I4 (AMG-2.0 Turbo) DCT gearbox software update from LOTUS - mid August 2024

There is a software update that seems to have been released by Lotus for the gear shifting algorithm of the Emira AMG-2.0 Turbo. This may improve the perceived delays when using the flappy pedals, and it is said to even improve going from forward motion into reverse. It will be interesting to hear from owners, that gets this installed, about the extent and subjective feel of this update.

 

[drummingj]

I had the i4 updates last week and it does seems a lot better changing up thru the gears a lot smoothly, not sure if its my imagination, but it does also seem faster. I don't know accurate the Emira power meter is, but when I did a short burst (private road) it did read 391 bhp.

wow! this is great news


please tell us the details - was it a Lotus garage that updated it? do you know the details of what SW version it is, how the mechanic accesses the updated SW etc etc?

 

[drummingj]

No joy for me today the Lotus Kent people said my car (bought in June 2024) had the latest gearbox software and nothing new was showing as available...

 

[Beachbum]

Does anyone know how to get the software versions that are installed? I assume its the ECU software level thats relevant for both the Gear change and the BHP increase.
I guess DenzilP needs to find out his S/W version, so that we can then take that to our dealers and us say "I want"

 

[Neil D.]

Collected my i4 last week, with sofware uploaded on Thursday. From memory it appears quicker than the test car in March. But this could be a placebo effect.
Neil

 

[drummingj]

DenzilP posted this picture and the centre screen GUI is different from mine... I don't have this tile with Downforce and Power as a long bar beneath it.. does anybody else?

(Edit - i actually do)

 

[Davidexige]

Well picked my new car today and thought I would add to this thread, I’m guessing as it’s a new car it would have had all the latest software installed. Couple of quick impressions, manual gear change seems good, certainly seems quicker than the video posted on “Harry’s garage” but I’ve no previous experience to compare this to, I was also told on picking the car up there’s no run in period required for the i4 and it’s ready to go, so after a hundred or so miles driving home I thought I’d give it a bit of a blast, I had the screen set up as DenzilP had in his post and I recorded 389bhp, but as Denzil said how accurate this is I don’t know, would be interesting to see what other people are seeing. Happy days

 

[Davidexige]

DenzilP posted this picture and the centre screen GUI is different from mine... I don't have this tile with Downforce and Power as a long bar beneath it.. does anybody else?
View attachment 52063

Have a look at the Home Screen, on mine there’s a “performance” icon, select this and it gives the screen you want.

 

[Emira Fan]

Well picked my new car today and thought I would add to this thread, I’m guessing as it’s a new car it would have had all the latest software installed. Couple of quick impressions, manual gear change seems good, certainly seems quicker than the video posted on “Harry’s garage” but I’ve no previous experience to compare this to, I was also told on picking the car up there’s no run in period required for the i4 and it’s ready to go, so after a hundred or so miles driving home I thought I’d give it a bit of a blast, I had the screen set up as DenzilP had in his post and I recorded 389bhp, but as Denzil said how accurate this is I don’t know, would be interesting to see what other people are seeing. Happy days

{was also told on picking the car up there’s no run in period required for the i4 and it’s ready to go,}

Best to check the manual and not take the salesman's word. The run in details on the i4 in the US is 1000 miles. (no sport or track mode)

 

[Ryder35]

Well picked my new car today and thought I would add to this thread, I’m guessing as it’s a new car it would have had all the latest software installed. Couple of quick impressions, manual gear change seems good, certainly seems quicker than the video posted on “Harry’s garage” but I’ve no previous experience to compare this to, I was also told on picking the car up there’s no run in period required for the i4 and it’s ready to go, so after a hundred or so miles driving home I thought I’d give it a bit of a blast, I had the screen set up as DenzilP had in his post and I recorded 389bhp, but as Denzil said how accurate this is I don’t know, would be interesting to see what other people are seeing. Happy days

Which dealer told you no run in is required.! Total BS so tread carefully as lotus would probably disagree if you have issues

 

[Neil D.]

