First viewing at Bell & Covill

[andyss]

The stance and ride height of this blue one was noticeably different to the dark grey one which is a driving car. It was also noticed that this blue one is fitted with substantial spacers, too which the driving version isn't. I think Lotus have fiddled with this blue one to make it more "visually appealing"...

When looking at the configurator it says that the Sports chassis (as opposed to the Touring) only "stiffens" the suspension, and makes no mention of ride height.

It would be good to get to the bottom of this!

I saved the last few litres in my tank to get to B&C today. I was told the blue car isn't representative of ride height: it's lower than the production car will be. The driver's seat is also higher than production, which isn't great for getting a feel for the driving position. And the boot is still a box-steel battery holder, so don't expect to get an idea of luggage space at the back.

It's still awesome from every angle though. Just be prepared for it to not be a production car.

 

[Emira]

Very helpful feedback, Sir!

 

[eclat2emira]

Hi,

Many thanks to TrickeeKiYay for posting the pictures - seeing the photos of the samples has really thrown the cat among the pigeons! Definitively will have to wait to see them for real now.

@eclat2emira, I’m going to Hamilton on the 15th as well, got the early evening slot booked, maybe see you there? The wait over the next two+ weeks is going to be tough and the wait thereafter even tougher!

That would be great! My slot is 16:00, when is yours?

 

[eclat2emira]

I saved the last few litres in my tank to get to B&C today. I was told the blue car isn't representative of ride height: it's lower than the production car will be. The driver's seat is also higher than production, which isn't great for getting a feel for the driving position. And the boot is still a box-steel battery holder, so don't expect to get an idea of luggage space at the back.

It's still awesome from every angle though. Just be prepared for it to not be a production car.

Really useful info, expectations duly managed, still stupidly excited!

 

[torstin]

People struggling for petrol and im still deciding whether it’s worth catching a flight from Belfast to see it in person… Unfortunately no stops over here.

 

[Singularity]

That would be great! My slot is 16:00, when is yours?

Ah, I’m not until 18:00 - we can wave as we pass each other though! I’m hoping to move to Lanark end of next year hence I opted for Park’s as my local dealer. Seems like there might be enough of us in the area for a future local Emira club?

 

[NDL]

Would be interesting to know if the early cars will be fitted with the New speed limiting software, that is suppose to be fitted to All new vehicles from May 2022.

 

[vcappp]

Lotus should offer Black for the First Edition. Black exterior looks good on Emira.

 

[Pav]

Lotus should offer Black for the First Edition. Black exterior looks good on Emira.

I was told a black with a gold flip is one of the colours available post first edition.. Real shame the launch colours are all a bit uninspiring. The Exige FE in the showroom was in a gorgeous Evija like gold yellow. The Emira yellow is plain in comparison (I took the swatch over to it to compare). Here’s a pic of it against the blue car. To be fair the Hethel yellow will no doubt look good in isolation but why isn’t the first edition car getting a couple of properly stand out colours other than the blue, which for me is a bit Focus RS / last year’s colour.

The material swatches felt ok. No more than ok. Seems there is a green stitch on black option. There wasn’t a grey stitch. Or a grey leather swatch for that matter.

For balance, the car itself still looks spectacular. To most people it will often be mistaken as a small mclaren/lambo/Ferrari etc. It’s stunning and I probably still want one. But I was really hoping for something much closer to production quality rather than a slightly rough around the edges clearly now much used show car. The carpets and steering wheel are a bit dodgy, the seat feels incredibly hard (and high as already mentioned). The fake ride height and the marks on the paintwork kind of detracted from the specialness for me. And question the desire to commit throwing best part of £80k at it. But hey, everyone has already bought one so I guess they just need to get the first builds right.

For what it’s worth the event itself was weird. We were told to go and sit in the car park by a PR person when we first got there, not the customer experience I was expecting (although we arrived a bit early, saying have a look around the other cars would have been somewhat more friendly).

Clearly Lotus roadshow team have sorted budget for fancy lights and loud sound system but someone should have given a chunk to B&C for drinks and food. To say they were ‘sub optimal’ would be generous. I didn’t see anyone really welcoming the punters and offering them hospitality. The intro by B&C’s sales guy was ok, but then the UK head of sales fairly unenthusiastically read a PR written script off a piece of paper. It was all a bit dry. Highlight for me was Russell being there in person. He then stepped up and did a decent job of the ‘babysupercar’ chat. Though the poor guy looks tired! It was all over in a few minutes but then there was plenty of time to chat with people, that was the best bit really.

