New Lotus Emira

[Twinspark]

I like it, looks good, the design looks functional aerodynamically. Nothing looks out of place. That starting price of UNDER 60k is the winner for me, is the MC20 4 times better?
Emira means leader/commander btw not female Emir.

It means princess in arabic. Doubt it will have much impact on the arab world as Lotus sales are minuscule here anyway.

 

[Hawk13]

Very, very tempted to put down a deposit on a V6 manual.

 

[Vampyrebat]

Very, very tempted to put down a deposit on a V6 manual.

Good to know that they do a manual still...........Not many Super Car manufacturers give you the option now-a-days...

 

[Andyk]

£2k refundable deposit paid to be amongst the first to be able to spec one. Was a Lotus guy before Maserati, and this looks like the car that should have replaced the Esprit. Will do nicely to replace my Alpine in a year or two

That is great news. Would love to hear of your progress and the experience. I see that there will be an electric Esprit along after this. I agree this is the car Lotus need to draw in more than the Lotus track fans into the marque.

 

[Andyk]

Good to know that they do a manual still...........Not many Super Car manufacturers give you the option now-a-days...

Yep, manual on the V6 but not the AMG engine one from what I read.

 

[Andyk]

I love it. Supercharged V6, manual, that blue, silver wheels…
People are moaning about the weight (1400kg) but Evora is 1440kg and the Esprit V8 was 1380kg, and this will be faster, better built and perhaps even more engaging.
Lotus has been pandering to the lightness is everything crowd for 25 years and it’s led them to dismal sales. Would hardcore Lotus fans prefer to have no Lotus?

Yep, that is spot on….They had to change to survive and this is the start of a new chapter for Lotus…A taste of design to come …Obviously all electric after this one.

 

[Delmonte]

And at the same time comes yet another epic BMW styling fail. The new M240i.


View attachment 87677First the stupid 7 series grill, then the M4 grill, now this hideous mess.

That is horrid. I think the last BM i liked was the 135i (notchback - without the nasty body kit of the 1M) - or maybe even the i8 for its styling. But this is further down that road of bulked up over kitted nonsense, fitted to an already bland AF design.

 

[Dan!]

I'll certainly get one at some point. Although, I'd probably wait until it's been in production for a couple of years with the general public doing the final stage of the R&D and then get one.

V6 manual with a fruity exhaust would be my choice. As the last ICE car from lotus that would be a keeper.

 

[Delmonte]

You have to say, with this in the 60k-odd bracket, that Maser aren't going to sell many MC20's at nearly 200 grand (which many thought looked like a lotus anyway)

 

[safrane]

will there be a flappy paddle version? Not a farty PDK version.

 

[safrane]

You have to say, with this in the 60k-odd bracket, that Maser aren't going to sell many MC20's at nearly 200 grand (which many thought looked like a lotus anyway)

Different buyers surely... you only have to look at their advertising.

 

[Oneball]

You have to say, with this in the 60k-odd bracket, that Maser aren't going to sell many MC20's at nearly 200 grand (which many thought looked like a lotus anyway)

Won’t make the blindest bit of difference. Lotus has an image problem. Apart for 12 bearded blokes on the outskirts of Romford no one thinks a Lotus is cool.

 

[Delmonte]

Won’t make the blindest bit of difference. Lotus has an image problem. Apart for 12 bearded blokes on the outskirts of Romford no one thinks a Lotus is cool.

Disagree with that. The bearded latte-supping types in my neck of the woods tend to like things like unrestored Mk 5 Cortinas, nasty un-mint 80s BL cars (if they like cars at all. Most don't). Probably something to do with 'irony'. Car geek types (my mates, etc) all think Lotuses (Loti?) are cool

 

[Twinspark]

Lotus are mostly sports cars in bright colors so they have some good street cred. Definitely not as good as Maserati but its there.

 

[Oneball]

Disagree with that. The bearded latte-supping types in my neck of the woods tend to like things like unrestored Mk 5 Cortinas, nasty un-mint 80s BL cars (if they like cars at all. Most don't). Probably something to do with 'irony'. Car geek types (my mates, etc) all think Lotuses (Loti?) are cool

I meant car geeks, that’s the problem. It’s their only market. Ferrari, Porsche even Maserati sell to non-car people.

 

[mjheathcote]

You can't compare to the Maserati MC20.
The Lotus is a parts bin special for a start, with engines and gearboxes bought from others, Toyota/Merc.
Nothing wrong with this of course, many do the same these days just look at AM.
I'm a Lotus fan having an Elise for 7 years before the Maser, and think this is great, but no MC20.

 

[bigbob]

Agree it’s no MC20 but that’s too fast for the road and too expensive to park in many places. The Lotus has a lot going for it especially when a typical base 911 is £95k+ once a few basic ‘extras’ are added.

 

[Delmonte]

You can't compare to the Maserati MC20.
The Lotus is a parts bin special for a start, with engines and gearboxes bought from others, Toyota/Merc.
Nothing wrong with this of course, many do the same these days just look at AM.
I'm a Lotus fan having an Elise for 7 years before the Maser, and think this is great, but no MC20.

I think if we tear off our Trident shaped blinkers, you can compare them.... Is an Aston not a "parts bin special" for its Merc engine? Is my Maser a parts bin special for its Alfa 147 gearbox (almost)? A Ferrari F40 for its Lancia switchgear?
Are the MC20 & this both not mid engine 2 seat supercars of ludicrous speeds and similar styling?

 

[Delmonte]

I meant car geeks, that’s the problem. It’s their only market. Ferrari, Porsche even Maserati sell to non-car people.

Yeah but me & my mates wouldnt be seen dead in Romford, soz!

 

[safrane]

You can't compare to the Maserati MC20.
The Lotus is a parts bin special for a start, with engines and gearboxes bought from others, Toyota/Merc.
Nothing wrong with this of course, many do the same these days just look at AM.
I'm a Lotus fan having an Elise for 7 years before the Maser, and think this is great, but no MC20.

Rather like most of Maseratis range at present... apart from the older engine 4.2 4.7 from Ferrari, most of the bits are from all over the car world and not of the best quality.

Also, most parts are made in China and Korea, so all cars must share said bin.