Is this true of all UK V6 cars?!
Discussion
I've been scoping out potentially buying an Emira and have talked to various dealers and independents that have them for sale. They all give me different stories. Even one Lotus dealer up North (my local) told me Lotus have run out of V6 engines and no more were ever going to be being built, and they had the very last ones that were almost certainly going to skyrocket in value next year.. 
Anyway, of the more believable stories I've been told this one more than once from independent dealers (shifting older cars..)
That *all* UK V6 Emiras were built in the first tranche of late 22 into early 23 factory output. This includes all cars bought since, and currently being registered as new.
These cars have simply sat unused in storage during the last few years. What's more none of the factory updates (after switching to LHD cars) and the subsequent years, are retrospectively applied to these older vehicles at sale. Most noticeably the extra waterproofing to prevent water getting into the wiring loom and junction boxes causing corrosion and eventually electrical issues. Instead these issues are fixed as and when they occur during the warranty period.
The reason for this is that they built more RHD cars than they could sell, and then became delayed with LHD cars for other markets and have been building only those since. The evidence is that you can only actually buy UK V6 cars in the original launch colours, and that even 24 plate cars still get the paint blistering issues (even though the new door and paint process was changed years ago in the factory).
So the result of this is that if you buy a 'new' V6 in the UK, you still get an old car, and one that is quite a different car, than say an American buys (which is actually new, with all the new updates). So you're actually better off getting a UK car that's been on the road over the last few years and has had the updates and fixes applied.
Does anyone know, with some certainty if this is actually true or not?
Anyway, of the more believable stories I've been told this one more than once from independent dealers (shifting older cars..)
That *all* UK V6 Emiras were built in the first tranche of late 22 into early 23 factory output. This includes all cars bought since, and currently being registered as new.
These cars have simply sat unused in storage during the last few years. What's more none of the factory updates (after switching to LHD cars) and the subsequent years, are retrospectively applied to these older vehicles at sale. Most noticeably the extra waterproofing to prevent water getting into the wiring loom and junction boxes causing corrosion and eventually electrical issues. Instead these issues are fixed as and when they occur during the warranty period.
The reason for this is that they built more RHD cars than they could sell, and then became delayed with LHD cars for other markets and have been building only those since. The evidence is that you can only actually buy UK V6 cars in the original launch colours, and that even 24 plate cars still get the paint blistering issues (even though the new door and paint process was changed years ago in the factory).
So the result of this is that if you buy a 'new' V6 in the UK, you still get an old car, and one that is quite a different car, than say an American buys (which is actually new, with all the new updates). So you're actually better off getting a UK car that's been on the road over the last few years and has had the updates and fixes applied.
Does anyone know, with some certainty if this is actually true or not?
Edited by bus_ter on Sunday 9th February 11:28
Edited by bus_ter on Sunday 9th February 11:55
There are a number of stories going around about the availability of V6 cars, old, current, new. There are a couple of threads on Emira Forums, that go into the details, but the short version seems to be, contradictory stories, but leaning towards there being fewer/no more V6s being built in the foreseeable future.
The V6 will be returning to the UK market, you are correct that no UK V6s have been built for some time I’ve personally seen unregistered vehicles on the dealer screens in 2025 with build dates from 2023. This stock is dwindling down to a level where they will start to replenish it. There are some UK rhd V6 manuals in the second release colours I’ve seen Zinc grey press car and a Silver. 
TempletonPeck said:
Any new Emira registered between now and April won’t have the increased first year VED but will have the Lotus warranty until 2028 regardless of build date.
Now that's certainly valid and something I didn't consider. Anyone thinking of buying a new one should get one now and take a 74 plate and avoid the new £5,490 tax for a 25 plate (unless the dealer absorbs the cost).
tcs0tm said:
I believe that tomorrow the new V6 will be announced, I.e not the first edition so it will be very option centric just like buying a Porsche. I’m taking paint, the visible gear mechanism, everything.
