Our Factory Visit - Colours in the flesh, Suspension and Quality Control

[Evotion]

@TomEand myself had the great privilege of supporting Lotus in ascertaining where they are really at, from a customers point of view.

We were hosted by Matt Windle (MD), Geoff Dowding (Commercial Director) and Scott Walker  (Head of UK Sales) and special thanks to Charlotte for keeping us on schedule!

 

The Tour

We were given a fantastically, detailed, full-access tour,  by Scott Walker, on both the old and new facilities.

The first words here that spring to mind are Quality Control, Perfectionism and Attention to Detail.

The vast investment by Geely into the new facility is immediately obvious, like being smacked around the jaw by a wet engine cover.

The difference between the old-school, which was admittedly, relatively shabby and the new high-tech, millions spent on, robotic and laser measuring equipment was incredible.

My main take-away from the day is that Lotus, contrary to some beliefs on the web, are working VERY VERY hard, in a very difficult global market, to get all the cars out as originally promised this year. This is seen in the investment in both the tech and the staffing levels.

I was utterly amazed at the laser focused body panel checker. The car gets checked over to a fraction of a millimetre  by a 360 degree laser guided machine. This checks that every single Emira off the line is exactly the same. This ensures that each car has remarkably exacting panel-gaps and alignment. They do this once the chassis gets bonded to the body and once after completion as a double check.

This ethos of quality control and double checking carried on throughout the whole process which was broken down on the tour. We saw the seats, although Pre-Production, looking much deeper and body encompassing, the front, nappa leather covered fascia which was rock solid, and just how everything comes together in a well thought out way.

What we didn't see was the actual wheels. We saw i4 engines and the automatic V6.

Conclusion - The final build quality will match the Germans, perhaps improve on them in some areas. I feel very rest assured on this.

 

The Colours

Okay, okay. This is the bit most want to know about. @TomE and I saw all of the FE colours in the flesh, though only the Magma Red was seen in both direct sunlight and shade conditions.

My thoughts, Tom will add his own.

First impression.. It now ALL makes sense. People have often mentioned "why didn't they  just release the FE in traditional colours that we all know and like".

It was immediately clear to me that Lotus wanted to show just how damn good the paint is and also to exude prestige and class.  Shadow Grey is perhaps the most similar and standard to other makers and the Seneca Blue, somewhat comparable to other cars, has an ability to look both interestingly pastel and metallic. The other colours are full of depth and quite unique.

Hethel Yellow - I would call this a classy yellow. It is yellow with a warmth to it. That English Mustard soft hue perhaps in one layer. Do not worry about this being the only non-metallic colour. it pops out the most of all of the colours, strikingly bold, yet luxuriant.

Magma Red - Wow. Ha. Better than I had even hoped. The colour travel on this is remarkable. The speckle in the metallic on this and the other metallic cars is amazing and really makes them stand out. This red I have not seen before. it is NOT Fire Red. It pops more in light, with a lovely gold fleck and the colour in the shade is rich and exudes quality.

Nimbus Grey - Ha. No grey on this car, except perhaps from space. it is a stunning colour which I would call Super LIght Bronze Silver. It has this bronzey, browny subtle tint which lifts it up from  being 'just' a silver car. Again, Lotus have gone for a look or richness and quality. Stunning. If you have ordered this you will be blown away.

Dark Verdant - Yes, the clue is indeed in the name. It is very dark and I thought it was a black car until about 4 yards away from it.  We shone light on it and the heavy fleck then really pops and I have a feeling it will feel the most prestige colour of all but it is dark, no getting away from that. Personally, I would not get a black roof with this colour. I think it would look great with silver wheels as complete contrast package to drop jaws.

Other colours - well, we saw a white car which would possibly be THE colour to go for on the next editions such is the powerful play of white on black. We saw a black car, which still suited it, and we saw a Ferrari Red car, again fabulous and likely to make it to the next edition options. 

We also saw a car with the black pack roof.

Suspension

A major point of confusion amongst us, this was helped greatly by their development driver, Dries, an endearing Belgian chap who knows the car inside out, is which suspension to go for - Sports or Touring.

@TomE and I had a great chat with him and we pretty much have come to the same conclusion.

Touring - Most ideal for most people. Absolutely perfect for those who will use the car as a daily driver and it is there only car. Still capable on track.

Sports - More feel but the odd road bump will be felt more. Perfect for those who will have the car as a 2nd or 3rd car. More relevant if you will track the car occasionally.

