Goodwood - updates and info

[VL3X]

There was lots of lights above with I would say a slight tint of blue in them
Under fluorescent lights Nimbus looks almost like a pure silver/grey. In natural sunlight the bronze/gold/cream hues appear.

Makes sense since the sample disc I held inside the dealer looked like brilliant silver and I saw no bronze tint at all. I didn't take it outside though.

 

[vdr]

All respectable CA dealers are generally friendly and ask first.

Same for NY

 

[vdr]

Concerningly, speaking to Matt about car pics.... I asked him when we're getting DV pics; he pretty much straight up refused to publish them. His words were effectively "we're not, it's too hard to picture and show properly". I didn't really know how to respond. Or if he was serious...

Ridiculous…

 

[DF_Toronto]

I discussed some of the North America issues with Matt and others at Hethel in January and again at Goodwood on Thursday. Some of it stems from the different model in NA and the relationships (contractual and informal) between Hethel, Lotus Cars USA and NA dealers.

Lotus assume NA dealers will take the primary role in the customer relationship. There's some reluctance to step on their toes by doing too much directly with customers, particularly in light of the recent changes to UK dealer model and attempts by other manufacturers in NA to change the dealer model.

But I agree there is more that could be done to improve comms to NA (and other) customers, including providing better and more frequent updates to dealers and maybe even some templated materials they can send on easily.

Like several others, I keep being told things will improve. I've seen very little evidence of that in the last 5 months, although Matt's recent video update was a big step forward. I do know there is more in the pipeline and further opportunities coming up for me and other forum members to pose questions to senior Lotus folks on this and other topics.

Thank you Tom!

The update from Matt wasn’t sent to Lotus subscribers in NA at least. Wouldn’t have known about it if not from this forum. I don’t have a pre-existing relationship with the dealership pre-Emira so I don’t want to bug them and be annoying. My last contact was a couple months ahead of Eletre announcement to ask to put a deposit down. Even though I put interest in Emira the day of announcement - the dealership already had about 30 deposits from existing customers ahead of Goodwood, so that’s why I realized not to wait on the Eletre. I think they’re only getting 15 Emira’s this year so half the ppl before Goodwood won’t even get it, so I’m like 30 and know I’m far from top of the list. I haven’t got any sense compared to others that the dealership hasn’t told me what they know - which they said at the time was still nothing from Lotus. I genuinely don’t mind waiting and even farther delays if there’s something they’re not 100% satisfied about in the production or quality. It just feels like we’re completely ignored when we can go on the internet these days and see that other customers who have later deposit dates are getting orders in and the called up invited to events and all that. Even if they’re facing challenges with different logistics in NA and don’t want to provide “bad news” or “ambiguous” news. I think it’s gotten to the point now where they really need to just reach out and let us know that they see us. I would rather get a somewhat personal email or phone call from lotus telling me what they’re working through and that they see us and based on challenges they may not ship NA cars until 2024 vs nothing or a generic 1 line email saying “first cars coming to ship to NA fall 2023” when I haven’t even got my spec ordered and means nothing to me .

Side question - but I think it’s still personal. Would they potentially recommend a customer who’s ordered an Eletre and decided the Emira in a V6 manual which won’t be a daily driver get it in sport? I’m not sure how our roads compare to UK. Unfortunately we don’t have many twisty roads until you get into the country but we have plenty of potholes in Canada.

 

[TomE]

Given the state of some of your roads I think Touring will be a better option.

 

[Dommo]

https://youtu.be/pZra8dmWC8w

Here's a link to the video I took of the exhaust at Goodwood. It's nothing ground breaking but hopefully it's useful to anyone that hasn't heard much of it up close

 

[Eagle7]

https://youtu.be/pZra8dmWC8w

Here's a link to the video I took of the exhaust at Goodwood. It's nothing ground breaking but hopefully it's useful to anyone that hasn't heard much of it up close

Sounds good. The tone is a bit softer than I would like, but considering today's regulations not surprising. I'm also assuming that was in tour mode? Hopefully sport mode has more bark and a sharper tone.

