Speculation: FE I4 will have 400HP and 480NM?

[Nova]

There was a recent dump of images and info from a Chinese car publication. There was a huge number of images posted of a blue car. I was flipping through the photos. Anyway, to copy/paste what I posted on another forum:

Ok, ok, ok, guys, guys, guys. This is potentially big. Potentially. Very big. If the information is accurate...

This image says “2.0T Turbo Engine, Maximum Power: 400 Horse Power. Maximum Torque: 480NM. Offical 0-100km/h acceleration: 4.3s." I thought they were just confused... yawn.

But this following picture says " Summary: Chinese market model will come with AMG sourced 2.0T engine, with 360HP and 430NM torque. Combined with 8 speed DCT transmission, 0-100km/h acceleration times will be 4.5s. Initial released First Edition will output a higher 400HP and 480NM torque. Acceleration will be reduced to 4.3s. Interestingly, the latter has a maximum horse power that is nearly the same as the 3.5L V6 supercharged version, and the torque is even 50NM higher, although I still want V6+manual...." Then it goes on to talk about Porsche, and I lost interest.

So my friends, we know the I4 base engine will be 360HP, but the FE I4 will be 400HP and 480NM?!?!?!?!?!?!

 

[Bilbao-Emira]

There was a recent dump of images and info from a Chinese car publication. There was a huge number of images posted of a blue car. I was flipping through the photos. Anyway, to copy/paste what I posted on another forum:

Ok, ok, ok, guys, guys, guys. This is potentially big. Potentially. Very big. If the information is accurate...

This image says “2.0T Turbo Engine, Maximum Power: 400 Horse Power. Maximum Torque: 480NM. Offical 0-100km/h acceleration: 4.3s." I thought they were just confused... yawn.

View attachment 1254

But this following picture says " Summary: Chinese market model will come with AMG sourced 2.0T engine, with 360HP and 430NM torque. Combined with 8 speed DCT transmission, 0-100km/h acceleration times will be 4.5s. Initial released First Edition will output a higher 400HP and 480NM torque. Acceleration will be reduced to 4.3s. Interestingly, the latter has a maximum horse power that is nearly the same as the 3.5L V6 supercharged version, and the torque is even 50NM higher, although I still want V6+manual...." Then it goes on to talk about Porsche, and I lost interest.

View attachment 1255

So my friends, we know the I4 base engine will be 360HP, but the FE I4 will be 400HP and 480NM?!?!?!?!?!?!

I understand no Chinese at all, but I guess when they say FE 400 Hp they are talking about the V6, not the i4 anymore, and the 480 Nm might be just a mistake.
Unless they don't want to sell the v6 in China, or Lotus wants the rest of the world be pissed off, anything possible anyway

 

[Nova]

I understand no Chinese at all, but I guess when they say FE 400 Hp they are talking about the V6, not the i4 anymore, and the 480 Nm might be just a mistake.
Unless they don't want to sell the v6 in China, or Lotus wants the rest of the world be pissed off, anything possible anyway

No, they are talking specifically about the FE version of the I4, and contrasting it against the V6. I thought the first photo was a mistake, and that they were confused about powers between I4 and V6, and that 480NM was just a mistake. But the second photo is very explicit about the power of the FE I4 being 400HP.

Another data point: the M139 in 382HP version has a torque of... 480NM.

 

[Bilbao-Emira]

No, they are talking specifically about the FE version of the I4, and contrasting it against the V6. I thought the first photo was a mistake, and that they were confused about powers between I4 and V6, and that 480NM was just a mistake. But the second photo is very explicit about the power of the FE I4 being 400HP.

Another data point: the M139 in 382HP version has a torque of... 480NM.

I can see big mess happening if that's true, great way to upset a lot of customers. We´ll see!

 

[TomE]

It wouldn’t be the first time a motoring publication or YouTuber has mis-quoted figures from the Emira press releases.

I’d be inclined to believe what Lotus have already published, ie 400hp and 420Nm for the V6 and 360hp for the i4.

Both engines are capable of higher power and torque in other applications, but that’s not the spec they’ll be running in the Emira. This is a world car, so there are no regional variants and this isn’t a special tune for the Chinese market.

 

[New to Lotus]

It's all Chinese to me!!

 

[aEdMIRA]

Sometimes FEs have slightly more hp, so IF the i4 does, then so will the V6.

So aaaaaaaall goooooood!

 

[New to Lotus]

I dont mind if the amg motor has more power, I'm buying the v6 at the spec released because it will sound brilliant drive brilliant and I can change gear, to me all the v6 cars are for the drivers!!! . If you want the fastest thing on track wait for the i4 we all know what that engine and box is capable of.
500 bhp 500nm in an emira that's had a carbon fibre diet front splitter and rear wing = FASTEST CAR ROUND THE RING.
GT4RS BYE BYE.

