RE: Lotus previews new Emira interior

[AlexS]

CraigyMc said:

The manual gearbox is limiting, the auto less so.

Toyota do have a newer 3.5l V6 (well, it's actually a 3.4 but badged as a 3.5) in newer lexus, which may fit. That would be with either an 8 or 10 speed auto, and I don't know what manual they'd spec for it.

I suspect the V6 will be pretty much lifted straight from the Evora 430/Exige 430 with the existing gearboxes.

The 4-pot is still a mystery, but if I was to guess I'd plump for the merc A35 motor with its DCT, too.

Is that newer engine and gearbox combo a longitudinal setup? The problem with the current Lotus chassis architecture is that it is using a transverse engine/gearbox combo, which is part of the reason for the lack of power handling.

[leglessAlex]

spagbogdog said:

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

Are you saying this would be a bad thing?

My Evora currently has parking sensors, rear camera, heated seats, CarPlay and Android Auto, an automatic gearbox which was an option (I need to fit hand controls so have to have an auto), sound proofing and rides wonderfully. I wouldnt mind it having keyless entry at all, although I wouldnt much feel the need for auto park. Is it an option on the 911 and Cayman?

Despite all these luxuries (it's also easy to get in and out of!), it is still fantastic to drive, is light [in it's class], has wonderful steering feel and makes a great noise. I've been told even the manual gearbox that comes as standard has a good shift, and the pedals are well placed for heel and toe.


I confess, I've never quite understood the idea that a more useable car is also a less driver focused car, many companies out there have proven that those things don't need to be mutually exclusive. I'm really, really looking forward to the new car, I believe Lotus are capable of mkaing something that appeals to a broader range of people and is still very much a 'drivers car'.

[CraigyMc]

AlexS said:

CraigyMc said:

The manual gearbox is limiting, the auto less so.

Toyota do have a newer 3.5l V6 (well, it's actually a 3.4 but badged as a 3.5) in newer lexus, which may fit. That would be with either an 8 or 10 speed auto, and I don't know what manual they'd spec for it.

I suspect the V6 will be pretty much lifted straight from the Evora 430/Exige 430 with the existing gearboxes.

The 4-pot is still a mystery, but if I was to guess I'd plump for the merc A35 motor with its DCT, too.

Is that newer engine and gearbox combo a longitudinal setup? The problem with the current Lotus chassis architecture is that it is using a transverse engine/gearbox combo, which is part of the reason for the lack of power handling.

All the powertrains here are east-west (Lotus like making cars small). Building a north-south motor/gearbox would add about 18 inches to the length of the car. Can't see it happening.

[DonkeyApple]

Vee12V said:

Never going to happen from factory. Look at Aston, they also get the TT V8s with less power and can't have access to the DCTs or latest infotainment systems.

True but Aston was totally screwed at the time they needed to source an engine and Merc were the big dog easily able to dictate terms. Aston were only ever going to get what they were given and had to throw in a chunk of the company because they didn't even have the cash.

Conversely, Lotus is an arm of Geely which Merc can't exactly push around unless they want a little slap in China.

The landscape is very different so it would be a big surprise to see Lotus get screwed down like Aston were.

[Tuna]

leglessAlex said:

spagbogdog said:

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

Are you saying this would be a bad thing?

My Evora currently has parking sensors, rear camera, heated seats, CarPlay and Android Auto, an automatic gearbox which was an option (I need to fit hand controls so have to have an auto), sound proofing and rides wonderfully. I wouldnt mind it having keyless entry at all, although I wouldnt much feel the need for auto park. Is it an option on the 911 and Cayman?

Despite all these luxuries (it's also easy to get in and out of!), it is still fantastic to drive, is light [in it's class], has wonderful steering feel and makes a great noise. I've been told even the manual gearbox that comes as standard has a good shift, and the pedals are well placed for heel and toe.


I confess, I've never quite understood the idea that a more useable car is also a less driver focused car, many companies out there have proven that those things don't need to be mutually exclusive. I'm really, really looking forward to the new car, I believe Lotus are capable of mkaing something that appeals to a broader range of people and is still very much a 'drivers car'.

The only thing that scared me in that list was "Range-Rover esque ride quality" - WTF is that? If there's one thing the Evora is consistently praised for, it's ride quality. You can of course suggest it should be marshmallow soft, but at that point, I suggest Sir might consider buying an SUV (Lotus will be selling one) or a Sofa (DFS sell those).

The other problem being that if you make your sports car super-cushiony-soft, not only does it stop feeling like a sports car, it also feels slower than it really is (right up to the point where you're in the ditch). That's a bit of a problem if you want people to be impressed on their test drive.

[CraigyMc]

Tuna said:

The only thing that scared me in that list was "Range-Rover esque ride quality" - WTF is that? If there's one thing the Evora is consistently praised for, it's ride quality. You can of course suggest it should be marshmallow soft, but at that point, I suggest Sir might consider buying an SUV (Lotus will be selling one) or a Sofa (DFS sell those).

The other problem being that if you make your sports car super-cushiony-soft, not only does it stop feeling like a sports car, it also feels slower than it really is (right up to the point where you're in the ditch). That's a bit of a problem if you want people to be impressed on their test drive.

McLaren manage to combine pretty decent ride quality with sportiness with their funky hydraulically linked suspension (citroen? MG? anyone?). Lotus may head off in that direction but from my 20-odd years, what I have always found is that they generally tend towards pretty tightly-valved damping with pretty soft springs.