 

All in all, a fabulous day out and we learned a huge amount from all of our very engaging and honest hosts. 

Personally, I came away even more confident (yes, possible  ) that we are in VERY capable hands and we will be owners of an instant classic and future icon.

We can all look forward to a new update on the configurator from next week, more news and increased confidence in this wonderful marque.

 

 

 

[Kebob]

Thank you for sharing. I couldn’t be more excited to get the keys when appropriate. Go Lotus, go! 

[mdavies]

Thank you for that, Ade.   (Personally, glad to read your comments on Nimbus Grey!)

More generally, re the Sport/Tour aspect, many interested will be familiar with the last range of cars so in discussions with those that know, such as the development driver that you mention, getting some comparisons would be very useful. Especially for those having to confirm their orders ahead of practical experience. 

I believe you have driven an Exige 410. I've experienced most of the previous range with my current benchmark being the Elise Cup 250. Not wanting a daily driver, I'm inclined to order Sport, but not if it's any firmer than the Cup 250.  The Evora GT410 Sport was fine for me - I've not had  the chance of a 430. Can you, or any informed others, make comparisons?  Thanks.

Edited January 22, 2022 by mdavies

[stephenwhyte]

Nice one Ade…..I bet you all had a ball. Hethel is a very special place and the rate of change happening right now is brilliant to witness!😎 Not long now!👍👍👍

[Evotion]

20 minutes ago, mdavies said:

Thank you for that, Ade.   (Personally, glad to read your comments on Nimbus Grey!)

More generally, re the Sport/Tour aspect, many interested will be familiar with the last range of cars so in discussions with those that know, such as the development driver that you mention, getting some comparisons would be very useful. Especially for those having to confirm their orders ahead of practical experience. 

I believe you have driven an Exige 410. I've experienced most of the previous range with my current benchmark being the Elise Cup 250. Not wanting a daily driver, I'm inclined to order Sport, but not if it's any firmer than the Cup 250.  The Evora GT410 Sport was fine for me - I've not had  the chance of a 430. Can you, or any informed others, make comparisons?  Thanks.

Yeah, I have forgotten but Lotus did somewhat confirm the older models that represent the setups. @TomE and others will know.

The 410 Sport Exige I drove was brutal and was a handful to keep hold of... Loved it.

So still Sports for me BUT it will be a 2nd/3rd car for me.

[TomE]

23 hours ago, mdavies said:

Thank you for that, Ade.   (Personally, glad to read your comments on Nimbus Grey!)

More generally, re the Sport/Tour aspect, many interested will be familiar with the last range of cars so in discussions with those that know, such as the development driver that you mention, getting some comparisons would be very useful. Especially for those having to confirm their orders ahead of practical experience. 

I believe you have driven an Exige 410. I've experienced most of the previous range with my current benchmark being the Elise Cup 250. Not wanting a daily driver, I'm inclined to order Sport, but not if it's any firmer than the Cup 250.  The Evora GT410 Sport was fine for me - I've not had  the chance of a 430. Can you, or any informed others, make comparisons?  Thanks.

It was re-confirmed to us that Touring is closest to Series 1 Evora S suspension and Sport is closest to Evora GT410 (or US GT) suspension.  Ade has set out our conclusions after discussion with Driess, who also said he would pick Tour if he had an Emira for personal use as it would be mainly on UK roads.  Trying to describe it in numerical terms is difficult but Driess said it's a matter of a few percentage points, not major differences.  But noticeable on a rough/bumpy road.  Sport setup on an Exige is much firmer than Sport on the Emira.

Lotus will soon be publishing further guidance on suspension choice written by Gav Kershaw.

@Evotionrode up to Hethel and back in my Series 1 Evora S, his first long distance run in a Lotus - he'll have some thoughts on that.

[mdavies]

Thank you, Tom, very helpful to me as I know both the Series 1 Evora S and the GT410 Sport. So it will be Sport on my Emira order, subject to Gav Kershaw's words of course.

[Snorkel]

Great write up. 🙂 

Any news when photos/videoclips will be available of the cars in all the colours? 

Edited January 22, 2022 by Snorkel

[Evotion]

Nope, was not allowed but I am hoping to go back there with a camera and permission!

The new configurator coming online next week had much more realism in its presentation.

[jimichanga]

I’m interested to know how someone with no previous Lotus ownership history gets granted such privileged access to the Lotus factory. Many very loyal long standing customers here with multiple new factory orders to their name who didn’t.

