Emira Road Tests & Reviews

[Simon Bateman]

8 hours ago, blindside said:

They could do it full on if they really wanted to:

https://www.hotcars.com/the-mercedes-amg-m139-is-one-badass-4-cylinder-turbo-engine/

Clearly these are special engines. I wonder what the anticipated design life is at the current maximum rated bhp figure?

I read somewhere that Toyota had an anticipated minimum design life for the V6 at 300,000km (186k miles). The V6 might not be very exotic, but it's as tough as old boots.

Interesting comment on how euro 7 regs may effect the production feasibility/future supply of the AMG unit. I couldn't see AMG supplying these hand built units just to Lotus, if they were no longer used in one of their own vehicles.

[gregs24]

Euro 7 is about to be seriously watered down so don't worry

[Simon Bateman]

I'm not worried. I was only quoting the euro 7 comment by the author of the article.

That said, I have seen comments like yours on other forums and responses from people seemingly in the know, saying that euro 7 was coming and would be generally as originally proposed. I have no knowledge or view either way.

Only AMG know what their potential business model is likely to look like over the next 5 to 10 years or so and will no doubt have agreed a minimum engine supply date with Lotus.

[gregs24]

Reports in Autocar a couple of weeks ago about how Stellantis pressure has resulted in the watering down of Euro 7. Not really surprising as all it was doing was making the ICE almost impossible at a time when alternatives are not available in big numbers. I do wonder if it has come a little too late for some such as the Fiesta where the profit margins are already too tight to make it viable and Euro 7 would have made it a loss maker. Drifting off topic so will leave it there

[JB]

On 12/11/2022 at 20:03, Simon Bateman said:

I'm genuinely sceptical that much if any of this will come to pass.

I think a GT4 will appear at some point, but more in line with what Porsche have done with the Cayman and not a super light stripped out version.

I also wonder just how much power Lotus will squeeze from the 4 pot and there is a suggestion that AMG will only allow a BHP figure at or below the current maximum figure that they provide in the A45, so as not to trump their offering and also possibly risk warranty issues for over stressed power units outside of AMG power guidelines.

I can't help thinking that some people expecting something truly special, are going to be disappointed.

I suspect this will be about what Gealy want moving forward and not the Lotus engineers 

TBH i think judging from customers reactions who are not Lotus owners, they don't want stripped out, high BHP cars, they want car that looks the nuts, goes pretty well and they can drive to the station, a track day or the Alps. Lotus offered light fast nibble stuff and not enough people bought them. Porsche is a bit different because they have marketed their wares very well to be ultimately desired, however plenty of them are driving the Emira because it is usable 9/10ths of the time.

The Emira has not reinvented the wheel. Its a car that does a lot of things very very well, which appeals to many many more people than the previous offerings (sadly) GT version can be ordered already, (taken a deposit on one) but full details are sketchy so far.

I'm sure there will be a last hurrah of the V6 but will it be a snarly light monster......doubtful. The fun sponges will make sue of that.

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

3 hours ago, JB said:

GT version can be ordered already, (taken a deposit on one) but full details are sketchy so far.

Do you mean GT as in Grand Tourer or GT as in stripped-out high power variant? If so what sketchy details have you heard and are dealers taking deposits again? Don’t forget the shambles with the stock Emira deposits placed at dealers.

[exeterjeep]

Perhaps a road going version of the GT4, - see the GT4 has ohlin suspension, but the power output at 400 ish is below what some potential owners would like?

[C8RKH]

Not just about power, but personally a GT4 with 430/450bhp would be ideal for me 

[JB]

52 minutes ago, LotusLeftLotusRight said:

Do you mean GT as in Grand Tourer or GT as in stripped-out high power variant? If so what sketchy details have you heard and are dealers taking deposits again? Don’t forget the shambles with the stock Emira deposits placed at dealers.

GT4 road going version, if it’s to meet race series rules 400bhp will be it to not get clobbered by BOP regs but we took a deposit on lotus behalf (on their instructions) for a more hardcore version at the Eletre event. Specs etc no idea but customer seems adamant it’s coming🤷🏼‍♂️

42 minutes ago, exeterjeep said:

Perhaps a road going version of the GT4, - see the GT4 has ohlin suspension, but the power output at 400 ish is below what some potential owners would like?

