Lotus Upgrades European EMIRA PERFORMANCE for China!

With Geely owning controlling shares in Lotus (51%), Is Lotus Prioritising the Chinese market for the Emira over Europe?
Lotus are now finally ramping up to release the Emira i4 in many regions of the world, which is great news…However, the version of the i4 being released in China has substantially boosted performance when compared with the release in Europe and the Rest of The World. Here we discuss our perceptions of why Lotus is supplying a more performant Emira i4 for the Chinese market along with a few other changes in their Emira marketing approach.
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[@RichReviews_]

Lotus are now finally ramping up to release the Emira i4 in many regions of the world, which is great news…However, the version of the i4 being released in China has substantially boosted performance when compared with the release in Europe and the Rest of The World. Do you think this is the right approach for Lotus/Geely to deliver a more performant version of the Emira i4 for the Chinese market?

[@user-mc2oc6jw9q]

It's a no from me... lowt-ass are chinese owned now, China can't invent anything so it has buy it (who said chinese copy, they can't even do that). It is still European designed & engineered because you guessed it, the chinese can't do that either

[@Kim_in_China]

Lol, I have no idea for why the they have two versions of power for m139. But if I in UK, I may choose 2GR version, much better sound 🥺. Also for remove the GPF in China will meet the same problem in UK.

[@Kim_in_China]

I am not very sure about the price for i4 version in uk. But maybe they will release the 400hp version but increase the price? Because if we look at the market worldwide Lotus may target the 2GR version slightly higher than the m139 version. Thus, it makes no sense m139 delivery more power and torque. But the situation in China a little bit different. Seldom people will choose the 2GR version with MT. Thus, based on the market in China, there is no that kind of conflict between two version.

[@RichReviews_]

I think they will release a tuned edition of the Emira for sure.

[@3joewj]

How long would a delivery take to the u.s.a market if I ordered now ?🇺🇸

[@youssefazrak3548]

I think it's fine. I would see it as a positive: it means the i4 can be pushed safely to 400HP in the Emira. I don't believe they are stupid, so we are going to this perf for the i4 for the rest of the world. What I'm waiting for is a V6 Emira "S" pushing 450HP and a bit more torque. No way I'm paying 100k for a 4 cylinder. That should be in the 70K range.

[@RichReviews_]

I think you’re correct in that there will be some higher tuned Specials in the future.

[@MrPimpmygun]

whats crzy is the first emira was 85k for the v6, now its up to 105k

[@RichReviews_]

@MrPimpmygun was 82k on the road in U.K., now it’s 89k!

[@Jay-xr3sb]

You can pick up an emira with less that 5k miles for £70k, there are 60 on autotrader. Plenty of flippers caught short and it's a falling market. Personally, I'm buying a boxster 981 this weekend, £32k, 32k miles, fully loaded NA flat 6!

[@Kim_in_China]

Hi I have already got the Emira 2.0 M139 in China. Tested 5000km with 405HP, very stable 0-100km

[@Kim_in_China]

If you could change the head pipe and remove the gpf, I think it could provide 20-30hp definitely. But so far the OBU is locked. We are waiting for the upgrade for the OBU, thus it will be more stable for future updates.

[@RichReviews_]

Thank you for the update...very interesting and validates the points I raise in the video.

[@RichReviews_]

Would removing the gpf void any government road tests such as emissions output that cars need to adhere to in China? In UK we have a Ministry of Transport test that has to be performed annually for cars over 3 years of age and within that test is an emissions assessment.

[@9kilsyth]

I have driven both the Chinese AMG (i4) and the V6 manual on a race track and on the road. The i4 is lighter, has launch control, 8 gears (in sport they change very quickly), and has more power so it is no surprise that the AMG is much faster than the V6. The AMG version has an upgraded lightened rear suspension so it even handles better. So the question is how can the V6 compete with strict Chinese regulations for anything over 2.5 litres with high taxes? The short answer is that the V6 is not competitive in a market like China so they needed to have a 2 litre car with the same hp as the V6 to make a majority of the sales. The V6 feels it does the 0-100 in 4.3 car but the AMG feels like a 3.8 sec car. I have driven the main Porsches (718 4 cylinder GTS, 911 Carreras etc.) on both road and race and can tell you the i4 Lotus is really a 911 competitor the GTS feels slower.