It's been quite a while since they've done a ground-up new car though so maybe the new one will have magnetorheological dampers. It'd go against the philosophy of light weight though.

[leglessAlex]

Tuna said:

The only thing that scared me in that list was "Range-Rover esque ride quality" - WTF is that? If there's one thing the Evora is consistently praised for, it's ride quality. You can of course suggest it should be marshmallow soft, but at that point, I suggest Sir might consider buying an SUV (Lotus will be selling one) or a Sofa (DFS sell those).

The other problem being that if you make your sports car super-cushiony-soft, not only does it stop feeling like a sports car, it also feels slower than it really is (right up to the point where you're in the ditch). That's a bit of a problem if you want people to be impressed on their test drive.

Yup, although I think there's very very little likelihood of Lotus producing a car that soft, they just don't need to. Original Evora was spectacularly well damped, the current one is pretty damn good.

I do agree on the second point though, and I'd argue that's the flaw in the current Evora. It's chassis is incredible, but at times I almost think I'd like a little more excitement and a little less competence, as stupid as that is to say.

[suffolk009]

rockin said:

Seriously, what shape is that steering wheel? Hexagonal? Octagonal?

It is Wrong.

[PhantomPH]

DonkeyApple said:

Vee12V said:

Never going to happen from factory. Look at Aston, they also get the TT V8s with less power and can't have access to the DCTs or latest infotainment systems.

True but Aston was totally screwed at the time they needed to source an engine and Merc were the big dog easily able to dictate terms. Aston were only ever going to get what they were given and had to throw in a chunk of the company because they didn't even have the cash.

Conversely, Lotus is an arm of Geely which Merc can't exactly push around unless they want a little slap in China.

The landscape is very different so it would be a big surprise to see Lotus get screwed down like Aston were.

I'd buy a 400hp 4-pot over a similar (or 450) powered V6 simply for the weight benefits. I think almost all current ICE cars sound crap anyway, so that's not going to be a massive game changer. (Thank you PPF)

[CraigyMc]

PhantomPH said:

DonkeyApple said:

Vee12V said:

Never going to happen from factory. Look at Aston, they also get the TT V8s with less power and can't have access to the DCTs or latest infotainment systems.

True but Aston was totally screwed at the time they needed to source an engine and Merc were the big dog easily able to dictate terms. Aston were only ever going to get what they were given and had to throw in a chunk of the company because they didn't even have the cash.

Conversely, Lotus is an arm of Geely which Merc can't exactly push around unless they want a little slap in China.

The landscape is very different so it would be a big surprise to see Lotus get screwed down like Aston were.

I'd buy a 400hp 4-pot over a similar (or 450) powered V6 simply for the weight benefits. I think almost all current ICE cars sound crap anyway, so that's not going to be a massive game changer. (Thank you PPF)

If the 4-pot is only matched to a DSG and the V6 is a manual, the powertrains will weigh similar.

The V6 in the exige/evora sounds awesome by the way.

[otolith]

PhantomPH said:

I'd buy a 400hp 4-pot over a similar (or 450) powered V6 simply for the weight benefits. I think almost all current ICE cars sound crap anyway, so that's not going to be a massive game changer. (Thank you PPF)

And if both engines are about 160kg?

Current Evora doesn't sound bad.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaYGanifXsk&t=...

[Gary C]

SWoll said:

flukey5 said:

stickleback123 said:

flukey5 said:

Me - because the second they announce that this thing is cuckbox automatic only, I'm buying an Elise instead.

cuckbox

My logic - in a fun & light sports car at least, if you'd let something else smash the gears for you then you probably let someone else smash your wife for you too

Edited by flukey5 on Monday 7th June 14:39

Might want to hop over to the Alpine section and let them know your thoughts.

Thats been done many many times. How much better it would have been with a manual

[Sporky]

Gary C said:

Thats been done many many times. How much better it would have been with a manual

Though as no-one's tried one with a manual, it's just speculation and petrolhead virtue signalling, from people who were never going to buy one anyway.

It'll be very interesting to see whether the Emira sells more manuals or autos. My bet is on the latter, though I don't dispute that it's good to have the choice.

[otolith]

Sporky said:

Though as no-one's tried one with a manual, it's just speculation and petrolhead virtue signalling, from people who were never going to buy one anyway.

It'll be very interesting to see whether the Emira sells more manuals or autos. My bet is on the latter, though I don't dispute that it's good to have the choice.

The ratio of autos to manuals should give an indication of the extent to which it is successful in breaking out of the existing market and appealing to people with different priorities (although it seems that this will only be indicative for the V6, all the 4's will be autos)

[Sporky]

otolith said:

it seems that this will only be indicative for the V6, all the 4's will be autos)

That is a good point - I'd forgotten which way 'round the gearbox combos were.

[tgx]

Well with the level of hype, it had better be good...very good.
Love the return to the old logo though. ++

[CraigyMc]

One thing I'm interested in is the bodywork construction. It will apparently be not-fibreglass (someone mentioned electrostatic paint booths). Aluminium?

[LotusOmega375D]

In today’s marketing vernacular it would be called “composite”, I think most would consider it to be good old GRP.

[DonkeyApple]

LotusOmega375D said:

In today’s marketing vernacular it would be called “composite”, I think most would consider it to be good old GRP.

Until one's dog chews through the wing to reveal to world that one's ultra modern, expensive composite is remarkably similar to GRP.

[otolith]

Eating that could be fatal to the dog.

For multiple reasons.