[exeterjeep]

Maybe those nearer the front of the order queue are getting a bit of a preview.

See there was mention of the first press car being ready apparently for TG, I wonder when they will actually be allowed to get their hands on it, and not just round the test track.

[Evotion]

Yeah, me too JC!

I assume it was due to me being the epitome of their 'New Buyer' and my obvious born-again-esque passion for the car itself.

 

5 hours ago, stephenwhyte said:

Nice one Ade…..I bet you all had a ball. Hethel is a very special place and the rate of change happening right now is brilliant to witness!😎 Not long now!👍👍👍

Yeah. I had not been there before unlike Tom but I was shown enough of the two areas to make it obvious of the jump in process and quality control.

Not only that - the whole ethos and company culture has done a full pivot. There is no blame game and everyone contributes to driving the brand forward.

They still have reassurances to offer us all but at least they are aware of the areas for improvement and a more succinct flow of information.

[TomE]

49 minutes ago, jimichanga said:

I’m interested to know how someone with no previous Lotus ownership history gets granted such privileged access to the Lotus factory. Many very loyal long standing customers here with multiple new factory orders to their name who didn’t.

Because, for various reasons, Lotus were interested in feedback from a small cross-section of customers about various topics and took a decision on which customers they would like to hear from at this point in time.

They knew the four of us going would result in "why didn't I get invited" from various people.  But on balance they decided it would be beneficial to have us there and also to let us share what we had seen and heard, rather than gag us with NDAs.

[KJD]

Yes, yes, yes, that’s all very well, but have they found any red thread for my steering wheel? 

[Emiralust]

19 minutes ago, TomE said:

Because, for various reasons, Lotus were interested in feedback from a small cross-section of customers about various topics and took a decision on which customers they would like to hear from at this point in time.

They knew the four of us going would result in "why didn't I get invited" from various people.  But on balance they decided it would be beneficial to have us there and also to let us share what we had seen and heard, rather than gag us with NDAs.

Makes perfect sense to me

[Evotion]

Ha, we did ask about that and the centre stripe - no change. Looks like it won't have it but one can hold out hope.

[Evotion]

Ah. forgot to mention, we did see a Nardo Grey Pre-production Emira too!

It actually looked excellent. Unfortunately, every single car we saw will be destroyed. I try not think about it 😥

[TomE]

1 hour ago, KJD said:

Yes, yes, yes, that’s all very well, but have they found any red thread for my steering wheel? 

They’ve found the thread.  They’re looking for a few people with sewing machines  

Joking aside, they haven’t managed to sort this yet but haven’t given up and are still trying to find a solution.  It may or may not get sorted.   

[Emiralust]

Did you ask about factory collection? I’m very keen for this

[Evotion]

Of course.

They are looking at this for sure and need to work out the logistics.

Put it this way. Say there are 500 cars delivered in the UK. A lot of those people would collect the car from the factory. There are 22 working days in the month of June and all staff are super busy so it takes a lot of working out.

I feel confident it will happen. Hopefully with other options on the day.

 

[Andy Jet]

2 hours ago, TomE said:

Because, for various reasons, Lotus were interested in feedback from a small cross-section of customers about various topics and took a decision on which customers they would like to hear from at this point in time.

They knew the four of us going would result in "why didn't I get invited" from various people.  But on balance they decided it would be beneficial to have us there and also to let us share what we had seen and heard, rather than gag us with NDAs.

I think the way it was  described in another place/forun..... some of us that have been more vocal about things 🤣🤣

[Murdock]

1 hour ago, TomE said:

They’ve found the thread.  They’re looking for a few people with sewing machines  

Joking aside, they haven’t managed to sort this yet but haven’t given up and are still trying to find a solution.  It may or may not get sorted.   

I find this strange as in the last 2 months they have just made redundant/moved people to other departments that were doing this very trim work for many years....

Edited January 22, 2022 by Murdock

[Evotion]

The important thing here is that IF Lotus have moved anybody it will be for the pure benefit of delivering an excellent car.  They have , and still are, employing staff.

[Pugwash]

To do factory collections they will need a team on site doing the Pre Delivery Inspections (PDI) and registrations and handover that the dealers usually do.  

[jep]

I thought it was known policy that Lotus would no longer be trimming cars in-house. I recall this in a Lotus film in 2021 with an ex-trimshop staffer interviewed about her new role. 

Justin