Race to the first i4

[Tokion]

unfortunately i have been told 2 days ago that they shifted i4 production from oct to nov i suppose to collect mine last of nov / early of dec now that shifted too

To «shift» production, is such an elegant word that nonchalantly can be inserted interchangeably for the more serious expressions «delayed» and «pushed back».

After having ordered, specified, and partly prepaid for 10%) an i4 unseen and untested over 2 years ago, and never ever getting any word each time there has been a «delay» or «push-back», I guess the marketing division is conveniently brushing away the continuous movement in schedule as mere «shifts». And I assume everyone in the line/queue are expected to retain “full mobility” in line with “the shifts”

Sounds soooo innocent and easy. Just small bagatelles.

Obviously I would also like a bit of information whether any of the criticism from the officially appointed by Lotus reviewers will be addressed, or at least to know if it has been recognized? Silence isn’t always “golden”.

 

[EMIRADILEMMA]

To «shift» production, is such an elegant word that nonchalantly can be inserted interchangeably for the more serious expressions «delayed» and «pushed back».

After having ordered, specified, and partly prepaid for 10%) an i4 unseen and untested over 2 years ago, and never ever getting any word each time there has been a «delay» or «push-back», I guess the marketing division is conveniently brushing away the continuous movement in schedule as mere «shifts». And I assume everyone in the line/queue are expected to retain “full mobility” in line with “the shifts”

Sounds soooo innocent and easy. Just small bagatelles.

Obviously I would also like a bit of information whether any of the criticism from the officially appointed by Lotus reviewers will be addressed, or at least to know if it has been recognized? Silence isn’t always “golden”.

Agreed! I am hoping that these "shifts" are due to needing more time to address issues and hopefully (a long shot I know) the slower shift speeds affecting the DCT

 

[simonb]

It is the steady slip that I think will frustrate people, particularly as there are many sports car buyers who will flip a car after a year or two
I had a deposit placed pre reveal
07/07/21 mail from Lotus cars was promising "completing order" Autumn (2021) - I assumed V6, with i4 later
same day email from dealer indicating Autumn 2022 for the i4 to hit forecourts

Since then I do not believe a "slippage" was ever more than a couple of months, but boy they keep adding up

What are current bets for first customer i4

 

[MajHall04]

It is the steady slip that I think will frustrate people, particularly as there are many sports car buyers who will flip a car after a year or two
I had a deposit placed pre reveal
07/07/21 mail from Lotus cars was promising "completing order" Autumn (2021) - I assumed V6, with i4 later
same day email from dealer indicating Autumn 2022 for the i4 to hit forecourts

Since then I do not believe a "slippage" was ever more than a couple of months, but boy they keep adding up

What are current bets for first customer i4

I'm still hoping MAR/APR for my US build. If it's delayed to May for QC and tweaking of DCT i am fine with that.

 

[JimH]

LCCS confirmed again today that my UK i4 FE is "one of the first" and "is still showing on our system as a September build".....

 

[Cutting42]

LCCS confirmed again today that my UK i4 FE is "one of the first" and "is still showing on our system as a September build".....

I tried to call them today but I confess my faith is not great given I had a verbal Sept build confirmation at the end of Aug followed by an email the following week moving it to October. I was also told the checkout process would start early Sept. Hmmmm.

 

[TomE]

LCCS confirmed again today that my UK i4 FE is "one of the first" and "is still showing on our system as a September build".....

If it was Sept build then you should be into Checkout by now

 

[2BIG2FAIL]

Can someone please clarify whether the much-discussed transmission lag issue being software-patched or otherwise fixed is a pipe dream or something that is actually feasible/likely? This is my first time in the market for a car that isn't mass-market, and I have limited knowledge about the underlying tech, so I can't tell if this is just blind hope from the forum or an actually realistic possibility.

 

[schuey100]

Can someone please clarify whether the much-discussed transmission lag issue being software-patched or otherwise fixed is a pipe dream or something that is actually feasible/likely? This is my first time in the market for a car that isn't mass-market, and I have limited knowledge about the underlying tech, so I can't tell if this is just blind hope from the forum or an actually realistic possibility.

Here here

 

[schuey100]

Here here

A deciding factor for me as supposed be October build, need to drive the thing first….

 

[JimH]

If it was Sept build then you should be into Checkout by now

I said that to LCCS too - apparently now “the checkout email time is variable, and can go out at any time between a car being in build or up to 2 weeks after”…

 

[Porter]

it would be interesting to know whether the 400bhp China cars are running a different map to the 360BHP British cars, or whether different fuel etc makes up the change.

Would be a real shame if it is not tuneable, and the likes of Litchfield would only light up the dash like a christmas tree

All looks rather embarrassing for a company that makes fault free products from a new factory in Wuhan, but lemons in Norfolk. That scenario will not leave Hethel with BEV production in future

It is most certainly a different state of tune. 40bhp is far more than could be attributed to regional fuel difference.

