It would seem more probable than not that our cars will be arriving later than we would like. You can't teach an old dog new tricks. To think that a (charmingly) inefficient company can simply "pull a lever" and make the system super-streamlined is probably not reasonable. We have the following situations to look at:
- The shipping network will either have to be revamped or the existing one needs to be significantly bolstered. Their current importation methods are modeled on a trickle of Esprits not the relative cascade of Elise's that will be on the way. This will undoubtedly cause the dealers with "pull" to get on the horn to Lotus brass about which car they should have had, which VIP HAS to have their car, which car is a make or break for the dealership etc. and I'll bet that semi-standard cars will be diverted initially to parts unknown.
- Mules have been spotted testing as recently as a month ago (according to BBS posts I have seen), so that would seem to indicate that the design has only been very recently finalized if it has been finalized at all. New supplier networks are being established as we speak. The new (probably untested) supply chain is only as strong as it's weakest link, and there are sure to be delays by suppliers as production ramps up. I don't know the number of new suppliers, but I'll bet it's more than you think. All of them need to perform for the assembly line to chug on.
- I'll bet we'll see many-a-post after the cars begin to arrive about the unfairness of the distribution of cars. Human nature dictates that when the cars become available, there will be an initial scrum for the first examples. If you thought the dash for Cabage Patch Kids and Tickle-Me-Elmo's was brutal, I'll bet we ain't seen nothin yet.
There are so many things that have to go right for Lotus to pull off a flawless introduction of this car.
I hope they pull it off without a hitch, but I think we need to be patient because I'm guessing we can all add 3-4 months to the timeline.
I hope I'm wrong.