Questions…

[Nathan Pitman]

Hi all. So I have a deposit down on the Emira but have a few questions which Lotus don’t seem able to answer direct, so hoping someone here can help - perhaps with a prod at Lotus HQ.

1) Will Lotus be making photos of the other paint finishes available ahead of finalisation of configuration or the option to visit Hethel and see car shells in the option colours? The samples provided at the preview event were not sufficient to evaluate how they behave on a sculptural surface. 

 

2) Will samples of the light grey leather interior be available to view ahead of finalisation for configuration. I was very keen to see this but no sample was made available at The preview event.

 

3) Will it be possible to visit Hethel to sit in a production car to check seat height and pedal position (clutch travel in particular). I did not get on with the Evora seating or clutch position so I am cautious about confirming without having sat in a production spec car. 

 

4) Will you be providing a “UK track safe” exhaust option for the V6? I would like to track the car but the current range of V6 cars cannot be tracked without significant aftermarket modification.

 

5) Assuming that points 1, 2 and 3 cannot be satisfied before confirming an order, how many days will I have to return the car if I am not happy with the colour, interior finish, seat/pedal position etc and are returns at no cost?

 

6) Finally (sorry!) can you confirm what improvements have been made to the auto box since the Evora 400 and whether the paddles will be plastic (per the show car) of metal (per the Evora)? I am considering this as an option to mitigate point 3!

 

 

Final bonus question, how easy will it be to remove the “First Edition” badge on the exterior? Not a fan - would much prefer a Union Jack as per the Evija.

Edited October 18, 2021 by Nathan Pitman

[freefall_junkie]

As I have posted on another thread I share your concerns on point 3) re the driving position. After the roadshow I am sure many others will be the same, especially tall drivers.  It is a big ask to go ahead with the order when all you have seen is a show car with perched, non-production seats. Of course I could slip down the queue and wait for the demo cars to come out, but that could mean delivery delayed until 2023. At least I'd really like to know exactly how much lower the production seat will be, what the range of height adjustment is, and how the lowest setting compares to an Evora. I am sure someone at Lotus could give a straightforward answer to this.

[Johnhoward]

12 hours ago, Nathan Pitman said:

5) Assuming that points 1, 2 and 3 cannot be satisfied before confirming an order, how many days will I have to return the car if I am not happy with the colour, interior finish, seat/pedal position etc and are returns at no cost?

Good question - I wonder (in the UK) if the distance selling regulations will apply as the purchase could be classed as online (through phone calls and internet deposits/payments). If so, there should be no financial penalty to the purchaser as far as I am aware. Not sure how this would apply to UK road tax and delivery/on the road charges. I'm sure that there will be someone here with legal knowledge that will be able to advise further.

Edited October 19, 2021 by Bibs

[duncx]

5) Why would you want to return it? Just sell it on for a quick/huge profit 

[Eagle7]

Yes, considering the huge waiting list, I'm sure there will be someone who will gladly take it off your hands if you don't want it.  You can even hem and haw and pretend you're thinking about selling it, and see if someone will offer you more than you paid for it.

[MJON]

Just my opinion, it can be an issue buying what are basically advance products with their inherent limitations but as already stated, if your not happy just 3 choices:

Withdraw, Drop down the line, Take it and if not to your satisfaction Sell on. nothing to lose but time.

[Nathan Pitman]

I had a response to at least some of my queries which I'm sure Lotus wouldn't mind me sharing here to the benefit of other deposit holders:

1) Will Lotus be making photos of the other paint finishes available ahead of finalisation of configuration.

 

Quote

Lotus will be releasing images of car shells in all the available colour options shortly. Once these are available we will be posting these onto the Lotus website.

 

2) Will samples of the light grey leather interior be available to view ahead of finalisation for configuration.

 

Quote

Samples of the light grey interior will be available to view ahead of the finalisation stage to your Emira configuration. Unfortunately, the sample did go missing on the roadshow.

 

4) Will you be providing a “UK track safe” exhaust option for the V6?

 

Quote

The Lotus Emira is slightly quieter than the current GT410's - Though sounds great, we are unaware in regards to UK Track safe criteria.

 

6) Can you confirm what improvements have been made to the auto box since the Evora 400?

 

Quote

The automatic transmission will feature a reprogrammed software, but the 6 speed Aisin is already an excellent 6 speed torque converter.

 

Edited October 19, 2021 by Nathan Pitman

[freefall_junkie]

Useful info, thanks. Personally I'm hoping the Emira exhaust isn't too much quieter that the 410 though 🙂

Did you just use the customer contact email on the Lotus website to ask the questions? 

[MaJiK]

Anyone 410 owners that can comment on the exhaust sound?

How does it sound compared to say a GTS 4.0?

[KJD]

The 400/410 (same system) is laugh-out-loud hilarious how loud it is with the valve open.

Ripping up to the redline in second and third for the first time is quite the ear-opener.

A GTS 4.0 is quiet by comparison, even with the sports exhaust open (I had one on loan for a couple of weeks).

However, if trackdays are your thing, you are severely limited where you can go without changing the silencer.

[Johnhoward]

2 hours ago, KJD said:

The 400/410 (same system) is laugh-out-loud hilarious how loud it is with the valve open.

 

Would agree 100%. My 410 Sport auto sounds great and in sport mode you get a blip on paddle downshifts and also get pops from the exhaust on deceleration, it all sounds very good. I much prefer it to my previous car with was a 5.0L F-type (2015 model year) and the exhaust sound got a bit too much with pops and crackles constantly even at speeds as low as 10mph! The Evora is just right, a great soundtrack that you can mute if you need to (early in the morning/late at night or whatever), but it never sounds fake or manufactured like some cars (the Jaguar being an example).

[MaJiK]

Thank you guys.

Sounds great, still waiting for my phone call though😭

[tailslides]

2 hours ago, Johnhoward said:

Would agree 100%. My 410 Sport auto sounds great and in sport mode you get a blip on paddle downshifts and also get pops from the exhaust on deceleration, it all sounds very good. I much prefer it to my previous car with was a 5.0L F-type (2015 model year) and the exhaust sound got a bit too much with pops and crackles constantly even at speeds as low as 10mph! The Evora is just right, a great soundtrack that you can mute if you need to (early in the morning/late at night or whatever), but it never sounds fake or manufactured like some cars (the Jaguar being an example).

You are right, the Jag F-type soundtrack is ridiculous, my 981 is sometimes embarrassing in Sport mode and the AMG A45 too synthesised, hopefully Lotus won't go down the fake noise route.

[DJW]

Did a fly by a friend in the Evora 400 auto at full revs on the motorway and was told there was some nice blue flame from the exhaust at upshift.

The 400 was actually too loud when on it. A tad quieter will be perfect 👍 

[scotty435]

https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ62d88s-Cz/?utm_medium=copy_link

Some one mention a 410 on lower revs. No fake sounds there.   not sure you are going to get that with a 4pot?

[KJD]

Went to the roadshow (again) at Duke of London today and gleaned some more info about the exhaust noise.

Looking through the grille at the valve it looked electrical rather than the simple vacuum operated open or shut one one the Evora/Exige.

Seen here behind the leaf…

Interrogated Scott and he confirmed my suspicions. (Wonder how many questions he’s answered over the last few weeks!)

It’s electrically operated and so can be opened gradually rather than just shut/open as with the old vacuum operated one.

So the volume can be more controlled depending on what drive more you’re in, etc.

Also, the silencer is bigger than the Evora one so overall volume will be a bit lower.

Maybe there’s hope for the track day crowd…

[Jcx]

wait!  Is that a dark green Emira?!  Do you have other pics pls?

[KJD]

Calm down dear.

Just a reflection from something. 
You can even see the blue in the corner.

[Jcx]

🤣 Oh yeah! 🤦‍♂️