Harry's Garage videos - visit to Hethel and Matt Windle interview, Emira collection and drive

[Evotion]

I only get excited when I get to the Huracan and thats another league and double the price.

How about this!! I have been there a few times in the last couple of weeks for Ferrari stuff. I keep eyeing this up. Looks damn good value.

Lamborghini Gallardo - Autofficina, Epsom, Surrey

autofficina.co.uk

 

[Evotion]

Lotus will be 100% focusing on QC. I have no doubts whatsoever that I will get a car as good as they can make it.

They simply cannot afford to have any bits go wrong here and there as the impact on there already stretched resources might be catastrophic. It would cost them time, money and reputation. They will not less this happen.
They have been testing elements of the car for 2 years and whole cars for a lot less so if anything does go wrong then hopefully it can be easily rectified at dealer/service level - as with other cars.

 

[NicolasB]

How about this!! I have been there a few times in the last couple of weeks for Ferrari stuff. I keep eyeing this up. Looks damn good value.

Lamborghini Gallardo - Autofficina, Epsom, Surrey

autofficina.co.uk

Bad transmission I believe, also just looks like a wannabe Lambo.

 

[NicolasB]

I believe the 333 of Harry's car is the 333rd car that has rolled off the line, which includes all test vehicles, demos, crash-test cars, validation prototypes, and on.

I do believe he's jumped the line a bit, but it was all in the name of keeping us happy and letting us see things in action and to get an explanation of their production plight.

 

[emiraspain]

Lotus will be 100% focusing on QC. I have no doubts whatsoever that I will get a car as good as they can make it.

They simply cannot afford to have any bits go wrong here and there as the impact on there already stretched resources might be catastrophic. It would cost them time, money and reputation. They will not less this happen.
They have been testing elements of the car for 2 years and whole cars for a lot less so if anything does go wrong then hopefully it can be easily rectified at dealer/service level - as with other cars.

I Pray you are right, but I am simply not as confident.
There were several new defenders with issues, some well promoted (incorrect term) on youtube in the US, that father and son team, although some of their issues were dealer errors I would say.
I am sure they spent more on QC and have a far more complicated car at the same time that the EMira, in everyway a new car, new plant, new country. Very hard to get this right out of the gate......
Its a worry for me.... glad its not for you

 

[Evotion]

Bad transmission I believe, also just looks like a wannabe Lambo.

Wannabe lambo?!? It's a proper Lambo. It's the Huracan that is more of an Audi

Just budget for a occasional clutch and buy one with a new one. You can at least get it NOW!

 

[Evotion]

Its a worry for me.... glad its not for you

To be fair, it will be like a 3rd or 4th car so my perpective if of less worry. I appreciate that those buying this as their #1 or even #2 car need more reassurement.

 

[Twin Cam]

Loving the new factory….. thought I would add some nostalgia, great to see how far they have come on

 

[SmokeGlider]

I found this to be a great video. Harry got as up close and personal as anyone could. Kudos to Lotus too for letting it happen. So much going on here with new factory, new build processes, new car, new staff, supply chain issues, economic issues…the list goes on. I for one will keep cheering Lotus on and look forward to the day I drive my new Emira off the lot. It will be worth the wait.

 

[MickOpalak]

No offense to anyone here, but imo, that is a huge slap in the face to UK homebase buyers. UK should have always been first, period.

Stop being so dramatic. Since British customer cars are being delayed by extra approvals why not deliver cars to the larger markets in the mean time? You realize, of course, that Lotus is going to sell a lot more cars in the US, China, and India than they ever will in the UK?

 

[Citizen]

It's up:

Minute 6,

 

[Captain.Kirk]

maybe they just misspelled REVERSE... haha...reverse your order ie cancel

The Configure page now shows the Emira photos and a new menu system on the right to pick options. Gone are the choice of FE or Base and the associated availability dates based on regions. So they’re basically hiding any mention of FE compared to Base configurations for now.

 

[SmokeGlider]

Stop being so dramatic. Since British customer cars are being delayed by extra approvals why not deliver cars to the larger markets in the mean time? You realize, of course, that Lotus is going to sell a lot more cars in the US, China, and India than they ever will in the UK?

Nice bedside manner. Customer service much?

 

[Leonard]

It may well be easier to get EU type approval first, followed by UK, but that wasn't the original plan when @TomE visited Hethel in January. The only thing that leaving the EU has done is to require separate applications. It's disingenuous of Windle to suggest that leaving the EU is to blame. It was a choice which Lotus made, despite having 2000 plus UK depositers for Emira, more than anywhere else at that time. The market size for the follow on EV models probably drove that choice.

Maybe they dribbled a few LHD cars out to Europe so that it didn't appear like they were solely supporting Asia Market sales...

 

[Leonard]

Stop being so dramatic. Since British customer cars are being delayed by extra approvals why not deliver cars to the larger markets in the mean time? You realize, of course, that Lotus is going to sell a lot more cars in the US, China, and India than they ever will in the UK?

Although technically at present the UK is the larger market.
You would be suprised how many sports and specialist cars are sold in the UK per capita

 

[Lotustoronto]

Although technically at present the UK is the larger market.
You would be suprised how many sports and specialist cars are sold in the UK per capita

Maybe per capita... but actually units sold. I believe for 2 door sports cars / exotics, the US market is number 1 world wide. Vehicle units (SUV's cars etc.) is for sure China/Asia. Just for volume. Eletre / New Lotus' most important market would have to be 1. China 2. EU 3. US (for electric vehicles)

 

[Leonard]

Maybe per capita... but actually units sold. I believe for 2 door sports cars / exotics, the US market is number 1 world wide. Vehicle units (SUV's cars etc.) is for sure China/Asia. Just for volume. Eletre / New Lotus' most important market would have to be 1. China 2. EU 3. US (for electric vehicles)

Yes 100% I'd never argue that. And I think it's pretty clear that is at the forefront of Geely's mind and ambition in getting cars delivered to those markets with the biggest potential

 

[emiraspain]

Do we really think Emira's will sell more n China and India and US than the UK?
Im not so sure..........
US loves porsche as much as the UK does, but Lotus is from the UK which has a huge effect ....

Seems to be quite a few heading to china, but how many would be heading to UK customers IF they had the bits / approvals..whatever...still no wiser to be honest.
India... I cant see being a large market.... what kind of roads and tracks are there... .anyone from India on here?

I think UK will be the largest market for the first 3 4 5 years...then who knows, next year being yr 2 already

 

[VL3X]

I was busy all weekend prepping for our annual Halloween party, but finally got time to sit down and watch Harry's video last night (and again this morning). I loved it! It was great seeing the factory up close and personal like that and I was pretty surprised to see how much is actually still manually done. Maybe this is a good thing? Maybe not?

Matt seemed honest and up front about everything too. Really hoping US deliveries stay on schedule. It's a little concerning knowing my cars likely being assembled by brand new factory workers, but it sounds like training and QA is a priority. Lots of check points with multiple eyes at each station. I think this is a good thing.

I especially liked seeing the chassis/subframe and Eibach/Bilstein parts. It really gives us a clear understanding of how our cars are being put together. I would have loved to see more details on the seat and dash assembly.

I ordered Seneca, but Nimbus was my alternative, which looked fantastic during these video shots. I'm still on the fence about Seneca, but I think it'll be a cool color until I can custom spec a Ithaca Verde bespoke edition. Seneca seems to be the Shark Blue version of that.

I also liked seeing the calipers covered/protected during assembly and all the other safety measures around the floor. Exciting times!

 

[dgrace]

My takeaway from the video and the recent factory photos is that Shadow Grey is going to be super rare!