There are few cars we’re more excited about than the Lotus Emira. It’s the first new car from one of the sports-car greats since the Evora debuted, and it promises wonderful things. Thanks to investment from parent company Geely, Lotus addressed the shortcomings of the Evora, while maintaining the driving dynamics that made the company a legend. It’s also the last internal-combustion car from the brand, and in more bad news, we’ll have to wait a little longer before cars cross the Atlantic.
The factory to see his Emira on the production line, and to talk Lotus managing director Matt Windle. Metcalfe’s car is around six months late, and he and Windle have a frank conversation about why.
It’s all the things you’d expect— Also for Lotus was staffing up to start a second production shift to meet the considerable demand. Windle says that right now, the goal is to be fully up to speed starting next year, and everything Lotus is doing now is focused on achieving that. For this year, Windle has accepted the fact that the company will only build around 25 percent of its planned output.
“This year is what it is,” Windle says. “It’s been a of a as far as numbers getting out the door are concerned. But, I’ve got to make sure we hit ’23 running, so we can start delivering on that we’ve got, and getting good product out there.”
In a bizarre set of circumstances, deliveries of the Emira started on the continent before Lotus’ home market. Windle says this is a direct result of Brexit. The company has to get the car homologated separately, and it made more sense to do the homologation first. Right now, though, Lotus is building cars.
It’s Lotus’ turn to catch the production and pricing, an ailment that’s almost every automaker to lag on delivery timetables while increasing prices for reservation holders., Lotus Emiras intended the home market were already trailing delivery estimates by six months. Early last year, Lotus expected to get Emiras tagged plates as soon as . Now, that Emira V6 First Edition units destined will land on our soil this summer but won’t be released to customers until between mid-October and mid-December. According to Lotus of Orlando to reservation certification.
On top of the delay, prices are going up. and Canadian reservation holders except those who have completed paperwork for the initial V6 First Edition allocation. Lotus said the various and quagmires around the world have increased the unit cost by around. Folding that into the MSRP would make the before destination. We say “initial” about that allocation because Lotus has upped the allotment by 600 units, making 1,300 in total to come to come to NA, the specific number slightly smaller. retail site configurator.
The situation varies by market, so anyone on any of Lotus’ lists should check with their Lotus dealer. A lively thread on Emira Forum that started in up to 26 pages as global Emira try to figure out who needs to confront what increase. Part of the ire comes from Lotus.
We’re told the color palette is going to expand by seven hues for the second series of V6 First Edition cars, and that Lotus Advanced Performance is creating “around 30 different vehicle accessories” as well as a menu of custom options.
