Lotus Type 131 - The Rumour Mill

[Ali tuck]

Looking at it in a more positive way-

lotus have smashed everything else out the park with the Evija,perhaps they now have a new ethos and this is how they will produce their cars ?perhaps the Emira will smash all the competition out of sight-end of!

[scotty435]

59 minutes ago, jimichanga said:

I think the reality is Geely don't give a stuff about the Emira, it's just a stop gap until the electric SUVs start rolling out of a large chinese factory. I'm sure it's going to be a great looking stop gap and great to drive but not convinced it will be enough to really shake up the industry, perceptions about Lotus and well entrenched buying habits.

That is the most stupid statement I have read in a long time. It looks and reads like you want the Emira to flop, perhaps you are in the wrong forum. I am sure a Porches forum would suit your needs better.

[jimichanga]

Very few car makers have much interest in petrol sports cars at the present time. Emira is a stop gap, as is widely understood, nothing controversial about that. 

Small EV sports car is really where lotus could really stand out and get the jump on their rivals. That’s the exciting future for Lotus as a business.

5000 Emiras is not what Geely are investing all this money for. Everyone knows this, shouldn't really be putting anyone's nose out of joint.

Edited June 5, 2021 by jimichanga

[Barrykearley]

2 hours ago, jimichanga said:

I think the reality is Geely don't give a stuff about the Emira, it's just a stop gap until the electric SUVs start rolling out of a large chinese factory

If that was even half true then the magnificent EV SUV made in China would already have been launched.

[brightoncorgi]

I don't think new buyers into the Lotus brand have an affinity towards their Lotus being made in Hethel or even the UK.  Geely has proved Volvo does not need to be made in Sweden with their two most popular models made in the US and China respectively.  It'll take some time before the Lotus volume warrants a foreign production line, but if it does...  That is a sign of success for Lotus.

[Bibs]

The new Geeky facility in Wuhan (!) has capacity for 100,000 cars per year. 

[Bazza 907]

Wow

Amazing what you can see when you're out and about.

Yes, pictures but no, won't share.

Wow, just wow.

[C8RKH]

Have you been dirty camping on Potash Lane

[BoostedTrav]

On 03/06/2021 at 21:30, Likuid said:

So far from what we know the I4 will be DCT only and not a Toyota and the V6 will be manual or torque converter auto, but will be Toyota. Personally I think this is absolutely stupid on Lotus part if true. Not having a manual option for the I4 is kind of crazy to me and having a DCT on the I4, but not on the V6 also is very confusing.

That being said, who knows how true it is.

I couldn't agree more! I get that they are sourcing their engines from other OEMs so that would most likely explain the engine/transmission combinations but from what I'm hearing are the pairings/horsepower figures seems like a quick way to shoot yourself in the foot on gaining the sales figures they want. 

It's 2021, why exactly do these vehicles have the same HP figures as 10 years ago? I know power isn't everything but power figures sell sadly and nobody really wants a sub 500 sportscar today. They had an opportunity to bring out an Evora replacement with 500 to 550 horsepower paired with a solid manual and a DCT but decided to give us the exact same engine/transmission option again. (doesn't make much sense other than knowing about cost).

Then there is the I4 which is a tad over 200hp, another silly mistake. The I4 turbo should not be below 350hp if I'm being honest but will see how the sales go. I'm just no convinced current figures are going to woo over new buyers. Lotus marketing team/customer understanding most have information I don't have. 

[C8RKH]

21 minutes ago, BoostedTrav said:

It's 2021, why exactly do these vehicles have the same HP figures as 10 years ago?

Short answer they don't.  10 years ago they had 275 and 345bhp. They then jumped to 400, crawled to 410 then skipped to 430.

 

22 minutes ago, BoostedTrav said:

nobody really wants a sub 500 sportscar today

Nobody?  That must be why Mr. Murray himself bought an A110, and what Cayman's deliver 500bhp+ etc?  They, and the Boxster seem to sell OK.

 

Personally, I don't live for HP - I might be an old fart here. I look at 0-60, top speed and things like 1/4m and 30-50, 40-60 acceleration figures to get a feel for the performance - Volvo trucks have 500bhp if power is all that matters to you.

To me a sports car is about performance, not power figures. That's for dicks who want to swing a flashy key and talk top trumps in the pub whilst every woman whispers wanker!

I know things are changing, but if Lotus get it right - then power + lightness = optimum smiles and if they do get it right, they will sell. Just an alternative point of view.

[TdM]

Another new Youtuber member, hello @BoostedTrav, some nice content you've made

[BoostedTrav]

8 minutes ago, C8RKH said:

Short answer they don't.  10 years ago they had 275 and 345bhp. They then jumped to 400, crawled to 410 then skipped to 430.

 

Nobody?  That must be why Mr. Murray himself bought an A110, and what Cayman's deliver 500bhp+ etc?  They, and the Boxster seem to sell OK.

 

Personally, I don't live for HP - I might be an old fart here. I look at 0-60, top speed and things like 1/4m and 30-50, 40-60 acceleration figures to get a feel for the performance - Volvo trucks have 500bhp if power is all that matters to you.