 

[JimH]

https://car.autohome.com.cn/photolist/series/52768/7109401.html#pvareaid=3454450v - direct link to the whole photo gallery of the Chinese market i4

 

[digilotus]

Doesn't seem like an error. More reviews here:

百万元搞定你的快乐？ 抢先体验路特斯EMIRA_车家号_发现车生活_汽车之家

百万元搞定你的快乐？ 抢先体验路特斯EMIRA

chejiahao.autohome.com.cn

《胖哥试车》燃油最后狂欢——胖哥静态体验路特斯EMIRA_车家号_发现车生活_汽车之家

作为路特斯燃油车的最终章，EMIRA的到来无疑让所有人都为之激动不已，但没想到胖哥与这台车的第一次见

chejiahao.autohome.com.cn

 

[ADC]

I would love for this to be true (as an i4 deposit holder), but I worry that Lotus would be really ticking some people off who made a spec choice based on power outputs. In reality, people choosing the V6 are likely choosing it for other reasons like manual transmission and ungodly awesome exhaust note, but still...

EDIT: to be clear, I'm mainly choosing the i4 because I want something I can be a lazy arse in every day (traffic jams outnumber track days, sadly), and because I can also man-math's my way into believing I'm doing the environment a favour ... I desperately hope they can make it sound nearly as great as the six

 

[ADC]

To needlessly throw fuel on this fire, it does say on the footer of the official Emira web page (emphasis mine) ...

"The vehicle specifications detailed on this page are target specifications based upon simulations. We have carried out thousands of hours of computer modelling, dynamic simulation and engineering development that have contributed to the target specifications and we have a strong degree of confidence that as the prototype vehicles progress through their testing phases, the target specifications will be met and, in some cases, surpassed. All customers who have placed an order for Emira will be kept up-to-date with the prototype phase and invited to view its progress first-hand where suitable."

 

[New to Lotus]

If they are following everything porsche maybe they have under promised and will over deliver in terms of performance numbers.

 

[ThousandPetaledLotus]

Let's hope this is true 👍

 

[TomE]

Well Lotus MD Matt Windle was caught on video at Goodwood saying the V6 would be 416hp, which is a very specific number, rather than the round 400hp published online. And it's the same number as the latest Evora iteration, the US-spec Evora GT.

So they may well be holding some in reserve until they can complete real tests on a production car. They're doing that official testing now (type approval etc), as they need to have official emissions figures before they can publish their finance packages. For that reason I expect we'll get an updated and final set of V6 stats in Dec (or early Jan at the latest), well before 3rd UK deposits are due.

 

[NickR]

Well Lotus MD Matt Windle was caught on video at Goodwood saying the V6 would be 416hp, which is a very specific number, rather than the round 400hp published online. And it's the same number as the latest Evora iteration, the US-spec Evora GT.

So they may well be holding some in reserve until they can complete real tests on a production car. They're doing that official testing now (type approval etc), as they need to have official emissions figures before they can publish their finance packages. For that reason I expect we'll get an updated and final set of V6 stats in Dec (or early Jan at the latest), well before 3rd UK deposits are due.

I've mentioned before that the torque figure quoted on the website is 420Nm which is exactly what the 416hp outputs. I'd be suprised if it was anything less!

Evora (as i'm sure you're familar with )
Original 400 spec:
400 hp (298 kW; 406 PS) and 302 lb⋅ft (409 Nm)

410 spec
power increase by 10 hp (7 kW; 10 PS), for a total of 410 hp (306 kW; 416 PS). The torque was also improved to 310 lb⋅ft (420 Nm).

I think the car should also be in the 3.9- 4.1 second range 0-60mph

 

[Nova]

Again this is just speculation at this point, but the information revealed to date certainly does not conflict with the possibility that the FE I4 will be 400HP/480NM.

This does also point to the possibility that the I4 FE will be priced similarly to the V6 FE, since the power will be similar, and DCT is included by default instead of the auto being an upcharge. This does make the calculation more complex for those not locked in on a manual transmission...

Regardless. The videos mention an official launch event on 11/19 in China, so there will be official specs at that time straight from Lotus.

 

[GarrethN]

I can’t see how Lotus will bring out a 400 HP FE I4 when it’s already been declared as 400 for the V6 and 360 for the I4.

Having an already equal AMG engine with DCT, and failing to declare it will be available, would truly destroy customer relations and trust in the brand, especially when so many of the deposit holders are long term Lotus owners.

We all know higher HP versions will be available later, but not on the FE cars. It wouldn’t be the first time some facetube blogger or media outlet completely got their stats mixed up…….

And let’s not even imagine the reaction of giving China a different output to the rest of the world. I can’t see Matt Windle ever agreeing to that one !!

 

[Adam.sinclair]

I have my deposit held on the V6 but if I can have the M139 Brazil GP version I would be willing to swap 😂

 

[GarrethN]

I have my deposit held on the V6 but if I can have the M139 Brazil GP version I would be willing to swap 😂

That would be the ideal sprint car !! Just need a drag reduction system thrown in as well……..