Judging by our demos so far, too many half wits in ‘powerful’ cars can’t handle n drive properly 400 ponies, wish there was a switch to cut power to 100 as that’s about their limit🤦🏼‍♂️

[exeterjeep]

8 minutes ago, JB said:

Judging by our demos so far, too many half wits in ‘powerful’ cars can’t handle n drive properly 400 ponies, wish there was a switch to cut power to 100 as that’s about their limit🤦🏼‍♂️

I suppose you are getting all the alerts from tracker/Lotus to count all the over speeds.

[JB]

Yep! I send a screenshot to customers with a congratulations if they topple the ton🤣

[Rambo]

18 hours ago, JB said:

...... however plenty of them are driving the Emira because it is usable 9/10ths of the time.

I don't understand your statement. I've heard of very few deliveries thus far so not sure there are "plenty of them" about.

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

I think he means plenty of them are test driving their Emira.

[exeterjeep]

Was at Hendy yesterday and a chap rolled up for his test drive, has one on order just like their demo but with different wheels. Their test drives seem to be progressing OK.

[simonb]

15 hours ago, C8RKH said:

Not just about power, but personally a GT4 with 430/450bhp would be ideal for me 

just dont look at the brabus b45 for inspiration

[Bee]

Great AutoTopNL drive of the Emira - no chat, just an extended POV country road drive!

 

 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Is the boot lid open warning light on throughout?

Also can’t have been going very fast: he spent most of the drive in second gear!

[stephenwhyte]

Seems an awful lot of steering input going on, for very little turn/reaction? Might just be the footage….., but it gives the impression the steering is very light?🤔🤷🏻‍♂️

[gregs24]

Lightness and steering gearing are independent of each other. 

It is an updated version of the hydraulic system on the Evora, so I imagine it will be nothing less than sensational!

[stephenwhyte]

Thanks for the physics lesson - but the footage still gave me the impression the steering was light, to the touch👍And I agree (and by most accounts so far) it will be good.

[duncx]

Had a test drive today - I can confirm that the steering is a highlight of the car, it's superb 👍

[DDC87]

Morning all - I have driven the Emira both at the Hethel test track this month as well as having undertaken the test drive on the road at Colchester.

 

The handling and grip have really impressed me. As above, the steering is very light but the way the car sticks to the surface (with little or no roll in corners, even whilst completing some wet laps at Hethel) and the way it smoothens over bad road surfaces both make me very impatient to take delivery!

 

The track car I drove was the sports set up with the Goodyear Eagle F1 tyre (I believe it was in fact the safety car from Donnington), and the road test was the Touring set up with the Cup 2 tyre. Both equally impressive at what they were designed to do!

[simonb]

I think you have the tyres muddled - Cup 2 only on Sports set up

Interested to know how they were on cold wet tarmac

[scotty435]

Test drive yesterday at Central Lotus. Sports setup with Goodyears. The test was always going to be how it compared with my current GT 410 sport and have to say it’s better in every department. The drive was on a good mixture off roads sadly very wet. Getting seated in the car is easy and feels worlds apart from the Evora so much more special, seating position spot on for me the Evora you sit to high, fit and finish and quality off the material’s used are worlds apart. The suspension was a big surprise always been more than happy with Evora setup thinking the Emira was pretty much the same well they have managed to make it even better, on some really broken uneven roads where the Evora would have struggled the Emira just brushed them off. Gear change better the dreaded transmission noise that have dogged all V6s in the past is virtually not noticeable. Clutch better not as heavy, performance hard to judge with the very wet weather but felt very similar to the 410. The biggest surprise was the sound obviously not as loud as the Evora but for me it just sounds better the exhaust note is great  with the valve closed or open, in sport it sounds fantastic on the overrun. Driving home in the Evora as good as it is I had the feeling it as finally met it’s match with the Emira. 
Well done Lotus for making a fantastic sports car.

[DDC87]

11 minutes ago, simonb said:

I think you have the tyres muddled - Cup 2 only on Sports set up

Interested to know how they were on cold wet tarmac

Apologies - they were certainly very grippy on track, even on the cold, wet tarmac.

Feedback from the dealer was that most are going with the Touring set up - they'd only had one person ordering Sports so far. I'm going with Touring as this will become my daily driver.

Personal preference, but I'd recommend the alcantara steering wheel (even though I'm going tan leather interior to go with the dark verdant paint). The leather one didn't feel as nice.