UK dealer demo cars - specifications

[BeHappy]

Lotus themselves haven't chosen the route - we (dealers) were just told to propose a suitable test route for them to approve - I suspect it's something to do with the trackers, but that's just my thoughts, no idea how true that is. Sadly my particular dealership has no exciting roads within a reasonable driveable loop time frame, so we've just had to make the best of it and come up with the best possible compromise. We've got a mix of urban, a couple of moderately interesting roads (including one where you can definitely get it up to speed) and then a short motorway burst too. At least you'll be able to see how it rides over potholes I suppose?

We also haven't had delivery dates and still don't know our specs aside from them being manual, so it's pretty frustrating.

We appreciate that your keeping us informed as we’re all on tender hooks & high alert for morsels of information lol as we’re absolutely itching to get demo rides and know once and for if we’re all going to be Happy Bunnies and it’s all been worth the wait or not maybe we’ll SOON see

 

[a.s_]

We appreciate that your keeping us informed as we’re all on tender hooks & high alert for morsels of information lol as we’re absolutely itching to get demo rides and know once and for if we’re all going to be Happy Bunnies and it’s all been worth the wait or not maybe we’ll SOON see

I'm like a little kid waiting for everyone to wake up on Christmas! I'm so excited for the car(s) to arrive - I'm hoping that I'll be able to get it out for some photos, but if these trackers are that strict than that might not be an option

 

[g_l9wco]

Endeavour Colchester are "hoping" to have there demo's by the end of next week...

 

[Leonard]

Endeavour Colchester are "hoping" to have there demo's by the end of next week...

'Hoping' is that similar to praying

 

[digilotus]

'Hoping' is that similar to praying

soon -> hoping -> shortly -> omg it's actually coming -> ship sinks or truck runs off the road -> new car build scheduled -> soon ...

 

[Tonyshepp]

I'm like a little kid waiting for everyone to wake up on Christmas! I'm so excited for the car(s) to arrive - I'm hoping that I'll be able to get it out for some photos, but if these trackers are that strict than that might not be an option

Wonder what the insurance XS is for a demo drive. Let's hope no one on the forum crashes one!!

 

[Leonard]

Wonder what the insurance XS is for a demo drive. Let's hope no one on the forum crashes one!!

Don't tempt fate!

 

[digilotus]

Wonder what the insurance XS is for a demo drive. Let's hope no one on the forum crashes one!!

Third party insurance only. You crash, you pay

 

[emiraspain]

Not sure if these specs have been given out. I'm too many Peronis in to check and at an air cooled night at Caffeine and Machine
Rybrook Solihull/Birmingham are getting a Yellow manual V6 Touring on Goodyears though and Rybrook Bristol a Blue manual V6 Sport on Goodyear
Cheers

Ok well this makes it easier.... I have an email from Rybrook where they told me NOT to share the specs as Lotus had told them not to do so, BUT as LEONARD has already done so, I guess there is no harm me giving the rest of the details.. haha.... I will just blame Leonard as I will do from now on with all my lotus problems. I think associating in any way shape or form with him is a nail in my Lotus coffin haha, but thats ok as its just one of many nails Lotus put in themselves.

Bristol EMIRA
Seneca Blue / SPORT / Black Alcantara Yellow stitch / Black pack / DC wheels / Yellow Calipers / Good YEAR tyres!!! / Scorpion and Homelink....
Birmingham / Solihull EMIRA
HETHEL Yellow / TOURING / Black Alcantara Yellow stitch / Black pack / DC wheels / Black Calipers / Good YEAR tyres / Scorpion and Homelink..
.
doesnt say if half black pack, or full, but I guess full.
hence maybe Homelink is not one of the parts with delivery issues as it would make little sense to put it on 2 dealers car, if that stops 2 desperate customer getting their cars, but who knows, Lotus are a Law unto themselves.
.
This means I would have to go to Bristol to get a drive in my spec'd car instead of local dealer in solihull.... sucks, but I still have little faith in it arriving before I leave the UK anyway, being a pessimist ....
Dealer has nooooooo idea when they will arrive as of today, which I find amazing as supposedly they are making them as we speak. Makes me think they are still missing a few parts as if not, Lotus would already be calling us for test drive appts for next week or 10/14 days time as surely they will give us more than 48/72 hours notice. So my logic dictates they are dropping further behind than even the last update, sorry to say it but I just cant see anyone on here getting their car in....... Oc//////202////// side quite a while.

 

[Mickle]

Ok well this makes it easier.... I have an email from Rybrook where they told me NOT to share the specs as Lotus had told them not to do so, BUT as LEONARD has already done so, I guess there is no harm me giving the rest of the details.. haha.... I will just blame Leonard as I will do from now on with all my lotus problems. I think associating in any way shape or form with him is a nail in my Lotus coffin haha, but thats ok as its just one of many nails Lotus put in themselves.