Also we don't yet know whether the Eletre has any early production problems, so it's far too early to make any assumptions about flawless initial quality.

I'm of the same mind. Everyone was expecting the main issue with the I4 to be with the sound. The DCT feedback was really leftfield given it comes from the A45s which gets no such negative reviews.

I wonder if it's due to expectations? They don't expect a hatchback runabout to have that much power, so they generally praise it. The Emira on the other hand, is expected to be super fast and intuitive to drive, so they hold it to a high standard and criticize the shift lag.

LCCS confirmed again today that my UK i4 FE is "one of the first" and "is still showing on our system as a September build".....

Cutting it close for those kinds of claims, aren't they?

Can someone please clarify whether the much-discussed transmission lag issue being software-patched or otherwise fixed is a pipe dream or something that is actually feasible/likely? This is my first time in the market for a car that isn't mass-market, and I have limited knowledge about the underlying tech, so I can't tell if this is just blind hope from the forum or an actually realistic possibility.

It's almost certainly something that can be improved, but we don't know by how much, or what they might need to do to achieve it. It may be a simple fix, and then again it may not. It's a game of wait and see, because we aren't privy to the technical challenges that the development team may have been wrestling with.

 

[Cutting42]

If it was Sept build then you should be into Checkout by now

I just spoke to CS and learned nothing really except I was down for a Sept build as well - that was a surprise as the last email said Oct build.

The person on the phone was really unable to say anything other than confirming there had been some delays but that I should hear more ............. yup, "soon"!

He did say he would try and send me an email update with more info but I am not confident.

 

[Andy H]

Also just dropped them a mail regards their previous November commitment. I won't hold my breath. I also reiterated that I expect the opportunity for a test drive and I won't be committing to the contract until I've driven a demo car.

Update: To be fair they responded fairly promptly this time....

Unfortunately we do not have any information on test drives at this time, I apologise for any inconvenience this may cause. However, we are working on this with a matter of urgency.

Please keep an eye on your emails for more information in the future about test drives.

We are currently looking at November for build month and January/ February for handover for your vehicle.

So apparently no slippage but still no info on test drives. The race continues.

Jan, Feb handover isn't great timing but after 2.5 years waiting I'll take it

 

[DJManc]

I just spoke to CS and learned nothing really except I was down for a Sept build as well - that was a surprise as the last email said Oct build.

The person on the phone was really unable to say anything other than confirming there had been some delays but that I should hear more ............. yup, "soon"!

He did say he would try and send me an email update with more info but I am not confident.

It would seem that the Production Team do not have very good open lines of communication with the Customer Service Team. I spoke to CS a while back about changing one bit of spec and just kept getting a flat NO....not possible (without even checking with production), even when I said I didn't care if it would delay my order. Several months later the car still is not in build!
Also, how difficult is it, to send a monthly emails to customers, with a few lines to update on the anticipated production/build schedules etc. Just more examples of shockingly bad customer service leaving very frustrated customers.

 

[Martylemoo]

I just asked for an update on my order;
For an order update, it is looking like your car should be handed over later this year, however we don't have a specific month estimate. We are hoping to send out an order update to all Turbocharged Emira customers in a couple of weeks. I am sorry that I can't give you a more accurate update at this point in time.

 

[schuey100]

Rang Oakmere Lotus today to ask when the I4 demo would arrive, spoke to salesman called Sreve said he’d find out and ring me back, no response. Tried ringing Lotus and pressed option 1 to speak to someone about Emira, line went dead saying unavailable. After seeing the depreciation on the V6 already and lack of comms and not great reviews on I4, paying my deposit in Jujy 2021 I’ve had enough, been fighting the negative thoughts for months but it’s just the right decision to cancel and buy in 12 months after the initial ‘hit’ of depreciation. Just don’t know how to cancel and get my £5k back….

 

[0pirates0]

Hi guys, i just have booked an appointment to take a test drive on i4 emira within the next 24 hours. Let me know something you want me to ask/try on the i4 model.

 

[MajHall04]

Hi guys, i just have booked an appointment to take a test drive on i4 emira within the next 24 hours. Let me know something you want me to ask/try on the i4 model.

Yes, can you pull back on both paddles to get into neutral? If not, can you use the paddles at all to engage neutral?

 

[Andy H]

Hi guys, i just have booked an appointment to take a test drive on i4 emira within the next 24 hours. Let me know something you want me to ask/try on the i4 model.

Good effort! Better than anyone in the UK. For me, it's all about the reported manual shift up and down delays. Is there a discernable lag? Obviously, there needs to be sufficient rev range to accommodate the down-shifts

A bonus would be any perspective on turbo lag. If you can compare with any other turbocharged cars you have driven. What's the sweet rev range to keep the turbo on boost?