"Certain customers simply enjoy the thrill of driving a car with a powerful engine... A smooth powertrain is good for those people who use their car daily for commuting. However, those who purchase performance cars make that decision in the pursuit of driving" - Lotus CEO
Posted by LongjumpingLock5875@reddit | cars | View on Reddit | 41 comments
5Gmeme@reddit
It's near impossible to simulate a manual transmission in a high HP high torque car. Bliping the throttle and making a perfect shift is one of the most satisfying experienceinces
5Gmeme@reddit
It's near impossible to simulate a manual transmission in a high HP high torque car. Bliping the throttle and makeing a perfect shift is one of the most satisfying experienceinces
LongjumpingLock5875@reddit (OP)
"'The luxury auto segment has gone through tremendous changes. We thought EVs could be the future. That is why we acted fast and we acted aggressively. But the EV penetration rate was not as good as we expected, and we could see customers still like ICE vehicles.' 'Certain customers simply enjoy the thrill of driving a car with a powerful engine, even with some lag in the power delivery. A smooth powertrain is good for those people who use their car daily for commuting. However, those who purchase performance cars make that decision in the pursuit of driving thrills, of entertainment. They just want to have fun.'" -Lotus CEO
narwhal_breeder@reddit
I feel like the current Lotus CEO is getting sports cars explained to him for the first time and hes not quite grasping the appeal.
Angry_Robot@reddit
There you go, current Lotus CEO. Now you’re getting it.
narwhal_breeder@reddit
"One hybrid V6 with a 4 speed auto coming right up"
https://horse-powertrain.com/horse-w30-4ldht-spotlight
MembershipNo2077@reddit
I'm still not sure that 4-speed bit isn't a typo, but who knows. At least it has an engine, Jaguar on the other hand...
Ferrarisimo@reddit
It’s an engine, Michael. What can it cost, $5?
DaBanninator@reddit
Bull shit excuses. They built a garbage EV nobody wants. Try building a good EV.
NarcoticCow@reddit
I think I’m one of the customers who would always choose the ice option for my performance car.
The daily will always be whatever is cheapest and makes the most sense, but I don’t think I’d get the same joy out of my fun car if it didn’t have an engine. Note fun car, not track car or whatever.
strongmanass@reddit
Realistically that's what most enthusiasts want. But there's a persistent false narrative that driving enjoyment implicitly means an engine.
Nothing in that statement precludes an EV from providing that or requires an engine.
Good_Air_7192@reddit
r/cars cannot understand this, yet the bulk of the automotive enthusiast community feels the same way.
vpach530@reddit
Agreed, I love the different “personalities” of ICE cars too. For example an NA 4 cyl, drives vastly different than a turbo 4. The different transmissions can even make two turbo 4s drive differently.
EVs are cool and all for commuting but “push pedal, go fast” gets old fast.
Theteacupman@reddit
Porsche initially built a garbage luxury SUV that no one wanted. Yet it kept the company from going bankrupt.
mrnikkoli@reddit
Agreed. People don't want to pay more for EVs, especially enthusiasts who know that electric vehicles SHOULD be cheaper to make. They also don't want electric vehicles that have been turned into tech gadgets on wheels. They want an enthusiast vehicle. As far as I know, nobody is making those or has even tried.
Every automaker seems to be viewing EVs as a new, higher profit margin product instead of just looking at it as an ICE alternative product or a replacement for their existing ICE lineup. Then they act surprised when people don't want to buy a car that's more expensive and more gadget then car.
strongmanass@reddit
That statement makes no sense.
That's what the Eletre and Emeya are. They're just bad at it for the price from a badge people don't want at that price. That's why your sales suck.
RevTurk@reddit
When I think of Lotus I don't think of big engines, I think of a balanced chassis. It's not about how quickly it can do 0-60, it's about how well it can go around a corner.
Oo__II__oO@reddit
Especially with that Camry V6 keeping it grounded to the ground.
GearWings@reddit
The v6 in the camry is pretty good even in the camry. It has some pep to it.
