hedgerley

Pretty positive review by Tom Ford in the new Top Gear mag. They happened to have a Tesla Model X Plaid with them in Norway for some initial comparisons. Turned out well for the Eletre which made the Tesla feel like a London bus when hustling along the twisty bits apparently. Putting all the politics and xenophobia from some of the more vocal critics aside, it's clear the Eletre is a damn fine car in its own right and will help secure Lotus' future. And funding for the Type 135 😊

Anyone else wondering why we are not hearing from Matt Windle amongst all this hoo haa? He has driven the development of Lotus and of all that we now see over the past few years, at least automotive-wise, spending the Geely money very wisely at Hethel and Coventry on all the right things. He's the closest we've had to a real, dyed in the wool Lotus enthusiast in many a year. It would be a crying shame if he has been sidelined once they get to the glitzy launches. Unless he has chosen to keep a low profile on purpose, to avoid the Bahar comparison.......

Another email from EVO - next issue delayed a few days due to manufacturer embargo. Emira i4?

Yes indeed. Dalgety Bay, Fife. Louie Brown's if you know the area. It had a tonneau cover over the entire interior and yes, it had just started to rain.

Not what you would expect parked up at your local restaurant on a Saturday evening.

CAR https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/lotus/eletre-suv/ And a nice one from a Dutch review with a little tame off-road stuff as well. https://youtu.be/OCNdppNrq4s Good to see that so far, according to the reviews, Lotus seems to have nailed it. UK road tests will I am sure reveal more but so far, so good.

Online today. Tbh, says exactly what I was expecting. A UK drive will reveal more no doubt.

About midday today. Half way between Inverkeithing and Dalgety Bay just after the traffic lights, heading East. Looked stunning amongst the grey Euroboxes 😎 I was in the silver Astra waving vigorously opposite....

So I guess it's true. Reviews are imminent. Next week's Autocar, on sale Wednesday. Hopefully have my EVO by then😊

Could be the Emira i4 of course? But with Eletre sales starting in March in China and UK/EU cars now coming off the production line, surely we should be seeing a decent review/test by now....

A disclaimer first, I have no inside knowledge... Just received an email from EVO saying my next subscriber issue is delayed a few days due to a manufacturer embargo which lifts on the day of publication. What are the chances its Lotus with the Eletre? Although I did read on the Eletre thread no cars are with the mags yet. Thoughts?

Received the book today @Bibs It's a lovely thing to have. Thanks again.

Long hot drive up from Suffolk to Fife yesterday. Variously - Verdant Emira near Kings Lynn. And yes, it did look black from a distance. Seneca Blue Emira A1M Southbound, Ferry Bridge. Red Evora pulling into Wetherby services. Green Elan S2 A1 Southbound Durham. Probably 20+ TR6s, Stags, Spitfires and MGBs, some in convoy, plus a couple of Morgans and TR7s, A1 north of Newcastle Black Lamborghini Countach, Eastbound Edinburgh bypass Several Aston Martins throughout the day Hell of a day for a car spotter, especially given the hundreds of miles I've covered in recent weeks when I've rarely seen anything of interest. Holiday made however by an old bloke in the Lidl car park wandering over to congratulate us on our awesome Volvo XC70, a brilliant car apparently 😁

Wow. Thanks Bibs/Russell. Only the second prize I've won with the car, the other being Car Of The Show at the 60th Anniversary show at Hethel in 2018. I may have mentioned that one a few times 😜

First one I've seen in the wild. Looked stunning in the blistering sunshine. Thought of you @Al but I think you are 0007? And we are of course in Englandshire at the moment....

Silver/Titanium, red leather steering wheel. This morning, we passed you when you had pulled up on the back road between Slingsby and Castle Howard then you caught us up and followed us on the A64. Great day for a top down drive.

Spotted a few times this week in the Bay, this morning filling up at the BP. Sounds rorty, 220 Sport? Any one on here?

Lady of the Lake.

Ruddy hell. That's the marketing budget blown then. But yes, very impressive. Looking forward to what they have planned for the UK.

What a great 6 month review. Harry really is one the best and most sensible owner/reviewers to watch (along with Henry Catchpoles field trips). Some really good insights into the market issues, pricing rationale etc. as well as his obvious love for the car which is still his preference over other exotica. Looking forward to his next one.

It seems Porsche drivers don't trust ASDA shoppers 😅

Bollox. Most entries I'd ever done. It was not to be.

Yes, on several runs. Never saw him wear shoes. He explained he developed an allergy to shoes and socks after his military service. I remember chatting with him in the freezing rain at Cairn O Mount, him with bare feet insisting he didn't feel the cold. Most peculiar but sadly missed.

I was on that run. First time I'd met Tut and thought it odd he put flip flops on to go IN to the lodge. I recall Big Erch put on a great spread. Anyhoo, following the diversion back to Braemar passed a lovely red Elise, top down, heading North. Glorious weather, not jealous at all 😎

Unfortunately the road is closed at Gairnshiel Lodge, Archie's old place as the 250 year old humpback bridge is being bypassed by a new one under construction. So we will miss the best bits of the road via a 24 mike diversion!