[@RichReviews_]

Thank you for the information, very informative. It is the first I have heard that the i4 has a lightened rear suspension setup…do you know more details please? Is it lightened materials? The taxes in China are pretty crippling and makes sense with the cubic capacity tax to maximise performance from a lower CC setup such as the 2 litre i4 in contrast to the 3.5 V6.

[@9kilsyth]

@@RichReviews_ The rear suspension was redesigned for the new engine - the V6 has the older suspension. The UK i4 version has the same new rear suspension.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

But, its still a 4 pot. At least the 911 has the flat 6, GPF have even killed the 992. 991/981 for me, half the price, double the soul

[@9kilsyth]

@@Jay-xr3sb Depends the Lotus engineers think the 4 is pretty good as well. The other issue is the handling. The 6 cannot handle as well as the 4 because of the new aluminum subframe and the lower center of gravity of the i4. More power and gears (faster to) less weight and a better center of gravity sold me. I am over 911s their rear biased was good fun but I have done that many times. I like the sound of the i4 which is an opinion the others are facts.

[@Jay-xr3sb]

@@9kilsyth I'm sure th i4 will handle better than the v6, lotus are selling it after all. The emira wins on looks for me, but I'm going for the 981S as my first true sports car. The emira is already £70k and i believe there will be plenty of them in a few years. I'd be open to trying the A110 after prices come down further, if the 981 doesn't work out. It seems to be the polar opposite of heavy, large powerful EVs that we may all be driving.

[@geirarnesen6531]

At one point you are saying the V6 has 360 bhp... It`s not as complicated as you manage to make it. You have the right idea..

[@RichReviews_]

Well noted, I meant to say 400bhp but was punch drunk with all the numbers I had to recall.

[@mariagraziacarrieri8807]

WHEN will be delivered teh I4 in europe? (italy) we till now do not have any info, can someone replay this question of mine?

[@RichReviews_]

With sales managed totally at source the only people that know would be Lotus and doubt you’d have much joy from them if you asked.

[@wkeyrambo4883]

End of this year

[@mattyb1624]

NO! They are simply de-tuning the engine to later bring out the 400hp version to get future sale because people are silly. They probably dont want to give a warranty for any more than 400hp on the 4cyl

[@RichReviews_]

Yes they have. Did you watch the video?

[@elta6241]

I'm kind of not surprised. That i4 was always going to be a problem for Lotus. It's a superb engine, it's lighter, smaller and produces just as much power as the V6. Very Lotus. The problem is, what's the point in the V6 now and why is the i4 being limited in a way that is really quite pointless? It is capable of producing in excess of 400hp. The i4 should have been used to produce a much cheaper Emira that can compete in the 60K to 70K range with Porsche. Unfortunately it isn't much cheaper, certainly not in Europe.

[@RichReviews_]

Yes, a well engineered reliable powerplant having been well proven.

[@dottorcarlone]

Exactly my point, at that price for a 4 cilinder, you re in porsche 992 territory, there are 992 s with low mileage at 80-85k and in this range for me the Emira can stay in the dealership. The Emira should have been in the range of 60-70k with S-R versions priced higher

[@RichReviews_]

Tend to agree with you. Lotus still have yet to launch their Entry Point ‘cheap’ Emira…I think in reality we all know that’s never going to happen now.

[@Kim_in_China]

😥honestly I don’t think so. If we look at the engine price for m139 and 2GR. The m139 will be more expensive. If not consider the TAX, the manufacturer cost for m139 version may higher than the 2GR version.

[@mattyb1624]

Manual is the point. Not everything is about lap times. Ferraris etc are Boeing as hell because they're all so automated.