any UK or RoW cars though?....

Not really…… https://www.lotuscars.com/en-GB/aftersales/fixed-price-service

https://ypreslotusday.be/yld2024/ Now open for registrations….. (I’m nothing to do with the organising of this - but have just booked to attend)……

650ps (641 bhp), 0-60 in 5.1 seconds and £65K OTR - given that type 134 is a smaller variant of the Eletre platform, rumoured to start at £55k I suspect they might.... 😉

I've driven both (an early press i4 and now have a V6 Auto Emira). Unless the delays give them time to improve the DSG, it isn't. .....

I've done my headlights and ordered for the black side sills (haven't attempted fitting yet) and it would appear to be this product (the only one listed as 0.150mm as stated by Aliath) - the carrier paper isn't specific though, other than a manufacturer logo : https://www.orafol.com/en/europe/products/oraguard-270-stone-guard-film Manufacturer comparison brochure here : https://issuu.com/finishwa/docs/gi-stone-guard-films-en?fr=sODMyYTE2MTE0MDk which claims all are suitable for paintwork, are scratch-resistant and self-healing is listed in the product comparison table as "Good" for the Oraguard 270....

This ^^^^ 😀

It's not my video and my V6 Auto is still running in/unlikely to get tracked.....

Well at least there's some V6 auto driving footage.....

Here’s a US-based manual/auto V6 comparison :

https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/lotus/357211/lotus-type-135-ps75000-electric-sports-car-due-2025 https://www.topgear.com/car-news/electric/lotus-will-unveil-its-ev-sports-car-2025-dont-expect-it-be-called-elise