Here's an update following an interesting tour around the factory:
- wheel weights - no one (even Scott who was called after the tour) could clarify the weight difference between the cast and forged wheels. One for a Lotus engineer, I guess. I asked several lotus employees!
- Seats - the back of the seat is apparently a composite - no stripe on the back. [EDIT: Just seen the comment above confirming there is a stripe!]
- ADAS - confirmed (again, through the call to Scott) not on the V6 but will be on the i4 "at some point". None of the V6 cars on the production line appears to have the plastic gubbins above the numberplate plinth (noted on the Chinese i4) .
My thoughts on the colours (at the risk of going over old ground/not adding much to previous experiences posted on the forum):
- Magma red - my key concern prior to the tour is that the paint would appear burgandy but in the flesh it was more like a sophisticated, deep red - plenty of magma red cars around the production facility to see in differing lights. It was only a couple of panels, sat in particuarly shadowy areas, which risked looking too burgandy-like. We also saw one magma red panel hung alongside the forthcoming flat red paint - the magma red was more interesting and the flat red more akin to any sportscar red. In short, my positive impression of the magma red justified my trip to Hethel. I saw several maga red cards without the full black pack and I personally preferred the red roof. However, this is all subjective.
- Hethel yellow - this was also one of my preferred colours but the only car in HY was one that appeared for a few seconds before the tour started. It disappeared behind a truck and then seemed to vanish! However, we did have an opportunity to see a HY wing sat next to a magma red wing and the flat paint of the HY meant the curves of the panel were revealed better by the magma red. This was my concern before the tour and was reinforced today.
- Nimbus - first and foremost, I was glad to see nothing which screamed "bronze" to me, although I totally agree with previous comments about it being a sophisticated silver, almost liquid, and certainly more interesting than, for example, the silverstone silver of my previous Honda S2000. I would be really happy with this colour, too. There were a number of nimbus cars lined up, alongside the maga red examples.
- Verdant green - when we walked into the factory we immediately saw one on the line and my immediate thought was, "it IS green, rather than appearing black". HOWEVER, elsewhere on the production line we saw different panels (and perhaps another VG car) and the paint looked very dark in certain lights. Our guide, Nick (who was excellent) commented that it was a colour which really needed to be kept clean and that the lines could be lost on a dirty example (just like any dark coloured car). I could see it working in a summy climate, with a tan interior, but it isn't for me in the climate we "enjoy". I preferred the lighter green on the S1 Elise in the HQ Reception.
- Shadow Grey. The best example was at the end of the production line and, clean and in strong light, it looks mean and purposeful. However, it struggles in a similar way to VG in anything other than strong light (and, personally speaking again, less interesting than the VG). For me, bottom of the list.
- Seneca blue. No revelations here - as per the car that did the rounds. LOTS of them on the production line, all with full black pack.
Other observations:
- wheels. Nick kindly let several of us get up close and personal with a pile of alloys. We agreed that the plain silver forged wheel was a real disappointment - really doesn't look special at all on the cars that were wearing them (yes, not all of the cars were sat on the cast standard wheels). So, for me, it is a decision between the diamond cut (and the care that requires) or the gloss black.
- interiors. Spoke to one of the lotus team, Sarah, at the end of the production run who confirmed that ice grey (which appeared in a number of the cars on the line) is more easily marked than the other colours (as you'd expect/fear). Saw the tan interior and, whilst I like the configurator combo of magma red and tan, the tan is too light/orangey for my personal taste. So that leaves black leather or, more likely, alcantara with red stitching for my maga red choice (on diamond cust wheels and either silver or black calipers).
- Sub. It has been pointed out on this forum that there is a hole for the sub within the bulkhead (from memory). The position behind the driver (RHD) was confirmed by Sarah.
