❓ QUESTION China will have the priority for 2.0 FE Emira

[Matt]

I remember a video metioned that 2.0 FE will be delivered to China preferentially. Not sure if it is true.

 

[Iten]

I was also told by my dealer that markets without V6, i.e. China, will have priority in I4 slots.

 

[TomE]

There's a separate factory in China to build i4 Emiras for the local market

 

[EM33RA]

There's a separate factory in China to build i4 Emiras for the local market

Huh 🤔

 

[digilotus]

There's a separate factory in China to build i4 Emiras for the local market

Isn’t China also getting the V6 Emira with 430HP and 450Nm? 😉

 

[lynchy73]

There's a separate factory in China to build i4 Emiras for the local market

Was that meant as a joke? Emira not being built in China AFAIK.

 

[Autopsy]

If Emira was to be built in China we'll all be happily driving ours already.

 

[virtualmacho]

count the number of Chinese restaurants in the UK...

 

[Iten]

I think China will be getting a 400hp version of the I4

 

[lynchy73]

I think China will be getting a 400hp version of the I4

So they (Lotus) say. It’s stated in black and white on the specs in China.

Was curious about this point and the power levels stated in different markets. If the Emira was offered as 360bhp everywhere, then it’s possible they were not using the full beans S version of the engine, but rather the lower non S spec version. If they are listed as 400bhp in China it suggests they are using the higher spec version of the engine. I doubt they’d use different hardware in China and rest of the World.

Then again the China version may not be any more powerful at all. Who know….

Nobody outside of Lotus has driven the mythic beast that is the I4 AMG Engined Emira….

 

[0pirates0]

There's a separate factory in China to build i4 Emiras for the local market

nah, that factory is built for eletre, the electrical SUV of lotus

 

[0pirates0]

Isn’t China also getting the V6 Emira with 430HP and 450Nm? 😉

Yeah, after major delay of the I4 models in China, Lotus had announced the import of V6 manual model as a placebo. However, the model is not that popular in China due to: 1. price is about 30% higher(40000 pounds diff) than the I4 for the same horsepower. 2. REALLY BAD TRAFFIC JAM in China makes the manual looks dumb.

 

[TomE]

nah, that factory is built for eletre, the electrical SUV of lotus

The new Lotus factory in Wuhan is for future EV production, apart from the EV sportscar which will be built at Hethel.

The Emira is being built in a different factory in China. I don’t have details about it but know it exists.

 

[NickR]

The new Lotus factory in Wuhan is for future EV production, apart from the EV sportscar which will be built at Hethel.

The Emira is being built in a different factory in China. I don’t have details about it but know it exists.

Interesting. I wonder if they can get a wiggle on and ship them here??

 

[digilotus]

The Emira is being built in a different factory in China. I don’t have details about it but know it exists.

Interesting. I thought all Emiras were to be built at Hethel for the global market?

If there's plans to build Emiras in a Chinese factory for the Chinese market, then it's likely to be the existing Polestar2 & Volvo factory.

 

[lynchy73]

I’m a bit dubious about China production for the Emira, but we’ll see. Where exactly is that mentioned/stated?

It would piss off those in China that stumped up the big extra cost for purchasing the imported FE Emira and waited for them, if that does happen a little way down the road.

A locally produced car would result in a big saving compared to the current price point for the Emira and wipe out a chunk of the value of the FE values.

 

[lynchy73]

Yeah, after major delay of the I4 models in China, Lotus had announced the import of V6 manual model as a placebo. However, the model is not that popular in China due to: 1. price is about 30% higher(40000 pounds diff) than the I4 for the same horsepower. 2. REALLY BAD TRAFFIC JAM in China makes the manual looks dumb.

3. Most can’t drive a manual.
4. 30% higher price for the 3.5 MT versus the 2.0 and you can’t pick any options. Pick a colour and the rest of the spec is as lotus decides.

If there is firm news that Emira will be produced in China which would mean at a significantly lower price point than the FE, then I’d be waiting for that to come I think.

 

[TomE]

Interesting. I thought all Emiras were to be built at Hethel for the global market?

If there's plans to build Emiras in a Chinese factory for the Chinese market, then it's likely to be the existing Polestar2 & Volvo factory.

The statements by Lotus have been carefully worded. Sportscar production, both ICE and EV, will continue to take place at Hethel. They didn't say "only at Hethel".

I’m a bit dubious about China production for the Emira, but we’ll see. Where exactly is that mentioned/stated?

I was told by someone senior at Lotus several months ago. I've been waiting to see if it came out in any official communications, but nothing so far that I've seen.

I've been told the cars in the showrooms in China have non-UK VIN factory codes, different to the UK cars.

 

[lynchy73]

The statements by Lotus have been carefully worded. Sportscar production, both ICE and EV, will continue to take place at Hethel. They didn't say "only at Hethel".


I was told by someone senior at Lotus several months ago. I've been waiting to see if it came out in any official communications, but nothing so far that I've seen.

I've been told the cars in the showrooms in China have non-UK VIN factory codes, different to the UK cars.

Hmmm. Sneaky if that’s what they are up to. Lotus certainly give the distinct impression from what’s been said that ALL ICE Lotus sports cars will be produced in Hethel.

Do you happen to know where on the Emira the Vin is located and what denotes a UK built Vin code?

 

[Matt]

I don't care about the place or production, as long as all cars could have the same quality. It will be a good signal if the first 2.0 FE goes off the production line.