Anyone considering replacing their current Emira with the updated 2026 model?

[VR1]

I really want EOS green, but not willing to pay the $40k premium to trade in and order a new one. If I were though, I would wait until the '27 facelift.

I also own an E92 m3 with the 4.0 S65 V8. If a manual V8 Emira comes out with an engine that captures the essence of the S65, and costs <$170k, I will buy it on the spot. I think it's impossible however due to Euro 7 and other issues Lotus faces.

 

[reneder]

btw ... do we have anyone in the group already with a 2026MY vehicle

European spec cars usually have to have from a legal perspective since beginning of 2025 the "intelligent speed assist" which beeps every fucking second a car is over the legal speed limit (even 1 km/h), which is recognized by 1) camera and 2) by GPS position. The false alarms are frequent.

Our 2025MY cars however had small series exemptions (somehow) from that ...
Would be interesting to know whether we would have to turn it of then like with any other EU car (only for EU spec markets)

 

[Black Ice]

This is where Lotus's mismanagement of the UK market comes back to bite them on the arse. In building too many cars and flogging off discounted pre-registered Emiras (including through non-franchised dealers like Auto 100) they have tanked residuals. It means that existing owners will be reluctant to upgrade to a newer car, and new buyers will be unwilling to step in when they see the likely depreciation. A great way to kill the market for your cars and a wholly avoidable own goal by Lotus.

Will it go full circle I wonder, i.e lack of new registrations actually helps residuals in the medium term?

Personally I’m not considering swapping (despite playing with the configurator!) for all the reasons @MiamiBlue and yourself have stated. It would be financial lunacy at this point. On a positive note, I should also point out that I’m very happy with my current Emira, which is also a consideration!

 

[geoffbland]

Will it go full circle I wonder, i.e lack of new registrations actually helps residuals in the medium term?

It kind of already is. Average prices on AutoTrader are up roughly £5K now compared to at the start of the year when it was flooded with a load of Auto 100 cars.

 

[FlashingBlade]

If all you want is a different colour, have it sprayed. Be a hell of a lot cheaper than the depreciation and matching the same spec as the FE. Plus you'd have a much better paint job than the factory will ever give you.

 

[BlueFE2]

If you've got the scratch - do it! At the end of the day, you need to do what makes you happy. I'd imagine the financial hit would be well over 20k all said and done. I love the new green color and wheel style. The new standard features are nice too, I wish the FE2 had blind spot monitoring, though I will say the mirrors are pretty effective at what they are supposed to do. Me, personally... I think I'd hold off until they update the seats That is the one item that misses the mark in my mind. My stock 2013 BRZ seats were more supportive and felt like they fit me like a glove. I still feel like I'm sitting up on these seats, rather than in them... though they are breaking in a bit a year later. They are most certainly not very sports car-like - but alas, not the end of the world. The brilliance of the rest of this car more than makes up for it.

 

[Yorkie]

If you want a different colour, have it wrapped. Cheaper than a respray.

 

[Last ICE]

If you've got the scratch - do it! At the end of the day, you need to do what makes you happy. I'd imagine the financial hit would be well over 20k all said and done. I love the new green color and wheel style. The new standard features are nice too, I wish the FE2 had blind spot monitoring, though I will say the mirrors are pretty effective at what they are supposed to do. Me, personally... I think I'd hold off until they update the seats That is the one item that misses the mark in my mind. My stock 2013 BRZ seats were more supportive and felt like they fit me like a glove. I still feel like I'm sitting up on these seats, rather than in them... though they are breaking in a bit a year later. They are most certainly not very sports car-like - but alas, not the end of the world. The brilliance of the rest of this car more than makes up for it.

The scratch comment is bang on. Wherever someone is financially is obviously always a factor, but to paraphrase a good friend who passed way too young, “I wish I’d have ordered the filet when I wanted it “.