V6 Autobox News

[emiraspain]

Interesting thread - I have some recent 'experience' that is sort of relevent

A couple of months ago I bought an IPS (auto) Exige V6S, the idea being to try out driving an auto in preparation for my i4 Emira (i.e. do I really want one?). I know it's not the same gearbox but I'm bored with waiting for the Emira and I do like a nice Exige
Tried to insure the thing on the UK comparison sites and NONE of them recognised it as an Auto, the reg number came back as manual? No problem I thought, just Lotus being a PITA as usual and using block registrations to register a whole load of cars in one go with no variations for model type (this has happened before, believe me I know!). But no, upon calling half a dozen or so companies direct I was informed that the V6S Auto Exige does not exist, it is not a thing! I could get a quote for a 350 Sport Auto no problem, but NOT a V6S Auto.
To cut a long story short, I checked with Thatcham (who are responsible in the UK for assigning insurance 'groups' on new cars) and after many emails and phone calls it turns out that the V6S Auto had never been allocated a Vehicle Identification Code, so mainstream insurance companies do not recognise it. The guy I was speaking to was very diplomatic about why this might have happened, but said something along the lines of 'if we havent been told that it's on sale then we can't/won't allocate it a number'.
The final outcome is that Thatcham checked with Lotus that the car was indeed a real model and quickly allocated a VIC number, which if you're interested is 30019251. Apparantly the comparison sites may never pick this up, so for now I'm stuck with specialist (more expensive!) insurance

Let's just hope that Lotus don't 'forget' the V6 Emira Auto in a similar manner

BTW, the auto in the Exige is fine, but in the later Evoras it's very good indeed - same box but much improved software. I'm sure the Emira will get the 'good' software and it will be great to drive

excellent info...... for those who need it! Sounds like you have had your work cut out, but hopefully you will / are enjoying the car!

 

[emiraspain]

Thanks, just checked in the Spanish comparison Rastreator,
Emira shows, but no option to select Manual or Auto, so not much help regarding type approval.

By the way, lowest quote with Zurich is 1125 euros full risk.

Exactly same price as I pay for Evora GT 410 Sport

good to know, I will check them out, although I have a quote of around that already.... I think.

 

[JohnHoward]

I think that there is plenty of evidence that Lotus do not have Type Approval for the V6 auto as I have posted on other threads, but I have been thinking about the information that we have and whether there are there enough pieces of the puzzle to solve it.

We know that there are cars partially built in the factory awaiting final parts, as mentioned by TomE. We do not know if this includes any auto cars.

We know that the Emira shares the same engine and powertrain as the Evora, but the emissions of the manual Emira are higher than the Evora, it would be fair to expect that the emissions of the V6auto Emira will be higher than the equivalent auto Evora.

We know that the Type Approval process is considered during development, prototype phase and final build phase.
We know that fully finished manual cars have Type Approval.

I see two possible branches at this stage, firstly, if there are V6 autos partially built and secondly, if there are no V6 autos partially built.

The first scenario – there are V6 autos partially built in the factory awaiting parts and without those parts, they cannot perform final tests for Type Approval. I think it is likely that those final tests will be emissions as anything more major could mean disassembly of vehicles and I am sure Lotus would have not taken that risk.

The second scenario – there are no V6 autos partially built as more major hurdles remain to be overcome. I think this scenario could put the V6 auto at risk, with a limited time to produce them and much less demand. Hopefully this will not be the case.

 

[roundincircles]

I think that there is plenty of evidence that Lotus do not have Type Approval for the V6 auto as I have posted on other threads, but I have been thinking about the information that we have and whether there are there enough pieces of the puzzle to solve it.

We know that there are cars partially built in the factory awaiting final parts, as mentioned by TomE. We do not know if this includes any auto cars.

We know that the Emira shares the same engine and powertrain as the Evora, but the emissions of the manual Emira are higher than the Evora, it would be fair to expect that the emissions of the V6auto Emira will be higher than the equivalent auto Evora.

We know that the Type Approval process is considered during development, prototype phase and final build phase.
We know that fully finished manual cars have Type Approval.

I see two possible branches at this stage, firstly, if there are V6 autos partially built and secondly, if there are no V6 autos partially built.

The first scenario – there are V6 autos partially built in the factory awaiting parts and without those parts, they cannot perform final tests for Type Approval. I think it is likely that those final tests will be emissions as anything more major could mean disassembly of vehicles and I am sure Lotus would have not taken that risk.

The second scenario – there are no V6 autos partially built as more major hurdles remain to be overcome. I think this scenario could put the V6 auto at risk, with a limited time to produce them and much less demand. Hopefully this will not be the case.

They will produce an auto. If 15% of demand for the V6 is auto then it gets produced. The gross margin is good and drops to the bottom line, there are minimal r&d costs. The i4 is 100% auto iirc. Its a financially driven decision as is in all producers in my experience.

 

[TomE]

There’s another snippet of info that may be relevant.

The UK dealer demo cars have had to be juggled, so most are getting the car they requested for showroom (static) rather than the car they specified for demo. They were supposed to get one of each at the same time, but will now get the demo (formerly showroom) car first, with the showroom (formally demo) car to follow in several weeks time.

I think the swap has happened because Lotus pre-built the original demo cars before they had type approval for the manual variant, then either approval was delayed or required some changes. Hence they’ve had to build the showroom cars under the now-granted full type approval and provide those for demos.

Meanwhile the original demo cars (possibly with some changes but not clear) are having to go through IVA/SVA, essentially a special kind of type approval (“Individual” or “Single” Vehicle Approval) because of how/when they were built. Hence the delays to UK demo cars, only one car per dealer initially and the switch between specs. This also suggests type approval on the manual has run later than planned.

 

[petermal57]

Wie versprochen, für uns auf der Auto-Box wartend, ging heute mit dem Evora GT Sport 410 eine Runde drehen und hier einige Runterschaltungen:

View attachment 8973

But the Emira sounds not like the Evora. That will be the difference. I own an Evora and have had a test drive with the Emira two weeks ago...

 

[JohnHoward]

Latest from Lotus on the V6 auto (UK specific).

First batch of 50 cars will not include any automatics, subsequent batches will include them.
UK Insurance quotes for the automatics should be available in a few weeks.

 

[CDM1855]

Latest from Lotus on the V6 auto (UK specific).

First batch of 50 cars will not include any automatics, subsequent batches will include them.
UK Insurance quotes for the automatics should be available in a few weeks.

Getting closer

 

[Guest142]

But the Emira sounds not like the Evora. That will be the difference. I own an Evora and have had a test drive with the Emira two weeks ago...

I know this may disappoint some people but for me (and I'm just speaking for myself here) that's a good thing. I really don't want a loud obnoxious or annoying sound coming from the engine. A good engine note is plenty for me.

 

[Tonyshepp]

I know this may disappoint some people but for me (and I'm just speaking for myself here) that's a good thing. I really don't want a loud obnoxious or annoying sound coming from the engine. A good engine note is plenty for me.

Induction noise any day of the week compared to exhaust sound.

 

[DJS]

So I have a confirmed update from the Lotus guys last night at the Eletre launch event at Lotus Sussex.

V6 Auto box
So not good news I’m afraid the V6 Auto box is nowhere near ready and only manual cars will be built for the Uk in 2022. This decision has been made to help Lotus get as many cars out the door as possible in the short term. Although uncomfirmed the V6 Auto will begin production around March/April next year, this also goes for the rest of the world.

I4 Emira
The I4 will not go into production until after that so probably looking at Q3 2023 at best.

FYI Manual V6
308 uk cars will be delivered total before Christmas. Demo cars arrive this morning at Lotus Sussex and Lotus Kent. If you are going to todays or tomorrows Eletre event at Sussex then there should also be an Emira on display.

Rest of the world
Some manual Emira’s are being built in 2022 for Europe/Australia/USA /China
Auto V6 inline with the UK next year.

Eletre
3,000 uk cars expected to sell in the uk next year with a 1,000 deposits taken already.
This car is an absolute beast and really does rival the Urus for half the price. Lotus are confident they will sell 100,000 cars worldwide. If your still on the fence with this car go and have a look at it, just like the Emira so much better in the flesh
A proper statement.

 

[CDM1855]

So I have a confirmed update from the Lotus guys last night at the Eletre launch event at Lotus Sussex.

V6 Auto box
So not good news I’m afraid the V6 Auto box is nowhere near ready and only manual cars will be built for the Uk in 2022. This decision has been made to help Lotus get as many cars out the door as possible in the short term. Although uncomfirmed the V6 Auto will begin production around March/April next year, this also goes for the rest of the world.

I4 Emira
The I4 will not go into production until after that so probably looking at Q3 2023 at best.

FYI Manual V6
308 uk cars will be delivered total before Christmas. Demo cars arrive this morning at Lotus Sussex and Lotus Kent. If you are going to todays or tomorrows Eletre event at Sussex then there should also be an Emira on display.

Rest of the world
Some manual Emira’s are being built in 2022 for Europe/Australia/USA /China
Auto V6 inline with the UK next year.

Eletre
3,000 uk cars expected to sell in the uk next year with a 1,000 deposits taken already.
This car is an absolute beast and really does rival the Urus for half the price. Lotus are confident they will sell 100,000 cars worldwide. If your still on the fence with this car go and have a look at it, just like the Emira so much better in the flesh
A proper statement.

Terrible behaviour from this company
Why tell some of us that we were locked in for October for production if it’s all just lies, Perhaps they’re hoping that we will all just cancel and they can completely forget about the V6 Auto

 

[kbhoz]

Is the Auto Box any different from the Evora? What's so special about it.

 

[CDM1855]

Is the Auto Box any different from the Evora? What's so special about it.

I suspect they may not have a huge amount of the boxes, And instead of slipping in a few dozen autocars into production amongst the manuals, They may want to wait until they get several hundred, Then do a big production run

I’m only saying that because based upon the videos we’ve seen, they seem to be building lots of cars of similar spec all at the same time

 

[Tommyboy1986]

Is the Auto Box any different from the Evora? What's so special about it.

Tell them to leave my clutch out and ile get a re con one from an Evora

 

[emiraspain]

So I have a confirmed update from the Lotus guys last night at the Eletre launch event at Lotus Sussex.

V6 Auto box
So not good news I’m afraid the V6 Auto box is nowhere near ready and only manual cars will be built for the Uk in 2022. This decision has been made to help Lotus get as many cars out the door as possible in the short term. Although uncomfirmed the V6 Auto will begin production around March/April next year, this also goes for the rest of the world.

I4 Emira
The I4 will not go into production until after that so probably looking at Q3 2023 at best.

FYI Manual V6
308 uk cars will be delivered total before Christmas. Demo cars arrive this morning at Lotus Sussex and Lotus Kent. If you are going to todays or tomorrows Eletre event at Sussex then there should also be an Emira on display.

Rest of the world
Some manual Emira’s are being built in 2022 for Europe/Australia/USA /China
Auto V6 inline with the UK next year.

Eletre
3,000 uk cars expected to sell in the uk next year with a 1,000 deposits taken already.
This car is an absolute beast and really does rival the Urus for half the price. Lotus are confident they will sell 100,000 cars worldwide. If your still on the fence with this car go and have a look at it, just like the Emira so much better in the flesh
A proper statement.

Hi Tom,
I dont doubt for one second the validity of them having told you that and thanks for passing it on as always, but I have to doubt the validity of the actual info.... dont you?

"308 UK cars to be Delivered before Xmas."
If we assume about 50 demo cars? There are about 17 dealers in the UK, a couple are service only and hence I guess wont have demos, in which case 50 is a very very generous number as they have already said, where they were going to to get 2, they will now get 1 etc. The actual number may well be less than 20...never mind 50!
Then that leaves 250 more cars to be delivered to UK customers? (or 280 if dealers info correct)
Then immediately the info you yourself have been given recently by CS over the phone, that you wont get your car delivered before Xmas, must now be false. And in fact virtually all the UK January delivery people will get their cars before Xmas. SO all the current phone calls being made this last week are out of date and those January people will hence be getting updated phone calls saying it will indeed be a month earlier? I simply dont believe it, I wish it to be true, but I cant believe it.

