Nannies - who drove a 2026 car and can tell?

[Foxy87]

Hey

I will get my Emira supposably in April/May. I didnt spec the „extended co drivers package“ (its an option in europe) but will have the co driver package as standard which includes the following nannies:

- Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
- Traffic sign recognition
- Blind spot warning system
- Lane change assist
- Lane departure warning
- Fatigue detection/warning

I am very curious how Lotus implemented these (how annoying these are) and how easy it is to disable them (shortcut or deep within the menues). I am finde with the AEB and the Blind spot warning. I hate traffic sign recognition and speed warner.

So is there anybody who has driven a 2026 car and paid attention to these?

Thanks

 

[Yukoncole]

Oh sorry--now I see it.

Yeah going back and forth through all those menus would drive me crazy. Hmm.

Confirmed that the setting of low stayed, but it did not stay off between startups.

 

[Foxy87]

But you can switch to visual for these two in the quick panel, right?

 

[Yukoncole]

But you can switch to visual for these two in the quick panel, right?

Traffic sign yes, so the speed sign then just flashes on the dash, the Fatigue - No

 

[Foxy87]

Thanks. And this fatigue nannie really does come on all the time while spirited driving? Once again, Lotus just fuc%§€ up…

 

[Yukoncole]

Thanks. And this fatigue nannie really does come on all the time while spirited driving? Once again, Lotus just fuc%§€ up…

Yeah, I was carving through a canyon, and the road was super curvy, and it didn't like that or the fact that I was looking through the turns instead of straight ahead....I am not sure it has an internal camera though... I cannot see one anywhere, so I think it's monitoring the vehicle's motion and the road ahead. That one is the easiest one to turn off, at least! Oh and then once you disable these things you get a Yellow Triangle alert warning on the dash and a few on the dash pop up that you have to click ok on.....Yes, they messed up! I will say the positive of it all, though, is the Automated cruise control, which works very well!!

 

[cellculturist]

Does anyone really know how the fatigue detection works? I think it only uses the exterior facing sensors, as it only kicks on when canyon driving and I'm using the full width of the lane. There's no camera or sensor in the cabin, is there?

 

[ApexNinja2026]

When I test drove a 2025, I had a hard time getting into 1st after a stop, had to either slide the shifter into 2nd just before, or double clutch. Also had resistance going 1-2. When I asked the dealer if it was just the car I drove, he said all of them are like that to a degree.

The 2026 I drove had none of these issues, even cold at 30 degrees

I want to 100% agree with this. I test drove a 2025 on the lot and had a VERY hard time getting it into 1st gear. I actually didn't buy the vehicle because I thought the dealer had just let people beat the $hit out of it and the clutch was wrecked. I took a 2026 off the lot and it shifts SMOOTH as butter, no issues and nothing like that jangy 2025 1st.

I told the dealer I passed on the 2025 because of that issue and told them they better fix it - they came back at me and said the tech said the vehicle has to be at rest to shift into 1st. uhhh

 

[ffre92]

I want to 100% agree with this. I test drove a 2025 on the lot and had a VERY hard time getting it into 1st gear. I actually didn't buy the vehicle because I thought the dealer had just let people beat the $hit out of it and the clutch was wrecked. I took a 2026 off the lot and it shifts SMOOTH as butter, no issues and nothing like that jangy 2025 1st.

I told the dealer I passed on the 2025 because of that issue and told them they better fix it - they came back at me and said the tech said the vehicle has to be at rest to shift into 1st. uhhh

I just passed the 1000mi mark and have to say this 26 has the best shifter feel/action of any manual car I have driven or owned. It is super notchy, short, and precise, doesn’t matter warm or cold. I couldn’t be happier with it!

 

[CarrHarris]

The nannies can be annoying, but frankly the sign recognition is the most annoying, the lane departure and fatigue warnings are less so if you are paying attention to your driving. They can be turned off with a few clicks. Otherwise the car is brilliant, the DCT transmission shifting is immediate no lag! The adaptive cruise is nice in crowded situations.

 

[Bimmernate]

Has anyone taken their 26 car in for software updates? Wondering if lotus has done anything but we just haven’t had the software update yet. Still doubtful

 

[ApexNinja2026]

Has anyone taken their 26 car in for software updates? Wondering if lotus has done anything but we just haven’t had the software update yet. Still doubtful

Going May 29th for my 500-1000 mile oil change and code pull from a one time "reduced acceleration" thrown (no CEL) that has not come back in 400 miles. I'll let you know if they end up doing any software updates (hopefully not lol).

