Anyone else just getting more disappointed by the day with the occasional but frequent subtle differences to what we were sold in the beginning ...?
Perhaps I am too trusting but I believe there is a design and engineering team there working very hard to give us the best version of the Emira they can. The inconsistencies are down to pre-prod cars and display models being used for events and it's possible non-availability of prod spec parts may be exacerbating things too.
While there was a written spec (albeit with caveats) and ADAS not being on the FE is a deviation from that, many of the changes are down to further development or the difference between display models made ahead of final spec and customer spec. So in terms of look & feel there was no absolutely definitive version when most of us put our deposits down. (seats being an example)
The first two cars we all saw comprised one sitting lower and one sitting higher than prod spec, so we knew it was not final. I would say photos of the latest pre-prod cars sitting in front of the Portacabin at the test track are the best current gauge of production spec ride height.
Is the inability to see and drive production spec cars ahead of locking down spec a frustration - absolutely! Is the lack of some decent photos frustrating - absolutely! Bear in mind though if Lotus published photos, which will look different on everyone's screen and someone was then unhappy if the actual colour was not the same as the photo they'd be in a world of pain, so any photos released would need to come with a clear "health warning" about screen vs reality.
Lotus have too much riding on this to under-deliver on the product - the negative press would hurt Eletre and every subsequent model. Russell Carr and the whole design team have so much mental and emotional investment in this they are not going to let themselves or us down.
Feel free to post pictures wearing your "I told you so" t-shirt in a few months time if I've got that wrong, it's only my view and as we all know plenty of others are available!
