The first one is obvious (and verbally confirmed by my sales contact).
I guess everyone have heard that V6 Base configurator is being moved back to end of 2024 or even early 2025. What's new is that there will be further FE 3.0 allocation with MY2025. Delivery for those will begins in Q4 2024. With the delay of the I4 and V6 auto, there's not enough orders to keep the factory running as the original plan will have them finished with the majority of FE 2.0 production and start I4 production in Q1 24. Your dealer should get their allocation number in the next month or two and it will be substantial.
With the delay in I4 production, The M139 with 298Kw will likely be the only I4 configuration for the whole world. I'm sure everyone would agree that the I4 was held at 268Kw at the launch announcement mostly just to give an advantage to the V6. Given that all the I4 being produced now for China have the 298Kw M139. With the current I4 delay, there's no reason to produce 2 version of the I4 (even if it's just a different ECU) now that the initial rush for V6 is over (by the time FE 3.0 is done). They also need to push more I4 sales to offset the V6 emission deficit as the standard gets tighter towards 2030.
This last one will probably piss a lot of people off so I apologise in advance.
Those of you waiting for V6 auto. You're probably screwed. Despite what Lotus said (which we know to take with a large grain of salt anyways). You'll likely never see your car. Think of it this way. Even if the ~500 FE 1.0 that Lotus complete a couple weeks ago consist of all the non-auto from the 700 FE 1.0 allocation. assuming the same ratio with the 600 FE V6 2.0. That would means ~350 V6 auto for the U.S. Does it make sense for Lotus to go through the certification process just for maybe 500 V6 auto for the entire US Emira run or would it be easier to try to have you change to an I4 with the same place in queue especially if the I4 have the M139 with 298Kw. Sure, some will cancel on principle that they're not getting the V6 but how many?
I guess everyone have heard that V6 Base configurator is being moved back to end of 2024 or even early 2025. What's new is that there will be further FE 3.0 allocation with MY2025. Delivery for those will begins in Q4 2024. With the delay of the I4 and V6 auto, there's not enough orders to keep the factory running as the original plan will have them finished with the majority of FE 2.0 production and start I4 production in Q1 24. Your dealer should get their allocation number in the next month or two and it will be substantial.
With the delay in I4 production, The M139 with 298Kw will likely be the only I4 configuration for the whole world. I'm sure everyone would agree that the I4 was held at 268Kw at the launch announcement mostly just to give an advantage to the V6. Given that all the I4 being produced now for China have the 298Kw M139. With the current I4 delay, there's no reason to produce 2 version of the I4 (even if it's just a different ECU) now that the initial rush for V6 is over (by the time FE 3.0 is done). They also need to push more I4 sales to offset the V6 emission deficit as the standard gets tighter towards 2030.
This last one will probably piss a lot of people off so I apologise in advance.
Those of you waiting for V6 auto. You're probably screwed. Despite what Lotus said (which we know to take with a large grain of salt anyways). You'll likely never see your car. Think of it this way. Even if the ~500 FE 1.0 that Lotus complete a couple weeks ago consist of all the non-auto from the 700 FE 1.0 allocation. assuming the same ratio with the 600 FE V6 2.0. That would means ~350 V6 auto for the U.S. Does it make sense for Lotus to go through the certification process just for maybe 500 V6 auto for the entire US Emira run or would it be easier to try to have you change to an I4 with the same place in queue especially if the I4 have the M139 with 298Kw. Sure, some will cancel on principle that they're not getting the V6 but how many?