To me a sports car is about performance, not power figures. That's for dicks who want to swing a flashy key and talk top trumps in the pub whilst every woman whispers wanker!

I know things are changing, but if Lotus get it right - then power + lightness = optimum smiles and if they do get it right, they will sell. Just an alternative point of view.

Porsche could sell a sack of shit and do numbers. Lotus by no means can compare themselves to Porsche in regards to how they plan to benchmark their cars. Porsche has some wizardry hold over people when it comes to selling them cars and those people swear by it. 

If Lotus wants to pull from that market they need to do better than Porsche. Which means equal utilities/options and more power/driving dynamics. 

Also Murray is an anomaly and is by no means the average buyer so his opinion sadly is irrelevant to the masses. Their target market is America and their target audience will be the why would I buy a Lotus over a C8 corvette. The C8 has DCT and 480 hp in its base trim. A Lotus can not offer less for more money and expect to sell numbers (its just how the game goes). 

I too don't believe hp is everything which is why I bought a Evora myself but I understand where its hard to convince people otherwise. The previous Evora had 430hp max they must out do that for sure and please offer a better transmission pairing or best of luck to them. 

 

 

5 minutes ago, TdM said:

Another new Youtuber member, hello @BoostedTrav, some nice content you've made

Thanks, I'm just a novice and work has completely taken over from my ability to produce content but I appreciate the kind regards!

[C8RKH]

33 minutes ago, BoostedTrav said:

Porsche has some wizardry hold over journo's and influencers when it comes to selling them cars and those people swear by it.

FTFY

You are right, in the US numbers mean everything, sort of makes my earlier point well and whby a lot of accountants buy Porsches!  hehehehehehehehehehehehe

[AK70]

5 hours ago, Bazza 907 said:

Wow

Amazing what you can see when you're out and about.

Yes, pictures but no, won't share.

Wow, just wow.

Well.. why wouldn’t you share it here? 

If they drive it around outside somewhere, others will see it too and post the pictures… I think TLF should be the place for the first spy shots 😉

 

 

 

[TdM]

^^ this... There is no law against photographing a car. The only other reason is you want to sell the spy shots, which you probably can!

[stephenwhyte]

38 minutes ago, AK70 said:

Well.. why wouldn’t you share it here? 

If they drive it around outside somewhere, others will see it too and post the pictures… I think TLF should be the place for the first spy shots 😉

 

 

 

Exactly that - if they’re out and about they’re clearly happy to have the car seen….simple! And anyway the more publicity they get, the more interest is created which leads to more car sales! Win, Win, Win! 📸😎

5 hours ago, Bazza 907 said:

Wow

Amazing what you can see when you're out and about.

Yes, pictures but no, won't share.

Wow, just wow.

Nice enough to chop in the Esprit for?😉

[Barrykearley]

6 hours ago, Bazza 907 said:

Yes, pictures but no, won't share.

Nah none of us believe you. I bet there’s an influx of wild campers now up Potash lane🤭

[Gashead1105]

6 hours ago, Bazza 907 said:

Wow

Amazing what you can see when you're out and about.

Yes, pictures but no, won't share.

Wow, just wow.

Pics or it didn't happen 

[Barrykearley]

@Bibs won’t even tell us what it drives like.

[TomE]

I'll be at the factory in two weeks, I'll take my gear... 

[ramjet]

Is that you on the left looking like a tree?

[TomE]

It's been many decades since I was that thin  

[ramjet]

I don't mean the branches. I mean the whole tree.

[Evotion]

On 05/06/2021 at 12:22, jimichanga said:

Small EV sports car is really where lotus could really stand out and get the jump on their rivals. That’s the exciting future for Lotus as a business.

5000 Emiras is not what Geely are investing all this money for. Everyone knows this, shouldn't really be putting anyone's nose out of joint.

You may well be right actually. If they could do a half price or 2/3rds of the price Tesla Roadster sort of thing they could have smashed a big hole in the market, especially if they sold globally.

Imagine the horror from the Lotus die-hards though! 😁

Yeah, ha, on reflection, good on Lotus/Geely for giving is one last ICE hoorah and I do hope it is an end of era defining masterpiece.

20 hours ago, Bazza 907 said:

Wow

Amazing what you can see when you're out and about.

Yes, pictures but no, won't share.

Wow, just wow.

Ha, how many PMs have you received.  

I kinda want to see it but I also kinda want to wait and share the experience on here, or at Goodwood if I can wait that long, with others.

[Evotion]

Is 500 HP+ even possible on the Toyota engine - and still reliable, even with a 'box that can cope with it?

I suspect those hoping for 500HP+ will be disappointed,

How quickly we all forget that power corrupts. 400 is fine!

I had an Integrale with just 220HP and that 'felt' fast and handled like a god. I never contemplated modding it for more. It was perfect TO ME as it was.

I am hoping the Emira will be the same. I will not be swayed by HP and weight but only by the drive itself. The chances of me being disappointed are very, very low.

I do appreciate that others will immediately be put off by the headline figures and never take the effort to drive the car but that might well be their loss.