 

[Dommo]

Sounds good. The tone is a bit softer than I would like, but considering today's regulations not surprising. I'm also assuming that was in tour mode? Hopefully sport mode has more bark and a sharper tone.

I'm fairly certain it was tour mode. I didn't catch it on video but I also asked the guy in the car to switch between the modes and there was a noticeable difference between Tour, Sport and Track modes. He didn't rev it though so I only heard the other modes on idle.

 

[Tonyshepp]

It's more complicated than that. See what you find online about recent situation at Rimstock.

Yes I see from the annual report at companies house things aren’t good at Rimstock with massive redundancies.

 

[firstlotus]

I think it's the effect of the stand lighting and dark floor. Here are some more:

View attachment 6830

View attachment 6831

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Thanks Tom...

 

[Exige2000]

Those wheels on the ELETRE are pretty sick from this angle.

Hi Tom
Thank you for all the information from GFOS , wish I was there to ask about my Emira ! Deposit 7th July 21 , was Aug , what do you think September now ?

 

[TomE]

Yes, probably Sept but you should get specific info next week.

 

[emiraspain]

https://youtu.be/pZra8dmWC8w

Here's a link to the video I took of the exhaust at Goodwood. It's nothing ground breaking but hopefully it's useful to anyone that hasn't heard much of it up close

im not expert, but I guess when there is a bit of carbon / coke build up, there may be a few pops and bags... a month or so later....

 

[emiraspain]

im not expert, but I guess when there is a bit of carbon / coke build up, there may be a few pops and bags... a month or so later....

although that car already probably has it..... so maybe not going to poop and bang ever..

 

[Lankan]

Thank you to @TomE and those of you who have been to Goodwood FoS and have posted your thoughts and feedback on the Emira, and insights of your experiences at the event. I do like what I have heard and seen so far, including the myriad of magazine (and YouTube) reviews...

Really disappointed that I had to cancel my visit (and sell the tickets I bought for tomorrow), especially since one close to my order (Hethel Yellow with DC wheels & Alcantara seats) was on show.

 

[PocketRocket]

Sport mode I believe here...but is it a diiferent exhaust being a US car and pre production?

 

[Exige2000]

Yes, probably Sept but you should get specific info next week.

I do hope so , sure the car will be worth the wait.

Thank you for taking time to reply Tom

 

[Bradw]

Tom what have they said about the seats in the ice grey car 4k not a lot of miles for sag to happen are they still the pre production ones.

Yes they was. I asked the question as I thought they had a terrible sag. Its the car Harry used in his videos

 

[Hedge]

I really, really hope it's differentiated for the US market and they preserve full output, the way they did with the Evora GT.

Remember, the biggest mid-engine sports car price competition in the US is actually the C8 Corvette, and not even the regular one (which already walks all over the Emira on power specs for $30k less) but the wilder Z06 version which has 670hp and an 8400rpm flat plane crank V8. And it will likely still be cheaper than the Emira... final pricing should be released this week and is expected to be between $85k and $93k, just under the Emira pricing.

I hope Lotus isn't so focused on the UK market that they forget about these realities in other markets. There's more competition than the Cayman, and price is the key leveling comparator in the US rather than specs. For X dollars, how much performance can I buy.

I agree and hope we all get the best Lotus can make.

Currently, the looks and the novelty of a Lotus having a modern interior, along with the heritage and badge seem to be the main selling points of the Emira.

Nothing stands out on paper or in the reviews as class leading and actually a number of traditional Lotus virtues have been questioned or at least seemingly detuned.

It’s strength should be / will be in how it feels to drive and how it makes the driver feel.

 

[Porter]

Sport mode I believe here...but is it a diiferent exhaust being a US car and pre production?

That's the original dynamic prototype that was sent on the roadshows and that video is from last year. The exhaust on that is not in any way final. There are some more recent audio clips of the near-production builds.