{was also told on picking the car up there’s no run in period required for the i4 and it’s ready to go,}

Best to check the manual and not take the salesman's word. The run in details on the i4 in the US is 1000 miles. (no sport or track mode)

All in the book

 

[Rainier]

... I was also told on picking the car up there’s no run in period required for the i4 and it’s ready to go, so after a hundred or so miles driving home I thought I’d give it a bit of a blast, I had the screen set up as DenzilP had in his post and I recorded 389bhp, ....

 

[drummingj]

Have a look at the Home Screen, on mine there’s a “performance” icon, select this and it gives the screen you want.

Yeah I do have that, thank you!

 

[drummingj]

Which dealer told you no run in is required.! Total BS so tread carefully as lotus would probably disagree if you have issues

Lotus Kent told me this. And actually put it down in writing on an email.. so at least I have that in case there’s any disagreement later on.. Still, I certainly didn’t go crazy, defo didn’t do a track day or any drag races.

To be clear, he wasn’t saying engine break in isn’t a thing.. he was saying that Mercedes AMG do it so we don’t have to.. and that "the engine was ready to be enjoyed from day 1"..

 

[PsymonR]

Lotus Kent told me this. And actually put it down in writing on an email.. so at least I have that in case there’s any disagreement later on.. Still, I certainly didn’t go crazy, defo didn’t do a track day or any drag races.

To be clear, he wasn’t saying engine break in isn’t a thing.. he was saying that Mercedes AMG do it so we don’t have to.. and that the engine was ready to be enjoyed from day 1..

Mercedes still have a running in period for their cars though, from the A Class manual (which includes the AMG variants):

But as you say though, at least you have it in writing from the dealer and they didn't just say it to you verbally!

 

[Ryder35]

I had the i4 updates last week and it does seems a lot better changing up thru the gears a lot smoothly, not sure if its my imagination, but it does also seem faster. I don't know accurate the Emira power meter is, but when I did a short burst (private road) it did read 391 bhp.

Just floored the loaner I have (it is now run in I have had it so long!) topped out on the graph at 360 with the bar all the way to the right and would not go above so it looks like yours is definately different... in a good way!

 

[PsymonR]

Just floored the loaner I have (it is now run in I have had it so long!) topped out on the graph at 360 with the bar all the way to the right and would not go above so it looks like yours is definately different... in a good way!

I wouldn't put it past Lotus if the update has had no effect on the power output but instead has a bug in it that has altered the calibration of the output to show 400 when it should still be 360...

 

[Ryder35]

I wouldn't put it past Lotus if the update has had no effect on the power output but instead has a bug in it that has altered the calibration of the output to show 400 when it should still be 360...

I would not put it past Lotus to have made all i4s from the beginning 400hp and not told anyone! O guess the question for those who are seeing 400hp after an update is does the car feel 40hp quicker!

 

[Emira Fan]

I would not put it past Lotus to have made all i4s from the beginning 400hp and not told anyone! O guess the question for those who are seeing 400hp after an update is does the car feel 40hp quicker!

Think the early road tests by Road and Track etc. would have recorded sub 4.0 seconds 0-60 runs if all the cars had 400HP. 400hp i4's should be able to hit 3.7s to 60; minus roll-out.

Lotus might have been planning to run the same game as Mercedes -- Offer an 'S' version with 3 psi more boost for $7k.... and with all the delays they decided to provide 'standard' to smooth things over for the people waiting for years.

 

[Davidexige]

Just floored the loaner I have (it is now run in I have had it so long!) topped out on the graph at 360 with the bar all the way to the right and would not go above so it looks like yours is definately different... in a good way!

That’s really informative, thanks for doing that, I think we need someone with the official 400bhp car to do the same now to see how it compares.

 

[drummingj]

I got some useful info from Lotus Customer Care today regarding this - they say that the August gearbox SW update is v1.5


He wasn't able to tell me what version I had on a June purchased car, nor why Lotus Kent said 'there was no gearbox SW updates available for you' when clearly there is..