Paint blistering issue update

[geoffbland]

The Lotus panel problem is not a "corrosion" issue, it's not a "paint blistering" issue, and none of the panels are aluminum, which is the subject of the video. The Lotus problem is with the composite panels, most often the doors, which apparently come from a Chinese supplier. They cannot corrode, but fiberglass composite panels can blister, a problem usually caused by moisture trapped under the surface or chemical reactions within the laminate layers.

It appears that something changed starting with the '24 MY, because the blistering reports from 2024 and later MYs is down to about 10% or less, per more recent forum polls.

Exactly but just to give a bit more info...

Doors and rear quarter panels have the blistering issue, sometimes the engine cover. These are all made by Teijin in Portugal (but Teijin is a very big multi-national company, mostly Chinese owned).
Front wings (fenders), bonnet and roof are made by Lotus Composites and do not have the same blistering problem.
Front and rear bumper are thermo-moulded plastic not composite.

I suspect the post '24 blistering reports are down simply due to the issue having less time to show up yet. As far as we can tell the same panels with the same issues are still being supplied on new cars and also being fitted as replacements.

 

[SimonT]

Hi guys,
Does this help? McLaren specialists Thorney Motorsports claim to have found the cure for the corrosion issues:

Emira panels

The Lotus panel problem is not a "corrosion" issue, it's not a "paint blistering" issue, and none of the panels are aluminum, which is the subject of the video. The Lotus problem is with the composite panels, most often the doors, which apparently come from a Chinese supplier. They cannot corrode, but fiberglass composite panels can blister, a problem usually caused by moisture trapped under the surface or chemical reactions within the laminate layers.

It appears that something changed starting with the '24 MY, because the blistering reports from 2024 and later MYs is down to about 10% or less, per more recent forum polls.

Teijin are a Japanese company, if I remember correctly they are made in France, sent to Portugal for finishing before sent to Lotus.