That's what the dealer I spoke with on Friday said, and that with options you are heading for £100k new for the v6 
Snozcumber said:
That's what the dealer I spoke with on Friday said, and that with options you are heading for £100k new for the v6
Yeah, it's very steep in my view you're way over Cayman territory there and at 911. Time will tell how that plays out but I wouldn't be buying new at that rate. tcs0tm said:
Snozcumber said:
That's what the dealer I spoke with on Friday said, and that with options you are heading for £100k new for the v6
Yeah, it's very steep in my view you're way over Cayman territory there and at 911. Time will tell how that plays out but I wouldn't be buying new at that rate. How does the Lotus logic work? We have had a lot of trouble shifting the V6 cars we built. So much so that we stopped making them for a pretty long period. We are now re-starting the same car at a significant price point hike because [insert the logic here]
For the logic I can think of:
because the economy is zooming ahead
because the buyer demographic for a 100k car is way more inclined to buy it than the buyer demographic of an 80k car
because the tech involved in the toyota V6 plus chocolate gearbox is so old it appeals to a retro buyer demographic
because Milo Minderbinder is running the Lotus pricing and positioning department
None of those seem to hit the spot, but perhaps I am just Yossarian and don't understand Catch 22.
For the logic I can think of:
because the economy is zooming ahead
because the buyer demographic for a 100k car is way more inclined to buy it than the buyer demographic of an 80k car
because the tech involved in the toyota V6 plus chocolate gearbox is so old it appeals to a retro buyer demographic
because Milo Minderbinder is running the Lotus pricing and positioning department
None of those seem to hit the spot, but perhaps I am just Yossarian and don't understand Catch 22.
Maybe theyre watching what aston are doing with the new vantage, 180k + now and just moving the emira up the price bracket..
Astons new vantage is a huge leap forward tho, not a re-skin, which I assume this new emira is?
Its not working well for aston, even with a totally new (and very good) car.
Astons new vantage is a huge leap forward tho, not a re-skin, which I assume this new emira is?
Its not working well for aston, even with a totally new (and very good) car.
Lifesbloodygood said:
Maybe theyre watching what aston are doing with the new vantage, 180k + now and just moving the emira up the price bracket..
Astons new vantage is a huge leap forward tho, not a re-skin, which I assume this new emira is?
Its not working well for aston, even with a totally new (and very good) car.
It’s the same car just different options Astons new vantage is a huge leap forward tho, not a re-skin, which I assume this new emira is?
Its not working well for aston, even with a totally new (and very good) car.
PRO5T said:
Maybe it's simply that if they sell them at £80k they go bust?
Well we've never seen Lotus in the past:Have shocking composite porosity problems
Sell cars that each make a loss
Make cars that are embarrassingly unreliable
Good job that Matt W presided over the huge reinvestment and launch of the new Lotus! How bad would it have been if they'd just carried on the old way??
And yes to those (where is he?) that have pulled me up for my super negative attitude, yes that's a good observation. I hope that one day when I have the opportunity to actually do "sports car" journeys on the road they'll be in an Emira. But as a strongly built company director type who has been moderately good at building and taking products to market, it's just rather embarrassing what a ham fisted job new (UK) Lotus have done.
I had a call today to say my Emira V6 edition deposit (placed approx 18 months ago)is being returned and the order cancelled as no more UK V6 cars are being built. Last update I had from Lotus was build date second half of 2025
seems like Lotus are in dissaray.
The website says new V6 orders will be delivered 2026 !!
seems like Lotus are in dissaray.
The website says new V6 orders will be delivered 2026 !!
XTR2Turbo said:
I had a call today to say my Emira V6 edition deposit (placed approx 18 months ago)is being returned and the order cancelled as no more UK V6 cars are being built. Last update I had from Lotus was build date second half of 2025
seems like Lotus are in dissaray.
The website says new V6 orders will be delivered 2026 !!
Would that be a case of them not wanting to be held to your original quoted price? Does the contract say fixed? So returning deposits allows the sale at the higher price, maybe..seems like Lotus are in dissaray.
The website says new V6 orders will be delivered 2026 !!
Lifesbloodygood said:
Would that be a case of them not wanting to be held to your original quoted price? Does the contract say fixed? So returning deposits allows the sale at the higher price, maybe..
They may have changed their terms, but the ones I have seen were not even orders they were for places/slots. They explicitly stated that Lotus were not obliged to sell you a car and you were not obliged to buy a car.Gassing Station | Emira | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff