RE: Lotus previews new Emira interior
Discussion
Sporky said:
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished car. With the backing they've now got, there's a good chance that Lotus will come up with something fantastic. It'd be even better if it's a sales success too.
Exactly. Only three things matter,- Does it look the part?
- Does it drive well?
- Does it meet the overall expectations of modern sports car customers?
Pumpsmynads said:
Lotus don’t want to create a car that existing owners want to move into per se. They want to create one that drivers of other manufacturer’s vehicles want to move from.
I think they will retain current owners who would next buy an(other) Evora or a Porsche. I think the Elise/Exige folks are more likely to hold onto their car or consider another brand. But people tend to hold onto those for a long time anyway, because new ones have evolved pretty gradually. But yes, the object of this exercise has to be fundamentally to attract a new demographic.
rockin said:
Sporky said:
I'm looking forward to seeing the finished car. With the backing they've now got, there's a good chance that Lotus will come up with something fantastic. It'd be even better if it's a sales success too.
Exactly. Only three things matter,- Does it look the part?
- Does it drive well?
- Does it meet the overall expectations of modern sports car customers?
I would potentially put off a purchase if the car winds up looking as gopping as a modern M4, but other than that I don't care what it looks like.
My "toy" car will have a manual gearbox.
flukey5 said:
DonkeyApple said:
That's the nub. The one single fact that Lotus knows from its own data is that almost no one on the planet wants a manual Lotus. The external data also tells them that what customers do want is an auto.
Are you insane? Nearly every current Lotus is sold overwhelmingly with a manual gearbox.DonkeyApple is obviously right that almost no-one wants a manual Lotus. If not, their sales would be much healthier. You could remove 'manual' from the statement with no material change, because, as you say, there aren't many auto Lotuses. The dealers actively talk them down in my experience.
DonkeyApple is also correct that the external data (for example, Porsche sales) make it clear that autos are far more popular in premium sports cars where a choice is offered - 911 GTs notwithstanding (because there aren't many, and most people aren't allowed to buy one).
Lotus need to offer a good auto if they want healthy sales, because the hairy-chested "real drivers" clearly don't buy enough manual Lotuses to support a viable business.
But this is just more PH negativity. We should be celebrating that Lotus are making a new (relatively) lightweight sports car that's available with a manual or auto gearbox, and 4 or 6 cylinders. Only a miserable curmudgeon who hates driving would be upset at the prospect.
As a Lotus fan who spent their childhood around the face cars and in Chapman's pits during the Tissot years of F1, along with the first car I drove being my father's 7 because it was the only car I could reach the pedals on at 13. I can't wait to see the new cars. I've found the post Esprit cars to be depressing as I've watched a company that once competed at the top of the market as a budget player retreat to selling a handful of cars seemingly pitched against competition that's beneath the heritage of the great brand.
I know they can make a car that drives but I'm desperate for them to break their twenty year losing streak and return with a visual show stopper that looks way more than the sum of its parts.
I know they can make a car that drives but I'm desperate for them to break their twenty year losing streak and return with a visual show stopper that looks way more than the sum of its parts.
Methinks Lotus are very keen to attract a whole new audience.
42 year old ‘geezer’ let out by his Mrs for being a ‘good boy’ in the week..out for his weekly Sunday ‘hoon’ with his chums then back in time to help peel the spuds..then cant wait to get back in his beloved ‘shed’ tinkering with his suspension settings for next weeks ‘jolly’..
Nahhhh !!!
Geely just may have canvassed his Mrs..as it’s she who controls the purse strings.
Pre~Heated seats and Auto box (absolute top priority)
Apple car play
Keyless entry (no broken nails dear)
Sound proofing
‘Range~Rover’~esque ride quality
Auto~Park
3D cameras
Etc..etc…e … t … c
42 year old ‘geezer’ let out by his Mrs for being a ‘good boy’ in the week..out for his weekly Sunday ‘hoon’ with his chums then back in time to help peel the spuds..then cant wait to get back in his beloved ‘shed’ tinkering with his suspension settings for next weeks ‘jolly’..
Nahhhh !!!
Geely just may have canvassed his Mrs..as it’s she who controls the purse strings.
Pre~Heated seats and Auto box (absolute top priority)
Apple car play
Keyless entry (no broken nails dear)
Sound proofing
‘Range~Rover’~esque ride quality
Auto~Park
3D cameras
Etc..etc…e … t … c
GTRene said:
if some lotus get a 2.0, maybe they use the 2.0 from the new GR Supra with another tune, say supercharger instead of the turbo?
The Supra has a longitudinal engine/gearbox layout. So that‘s unlikely unfortunately.My guess is still:
- Geely 1.8 I4 turbo with 7-speed DCT (around 280 HP)
- Toyota 3.0 V6 supercharged with manual or torque converter (around 400 HP)
But the masterplan of Geely/Lotus is actually not about the Emira but rather the upcoming Lotus SUV with both hybrid and fully electric drivetrains. They‘re going after the Porsche Macan which is a hugely successful car especially in China.
florian said:
The Supra has a longitudinal engine/gearbox layout. So that‘s unlikely unfortunately.
My guess is still:
- Geely 1.8 I4 turbo with 7-speed DCT (around 280 HP)
- Toyota 3.0 V6 supercharged with manual or torque converter (around 400 HP)
But the masterplan of Geely/Lotus is actually not about the Emira but rather the upcoming Lotus SUV with both hybrid and fully electric drivetrains. They‘re going after the Porsche Macan which is a hugely successful car especially in China.
Incorrect. The 4 cylinder will be a 2.0 litre turbo from a new third party “partner” supplier. The V6 will be the 3.5 litre, as currently employed. Lotus will then go full electric, not hybrid.My guess is still:
- Geely 1.8 I4 turbo with 7-speed DCT (around 280 HP)
- Toyota 3.0 V6 supercharged with manual or torque converter (around 400 HP)
But the masterplan of Geely/Lotus is actually not about the Emira but rather the upcoming Lotus SUV with both hybrid and fully electric drivetrains. They‘re going after the Porsche Macan which is a hugely successful car especially in China.
The bloke in charge has told us what they are doing. Something like creating a fabulous driving car, a sports car that people want these days and are prepared to pay more money for.
Comfortable, well appointed, lots of tech made simple, accessible, easy, desirable, but overall with lotus driving dynamics. Also with a lotus "experience" that's new and appealing to people with more money to spend on cars. That starts with the well publicised new dealer experience (or whatever it's called).
They won't be below £65k and that'll have no options, so £70k will be the realistic entry level price in a range that spans £70-110k.
I'm looking forward to it a lot! But I'm not very good at buying new cars. So I'll p/ex my Evora in spring 2023.
Comfortable, well appointed, lots of tech made simple, accessible, easy, desirable, but overall with lotus driving dynamics. Also with a lotus "experience" that's new and appealing to people with more money to spend on cars. That starts with the well publicised new dealer experience (or whatever it's called).
They won't be below £65k and that'll have no options, so £70k will be the realistic entry level price in a range that spans £70-110k.
I'm looking forward to it a lot! But I'm not very good at buying new cars. So I'll p/ex my Evora in spring 2023.
BertBert said:
They won't be below £65k and that'll have no options, so £70k will be the realistic entry level price in a range that spans £70-110k.
Lotus have said price range is 55-85k (presumably plus options). 55k is therefore the "4" - putting out around 300bhp (it will have to have the 300 of the entry level Cayman) No matter how light it is you "need" 300bhp for pub bragging rights. Lotus clearly need some help with the strapline and PR.
Any ideas?
"Lotus, for the drivers not the posers"
"Lotus, when driving is all about feel, finesse and feedback not dodgy trousers and a golf course"
"Lotus, for when the destination isn't a wine bar"
"Lotus, we're still built by monkeys but they are force-fed speed" (I know build quality has improved...)
"Lotus, yes the 2.0 WAS a taxi engine but so was the Merlin"
"Lotus, if your neighbours don't know what it is move to a better area"
Any ideas?
"Lotus, for the drivers not the posers"
"Lotus, when driving is all about feel, finesse and feedback not dodgy trousers and a golf course"
"Lotus, for when the destination isn't a wine bar"
"Lotus, we're still built by monkeys but they are force-fed speed" (I know build quality has improved...)
"Lotus, yes the 2.0 WAS a taxi engine but so was the Merlin"
"Lotus, if your neighbours don't know what it is move to a better area"
LotusOmega375D said:
Incorrect. The 4 cylinder will be a 2.0 litre turbo from a new third party “partner” supplier. The V6 will be the 3.5 litre, as currently employed. Lotus will then go full electric, not hybrid.
Yes, 3.5 litre of course, not 3.0 litre. My mistake. Regarding the SUV, the priority is on the electric car. But I wouldn't discount a hybrid version yet: Plenty of hybrid powertrains in production and/or in development for Geely and Volvo. So, what's your guess on who's going to be the supplier for small 2 litre turbo then?
bcr5784 said:
BertBert said:
They won't be below £65k and that'll have no options, so £70k will be the realistic entry level price in a range that spans £70-110k.
Lotus have said price range is 55-85k (presumably plus options). 55k is therefore the "4" - putting out around 300bhp (it will have to have the 300 of the entry level Cayman) No matter how light it is you "need" 300bhp for pub bragging rights. florian said:
Yes, 3.5 litre of course, not 3.0 litre. My mistake. Regarding the SUV, the priority is on the electric car. But I wouldn't discount a hybrid version yet: Plenty of hybrid powertrains in production and/or in development for Geely and Volvo.
So, what's your guess on who's going to be the supplier for small 2 litre turbo then?
Most majors now have a mild hybrid option. This would be beneficial for Lotus in performance terms to get good stats while not getting bad emissions etc. But I think it'll really depend on the tax benefits where the new £100k customers live. Most consumers with that level of disposable, unless old, will live in urban environments so I imagine the real need for hybrid boils down to whether it gives those customers an advantage?So, what's your guess on who's going to be the supplier for small 2 litre turbo then?
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