Bristol EMIRA
Seneca Blue / Sports / Black Alcantara Yellow stitch / Black pack / DC wheels / Yellow Calipers / Good YEAR tyres!!! / Scorpion and Homelink....
Birmingham / Solihull EMIRA
HETHEL Yellow / Sports / Black Alcantara Yellow stitch / Black pack / DC wheels / Black Calipers / Good YEAR tyres / Scorpion and Homelink..
.
doesnt say if half black pack, or full, but I guess full.
hence maybe Homelink is not one of the parts with delivery issues as it would make little sense to put it on 2 dealers car, if that stops 2 desperate customer getting their cars, but who knows, Lotus are a Law unto themselves.
.
This means I would have to go to Bristol to get a drive in my spec'd car instead of local dealer in solihull.... sucks, but I still have little faith in it arriving before I leave the UK anyway, being a pessimist ....
Dealer has nooooooo idea when they will arrive as of today, which I find amazing as supposedly they are making them as we speak. Makes me think they are still missing a few parts as if not, Lotus would already be calling us for test drive appts for next week or 10/14 days time as surely they will give us more than 48/72 hours notice. So my logic dictates they are dropping further behind than even the last update, sorry to say it but I just cant see anyone on here getting their car in....... Oc//////202////// side quite a while.

Delighted to hear Solihull's will be yellow. Hoping it is Touring as they told Leonard though!

Agree with your last point on timelines too - I find it puzzling though that many people are being contacted that were expecting 'some time in 2023' from the last update email and are now being told November production with December delivery...

 

[TomE]

Ok well this makes it easier.... I have an email from Rybrook where they told me NOT to share the specs as Lotus had told them not to do so, BUT as LEONARD has already done so, I guess there is no harm me giving the rest of the details.. haha.... I will just blame Leonard as I will do from now on with all my lotus problems. I think associating in any way shape or form with him is a nail in my Lotus coffin haha, but thats ok as its just one of many nails Lotus put in themselves.

Bristol EMIRA
Seneca Blue / Sports / Black Alcantara Yellow stitch / Black pack / DC wheels / Yellow Calipers / Good YEAR tyres!!! / Scorpion and Homelink....
Birmingham / Solihull EMIRA
HETHEL Yellow / Sports / Black Alcantara Yellow stitch / Black pack / DC wheels / Black Calipers / Good YEAR tyres / Scorpion and Homelink..
.
doesnt say if half black pack, or full, but I guess full.
hence maybe Homelink is not one of the parts with delivery issues as it would make little sense to put it on 2 dealers car, if that stops 2 desperate customer getting their cars, but who knows, Lotus are a Law unto themselves.
.
This means I would have to go to Bristol to get a drive in my spec'd car instead of local dealer in solihull.... sucks, but I still have little faith in it arriving before I leave the UK anyway, being a pessimist ....
Dealer has nooooooo idea when they will arrive as of today, which I find amazing as supposedly they are making them as we speak. Makes me think they are still missing a few parts as if not, Lotus would already be calling us for test drive appts for next week or 10/14 days time as surely they will give us more than 48/72 hours notice. So my logic dictates they are dropping further behind than even the last update, sorry to say it but I just cant see anyone on here getting their car in....... Oc//////202////// side quite a while.

Useful info, thanks. Leonard had said the Solihull car was Touring, so would be handy to confirm that one.

I've updated post #1 with this and the other info we have so far.

I gather from factory tour feedback that many demo cars have been completed and are starting to be collected for distribution. I suspect they're prioritising the demo cars to US, Australia and Asia first to get them onto ships, then the EU and UK ones.

 

[emiraspain]

Delighted to hear Solihull's will be yellow. Hoping it is Touring as they told Leonard though!

Agree with your last point on timelines too - I find it puzzling though that many people are being contacted that were expecting 'some time in 2023' from the last update email and are now being told November production with December delivery...

sorry, I went to copy paste mode and moved on, the yellow one is indeed TOURING... good for u, bad for me..

 

[emiraspain]

Useful info, thanks. Leonard had said the Solihull car was Touring, so would be handy to confirm that one.

I've updated post #1 with this and the other info we have so far.

I gather from factory tour feedback that many demo cars have been completed and are starting to be collected for distribution. I suspect they're prioritising the demo cars to US, Australia and Asia first to get them onto ships, then the EU and UK ones.

yellow one its touring 100%.. my mistake....
You may be right about US etc, its not the way I would do it, but nothing surprises me at this point. The biggest surprise will be getting the 30 day call....and the car within those 30 days, which I still would not hold my breath on.. haha

 

[Lotustoronto]

yellow one its touring 100%.. my mistake....
You may be right about US etc, its not the way I would do it, but nothing surprises me at this point. The biggest surprise will be getting the 30 day call....and the car within those 30 days, which I still would not hold my breath on.. haha

You gotta let the ROW have a little Emira taste.... You'll probably still get to do test drives in the UK while ours are sitting somewhere in the Atlantic.