This is naturally not to attack you in the slightest, its more aimed at the reliability of the info from Lotus.

As an example, when I was on the phone with Xxxxxx, who seems to be one of the better more knowledgeable ones at CS, regarding my cars December delivery...... He initially said, 300 UK cars to be made and delivered this year, reading off the system he had access to.... and he maintained that line for about 15 mins, until I questioned it based on a few common sense factors, and then he double checked and said, no...you're right, thats including LHD deliveries or at least EU, I cant quite recall and thats when the previous number of 300 dropped to whatever I said it was in my post at the time and that was no where near 300 or even 200 or 150 cars by xmas, including demos. So surely you see why I doubt the info. WE are 2 working days away from November and yes I am sure they have many cars part built etc, but even the logistics of getting 300 cars delivered in 7 weeks from where they are currently at, adding the continued EU and China cars etc.... I dont see it.

Not related, but I do believe that 1000 UK deposits were taken on the Eletre, but I also am sure some of these like myself will and have dropped out. I am not sure they will tripple these UK orders even when people see the car for a few main reasons. One, it is made in China and people will want to see the fit and actual finish over a bit of usage time before taking the plunge, IMO. Next the boot space is awful and i mean awfully terrible for a 5m car, I have more boot space in my current EV which is much easier to park, has 600Nm torque and goes faster than their base model for half the money, but its not a great brand historically. I wanted to want the Lotus EV so much and have also seen it in the flesh at Hethel, and while at the front its great, the back quarter is a let down for me, but beauty is in the eye of the.... On this forum it is not a big hit I would say, I'd say there is a very small % of even Lotus fans that think its a great looking car, but again I am sure they are not aiming at Lotus fans. They will have a huge market elsewhere, but in the UK, its home market, I dont think it will do that well... but I hope I am proven wrong.
The other two factors are the Polestar 3, which I think will take a great deal of their sales when they release the various versions. There will also be a Porsche competitor .... oh wait, there is already and its amazing and goes faster for close to the same money....and its made in Germany. The final factor is that Lotus is not Lamborghini, it doesn't have their Kudos, and your super rich who buy the Lambo's are not going to want a car built in China IMO, not yet at least, not until its 100% proven. Also, for my money, the Lambo as a package looks way better. I love the eletre's interior, but will it last? And for a "normal" person like myself who has dogs and actual crap in the back of the car all the time, it wouldn't be practical, 4 seats, thats simply not enough for my wives and g/f's.
Anyway, thats my 3 pence worth

 

[Tim]

Wonder why they haven’t offered us auto box orders the chance to swap to a manual? I was on the fence as to what I wanted anyway, but “locked in” the auto.

I get there’s a ton of parts differences, but I haven’t had any contact since I was told my build was October…

 

[DJS]

Hi Tom,
I dont doubt for one second the validity of them having told you that and thanks for passing it on as always, but I have to doubt the validity of the actual info.... dont you?

"308 UK cars to be Delivered before Xmas."
If we assume about 50 demo cars? There are about 17 dealers in the UK, a couple are service only and hence I guess wont have demos, in which case 50 is a very very generous number as they have already said, where they were going to to get 2, they will now get 1 etc. The actual number may well be less than 20...never mind 50!
Then that leaves 250 more cars to be delivered to UK customers? (or 280 if dealers info correct)
Then immediately the info you yourself have been given recently by CS over the phone, that you wont get your car delivered before Xmas, must now be false. And in fact virtually all the UK January delivery people will get their cars before Xmas. SO all the current phone calls being made this last week are out of date and those January people will hence be getting updated phone calls saying it will indeed be a month earlier? I simply dont believe it, I wish it to be true, but I cant believe it.

This is naturally not to attack you in the slightest, its more aimed at the reliability of the info from Lotus.