Good_Air_7192@reddit
When I think of Lotus I think light, not 1000kg of energy storage.
SchruteFarmsBeetDown@reddit
Lotus has an opportunity to fill in the enthusiast market segment Porsche has abandoned in recent years to become a luxury lifestyle brand.
A coupe and convertible that slots in above the Miata ($40k) and below the Elmira ($100k). Manual transmission. Light weight. Good power. But more usable than an Elise.
ke5eaj@reddit
Wait till he finds out that almost 90% of Emira buyers only want a manual transmission
8N-QTTRO@reddit
I like the notion that Lotus has done zero market research and has a fundamental misunderstanding of what their buyers want. As far as I see it, most of the people clamoring for a manual Emira are armchair buyers who will never actually put their money down.
MembershipNo2077@reddit
I'm probably not in the segment of armchair buyers, probably, and really like the manual transmission. I think Lotus actual issue is the emissions regulations in the EU/UK. There's a reason manuals are being phased out by nearly all the companies, not just Lotus.
_bfmc@reddit
Wait I could’ve sworn manuals are more efficient? All the fuelly entries of the manual versions of cars are way more efficient
MembershipNo2077@reddit
Old automatics were less efficient, but nowadays modern automatics are more efficient. Also, and much more importantly, an OEM can modify an automatic in a precise way specifically to beat certain emissions tests.
MentalMiilk@reddit
Isn't the take rate for the manual Emira in the high 80% range? Like 88%?
mcbawk@reddit
Its 88% of the V6 are sold with the manual. The distribution of models is 35% V6 to 65% i4 according to dealer sales data since Lotus doesn't publish sale statistics.
The V6 auto is a slushbox, not a dct so it makes since almost no one opts for that config when they can just get the dct.
_galaga_@reddit
You’re just ignoring the sales data for fun?
SopranoCrew@reddit
that’s 99% of r/cars really
hermitcraftfan135@reddit
I do have to imagine that the CEO probably knows that… maybe
narwhal_breeder@reddit
They are dropping the MT V6 model for a Horse developed 3.0 TT V6 that will be paired with a hybrid E-CVT + 4 speed auto (like the LC500h).
The reasoning was that "North America buys the V6" - no word on the MT take rate from them.
thisisjustascreename@reddit
A *four* speed? Are you sure you didn’t mean 14? I didn’t realize anybody was still building four speed transmissions.
narwhal_breeder@reddit
https://horse-powertrain.com/horse-w30-4ldht-spotlight
Muttonboat@reddit
Dang, r/cars learning people have preferences outside their own.....
narwhal_breeder@reddit
The average Emira buyer, at least in NA, pretty closely aligns with the circle jerk.
Nostra_Damoose@reddit
Only 31, no tooth fillings yet!
CarlOnMyButt@reddit
It's pretty wild to me how many car people I talk to that don't understand buying a car for how it drives and almost only that. It's seriously 90% of people I talk to that just rattle off spec sheets or performance numbers. When I tell them I passed on a C5 zo6 for a older Miata it just blows their minds and I can tell they think I'm a total moron. Immediately default to how much faster the Corvette is. Back to the spec sheet and performance numbers. It is a faster car. Drastically faster. But it's a totally different experience. I think in the world of Hellcats and Plaids a lot of people have lost their way or simply haven't driven a wide enough variety to even know what they like past what social media tells them to like.
narwhal_breeder@reddit
This is interesting coming from the CEO, especially when the latest news about the Emira is about it dropping both the Toyota V6, and the AMG 2.0 + DCT for a Horse developed twin turbo V6 paired with a 4 speed torque converter auto.
While that specific transmission hasnt been explicitly confirmed for the Emira - that is the only configuration the engine has been shown in - and the only car announced to use it is the Emira.
MakesYourMise@reddit
is this journalism? 🦋
LongjumpingLock5875@reddit (OP)
It is a direct interview with the Lotus CEO, so pretty good journalism.