I think they will ramp up production fairly quickly, once the parts all come in - I still think some parts had to be re-engineered/not fabricated to engineered spec and then re-ordered, I am not convinced that dealer specs have 100% complete production parts in it. I agree that the first customer cars will probably be lagging a little longer than even the last delay.

On a positive note, I do think once they have all the suppliers firing out parts/supplies, that getting after care should in theory be easier than in previous Lotus'. They are ordering every part at 3x-5x the amount they did previously with the three E's. Which would mean they should back stock for parts should be the same 3X-5X. Now if there is a lot of problems with all customer cars then that's different, and would mean LARGER wait times indeed. If you get into an accident or one time repair, you would think that parts availability going forward (2023) would have more stocked shelves than ever in Lotus history.... or this is all wishful thinking.

Aftercare/warranty is probably one of the biggest reason's someone leaves an automotive brand for another. If Lotus does not figure this out, during the largest production run in its history, it won't make it to building EV's. Hopefully they do not drop the ball on that.

 

[Mctaff]

Bristol are also getting a nimbus grey V6 manual with red leather as their showroom car. They still haven’t had a confirmed date for the cars.

 

[AGP]

Ok well this makes it easier.... I have an email from Rybrook where they told me NOT to share the specs as Lotus had told them not to do so, BUT as LEONARD has already done so, I guess there is no harm me giving the rest of the details.. haha.... I will just blame Leonard as I will do from now on with all my lotus problems. I think associating in any way shape or form with him is a nail in my Lotus coffin haha, but thats ok as its just one of many nails Lotus put in themselves.

Bristol EMIRA
Seneca Blue / SPORT / Black Alcantara Yellow stitch / Black pack / DC wheels / Yellow Calipers / Good YEAR tyres!!! / Scorpion and Homelink....
Birmingham / Solihull EMIRA
HETHEL Yellow / TOURING / Black Alcantara Yellow stitch / Black pack / DC wheels / Black Calipers / Good YEAR tyres / Scorpion and Homelink..
.
doesnt say if half black pack, or full, but I guess full.
hence maybe Homelink is not one of the parts with delivery issues as it would make little sense to put it on 2 dealers car, if that stops 2 desperate customer getting their cars, but who knows, Lotus are a Law unto themselves.
.
This means I would have to go to Bristol to get a drive in my spec'd car instead of local dealer in solihull.... sucks, but I still have little faith in it arriving before I leave the UK anyway, being a pessimist ....
Dealer has nooooooo idea when they will arrive as of today, which I find amazing as supposedly they are making them as we speak. Makes me think they are still missing a few parts as if not, Lotus would already be calling us for test drive appts for next week or 10/14 days time as surely they will give us more than 48/72 hours notice. So my logic dictates they are dropping further behind than even the last update, sorry to say it but I just cant see anyone on here getting their car in....... Oc//////202////// side quite a while.

I'm having to do the opposite, my nearest dealer is Bristol but I have ordered HY and haven't seen it in the flesh yet. I don't mind the test drive in any colour, but I need to see HY in the flesh before locking in my I4 order.
I'm regularly in Birmingham on business, I will have to plan my work commitments around the dates they wil have the car.
Do we know how long they will have the cars in the showrooms, is it a set period ?

 

[695 to Emira]

Bristol are also getting a nimbus grey V6 manual with red leather as their showroom car. They still haven’t had a confirmed date for the cars.

Cool. Looks like you are 7 miles away from me. When is yours due? I’m December at the moment. Any idea what Bristol are getting as a demo?

 

[AGP]

Cool. Looks like you are 7 miles away from me. When is yours due? I’m December at the moment. Any idea what Bristol are getting as a demo?

From the list on page 1 it looks to be Seneca Blue with the following

Bristol

V6 manual

Seneca Blue

Black alcantara, yellow stitch

Sports + Eagle

Black Pack, DC wheels, yellow calipers

 

[695 to Emira]

From the list on page 1 it looks to be Seneca Blue with the following

Bristol

V6 manual

Seneca Blue

Black alcantara, yellow stitch

Sports + Eagle

Black Pack, DC wheels, yellow calipers

How did I miss that? This car is my exact spec except black non DC wheels.

 

[AGP]

How did I miss that? This car is my exact spec except black non DC wheels.

That's good news, I was hoping for a HY especially as we saw the Seneca Blue during the reveal.
I can't complain, Solihull isn't too far