As an example, when I was on the phone with Xxxxxx, who seems to be one of the better more knowledgeable ones at CS, regarding my cars December delivery...... He initially said, 300 UK cars to be made and delivered this year, reading off the system he had access to.... and he maintained that line for about 15 mins, until I questioned it based on a few common sense factors, and then he double checked and said, no...you're right, thats including LHD deliveries or at least EU, I cant quite recall and thats when the previous number of 300 dropped to whatever I said it was in my post at the time and that was no where near 300 or even 200 or 150 cars by xmas, including demos. So surely you see why I doubt the info. WE are 2 working days away from November and yes I am sure they have many cars part built etc, but even the logistics of getting 300 cars delivered in 7 weeks from where they are currently at, adding the continued EU and China cars etc.... I dont see it.

Not related, but I do believe that 1000 UK deposits were taken on the Eletre, but I also am sure some of these like myself will and have dropped out. I am not sure they will tripple these UK orders even when people see the car for a few main reasons. One, it is made in China and people will want to see the fit and actual finish over a bit of usage time before taking the plunge, IMO. Next the boot space is awful and i mean awfully terrible for a 5m car, I have more boot space in my current EV which is much easier to park, has 600Nm torque and goes faster than their base model for half the money, but its not a great brand historically. I wanted to want the Lotus EV so much and have also seen it in the flesh at Hethel, and while at the front its great, the back quarter is a let down for me, but beauty is in the eye of the.... On this forum it is not a big hit I would say, I'd say there is a very small % of even Lotus fans that think its a great looking car, but again I am sure they are not aiming at Lotus fans. They will have a huge market elsewhere, but in the UK, its home market, I dont think it will do that well... but I hope I am proven wrong.
The other two factors are the Polestar 3, which I think will take a great deal of their sales when they release the various versions. There will also be a Porsche competitor .... oh wait, there is already and its amazing and goes faster for close to the same money....and its made in Germany. The final factor is that Lotus is not Lamborghini, it doesn't have their Kudos, and your super rich who buy the Lambo's are not going to want a car built in China IMO, not yet at least, not until its 100% proven. Also, for my money, the Lambo as a package looks way better. I love the eletre's interior, but will it last? And for a "normal" person like myself who has dogs and actual crap in the back of the car all the time, it wouldn't be practical, 4 seats, thats simply not enough for my wives and g/f's.
Anyway, thats my 3 pence worth

Hi
First of all my names not Tom lol, all I can do is pass on the information given and I can completely understand why no one would believe it, me myself I don’t know where I’m at, I will just leave all my deposits in for now Emira/Eletre/Carrera T and go with what ever come first, all the deposits are still refundable so got nothing to lose.

As for the Eletre it wipes the floor with the Urus on track in-fact most most super cars which is hard to believe when you stand next to it. But I suppose it depends on what you want ICE/EV

 

[Guest142]

Hi All

I wanted to set up this new thread for the V6 Auto box as we still have very limited information on this version. I am a little worried as we have seen no press cars so no review's and what is strange is that it seems there are a lot of us with auto box cars booked in for a October build November delivery.

Are Lotus holding out on this and will just start delivery of production cars? Or will we get a chance soon to see a review of the car being put through its paces.

Or are Lotus worried that people might switch to the I4 DCT or even switched to a manual V6?

Just wanted to know some opinions as other than the V6 auto box delay it hasn't been talked about much.

So this news is just devastating. I'm at a total loss. Wow. I have a flight & hotel booked to go test drive the car next week and I learn this today...in this manner, at this hour. This may have done it for me. No. I can't accept this.

 

[Leonard]

Hi
First of all my names not Tom lol, all I can do is pass on the information given and I can completely understand why no one would believe it, me myself I don’t know where I’m at, I will just leave all my deposits in for now Emira/Eletre/Carrera T and go with what ever come first, all the deposits are still refundable so got nothing to lose.

As for the Eletre it wipes the floor with the Urus on track in-fact most most super cars which is hard to believe when you stand next to it. But I suppose it depends on what you want ICE/EV

He doesn't care what your name is as long as you have a nice arse...