 

[ApexNinja2026]

The nannies can be annoying, but frankly the sign recognition is the most annoying, the lane departure and fatigue warnings are less so if you are paying attention to your driving. They can be turned off with a few clicks. Otherwise the car is brilliant, the DCT transmission shifting is immediate no lag! The adaptive cruise is nice in crowded situations.

The sign recognition nanny is indeed the most annoying daily driver or not. I've gotten used to the three or four button click sequence almost without looking to turn it off every time. I doubt Lotus will deactivate it for the US market but you can always hope.

If not for the sign recognition, I don't mind the other nannies, until I get a real feel for this vehicle its probably better they're on for now Then graduate to track mode with them off and really start learning.

 

[Foxy87]

So after driving the car for 600km+ I can honestly say the only PITA is the speed warning nannie. But this is switched off with 2 clicks in 3 seconds through the quick panel. I hardly notice lane departue warning as it doesnt make any sounds (?). And it would be off in 2 more seconds anyway. All other nannies I dont even notice. I even like the front collision warning on the least sensitive setting, just in case you are inattentive for a sec.

All in all, not a problem at all, I freaking looove the car!!

 

[Bimmernate]

So after driving the car for 600km+ I can honestly say the only PITA is the speed warning nannie. But this is switched off with 2 clicks in 3 seconds through the quick panel. I hardly notice lane departue warning as it doesnt make any sounds (?). And it would be off in 2 more seconds anyway. All other nannies I dont even notice. I even like the front collision warning on the least sensitive setting, just in case you are inattentive for a sec.

All in all, not a problem at all, I freaking looove the car!!

Play music, and then get close to the line- you will hear your music cut in and out.- this is the lane departure warning and it is super annoying and does not help you stay centered in your lane....so why even have this at all. You can only fully shut off lane departure warning from the quick menu (and brings up a dash error). From the quick menu, you can turn traffic recognition to visual only, but not lane charge warning...makes no sense.

While I agree you get used to dealing with the nannies. It is still pointless as 100% of drivers have to turn them off to drive the car. They could have implemented it better. They should of had a single tap in the quick menu to turn everything off without a bunch of dash errors. Better yet, save the settings for the US market.

At THE MINIMUM- allow for both lane change warning and traffic sign recognition to be changed to VISUAL ONLY from the quick menu so we don't have to deal with the yellow dash errors. And get RID of the distracting flashing speed warning icon on the dash when in visual only. It's not much to ask.

 

[Foxy87]

Yes you are right, the music cuts off for a sec, but thats it. honestly it hardly comes on, maybe I am just a good driver within the lanes

Agree with you, one button to turn everything off would be nice but like I said, FOR ME it really isnt a dealbreaker and all I need to switch off is speed recognition with two clicks. Starting this thread and reading all the answers had me thinking it would be waaaay worse.

 

[geoffbland]

You don't really buy a sports car to stay within the lane markings and on your own side of the road at all times.

 

[Foxy87]

You don't really buy a sports car to stay within the lane markings and on your own side of the road at all times.

I refer to normal daily driving.

We have some pretty amazing roads here in switzerland (I am happy to provide evidence ) and while I certainly would disable it for spirited driving, I already pushed it a few times and forgot to switch it off before and it honestly wasnt annoying/distracting, as I dont listen to loud music while taking on these mountain passes. I rather hear the sound of this glourius V6.

As it doesnt do anything else then cut off the music, not a problem (for me).

 

[geoffbland]

We have some pretty amazing roads here in switzerland (I am happy to provide evidence )

Oh I know, no need for evidence - I've been there & loved the mountain roads.

Almost as good as Austria

 

[Last ICE]

I refer to normal daily driving.

We have some pretty amazing roads here in switzerland (I am happy to provide evidence ) and while I certainly would disable it for spirited driving, I already pushed it a few times and forgot to switch it off before and it honestly wasnt annoying/distracting, as I dont listen to loud music while taking on these mountain passes. I rather hear the sound of this glourius V6.

As it doesnt do anything else then cut off the music, not a problem (for me).

So, given I remain intoxicated by the glorious sound and escape of this thing and its mechanicals every time I drive, ask me how many times I’ve had the KEF on. Ever. (Not so subtle clue: zero)

 

[sawdust]

You don't really buy a sports car to stay within the lane markings and on your own side of the road at all times.

Actually I prefer driving when everybody follows the lane markings so that I don't get forced off the road.

Also I do not pretend the street is a track, and do stay in my lane, just like the admonition when driving the Tail of the Dragon : "The goal is to embrace the technical challenge of tight turns, not make it easier and very hazardous."