 

[Pegasi]

Can someone comment on how those Diamond Cut Wheels look in person?

 

[Tommyboy1986]

They look great See one in person at concourse of elegance , the car is stunning and a major step in the right direction for lotus

 

[Tommyboy1986]

I am specking them wheels on mine

 

[Leonard]

I was told a black with a gold flip is one of the colours available post first edition.. Real shame the launch colours are all a bit uninspiring. The Exige FE in the showroom was in a gorgeous Evija like gold yellow. The Emira yellow is plain in comparison (I took the swatch over to it to compare). Here’s a pic of it against the blue car. To be fair the Hethel yellow will no doubt look good in isolation but why isn’t the first edition car getting a couple of properly stand out colours other than the blue, which for me is a bit Focus RS / last year’s colour.

The material swatches felt ok. No more than ok. Seems there is a green stitch on black option. There wasn’t a grey stitch. Or a grey leather swatch for that matter.

For balance, the car itself still looks spectacular. To most people it will often be mistaken as a small mclaren/lambo/Ferrari etc. It’s stunning and I probably still want one. But I was really hoping for something much closer to production quality rather than a slightly rough around the edges clearly now much used show car. The carpets and steering wheel are a bit dodgy, the seat feels incredibly hard (and high as already mentioned). The fake ride height and the marks on the paintwork kind of detracted from the specialness for me. And question the desire to commit throwing best part of £80k at it. But hey, everyone has already bought one so I guess they just need to get the first builds right.

For what it’s worth the event itself was weird. We were told to go and sit in the car park by a PR person when we first got there, not the customer experience I was expecting (although we arrived a bit early, saying have a look around the other cars would have been somewhat more friendly).

Clearly Lotus roadshow team have sorted budget for fancy lights and loud sound system but someone should have given a chunk to B&C for drinks and food. To say they were ‘sub optimal’ would be generous. I didn’t see anyone really welcoming the punters and offering them hospitality. The intro by B&C’s sales guy was ok, but then the UK head of sales fairly unenthusiastically read a PR written script off a piece of paper. It was all a bit dry. Highlight for me was Russell being there in person. He then stepped up and did a decent job of the ‘babysupercar’ chat. Though the poor guy looks tired! It was all over in a few minutes but then there was plenty of time to chat with people, that was the best bit really.

That sounds like a pretty shocking experience to be honest.
Just looking at the photos I couldn't get past the tiles on the showroom floor!
I'm told Lotus is employing an events company to manage the roadshows, again looking at the pics it looks budget...

 

[prestonc]

I'm booked in at B&C tomorrow evening, but now facing the stark reality that I might not be able to go. There has been no petrol whatsoever in Bromley - I wish I'd been able to find a queue to join; everywhere is empty and shut. I wasted half of what I had left in our family car today looking. I don't have nearly enough in any of my cars to make it there and back, and other things have to take priority with the 40ish miles range I have left between two cars...

That sucks mate. Good luck!!

 

[Pav]

Can someone comment on how those Diamond Cut Wheels look in person?

They have a satin finish on the diamond cut faces, so they are less ‘bright’ than a lot of diamond cut wheels / what some may expect.. That’s if the wheels on the blue car are final production quality.

 

[TrickeeKiYay]

 

[CP007]

Just got back from B&C, good points :
- magma red disc looked better than expected
- presentation was ok and good support by Lotus to chat to
- estimate was Nov for amg engined car
- could not confirm but sounded like 70ish for amg engined car
- was informed that the red stitching on i4 was optional 300 extra

some piccies:

 

[Pegasi]

Those look cool. Thanks for the close up pic. Back to the configurator! Those on a grey car would be very nice.

 

[VL3X]

My excitement is dwindling based on the feedback from most of you guys.. The paint samples look boring compared to the configurator, the ride height is higher than the promo pics, lots of complaints about the seat height and interior material samples... And why the hell is the digital gauge screen still so washed out? Just not the positive feedback and excitement I was expecting and hoping for.

 

[Red2Green]

Lotus said the target for i4 emissions was below 180g/km

Thanks TomE .. that’s really helpful to know We’ve a bit of a journey to B&C tmrw.. like many others, fuel allowing, I hope we can all get there!