Emira Road Tests & Reviews

[Barrykearley]

I have had the privilege of getting in and out of one @Rambo - it’s like a low normal car and not at all typical of the lotus I’ve ever owned or sat in before

[jimichanga]

Since when did ease of getting in and out become so important such on a Lotus forum? Why did anyone who think it’s so great all of a sudden ever buy a Lotus? Also why did the Exige (the hardest car to get in and out of) sell more than the Evora (by far the easiest and most practical Lotus of the previous range). ‘Like a normal car’ used to be a negative around here.

I get that car buyers who are into prestige and impressing other people think the Elise is a toy/masochistic/kit car and they could never take it seriously as ‘a proper car’. The Emira has already achieved the near impossible in convincing so many who previously mocked Lotus to consider actually buying one. All credit to whoever is responsible but somehow they’ve gone one better in convincing many even here that the old cars are crap, weight doesn’t matter but ease of use, cup holders and infotainment are what really matters in a sports car - and done it with a car that’s slower than its predecessor. This sort of thing normally takes decades. Seems to have taken Lotus two weeks at the Goodwood FOS. Truly remarkable.

[C8RKH]

Massive difference between getting in to an S1 and a 4xx Evora. The latter will be no harder than an Emira given the Emiras lower roof

[TdM]

2 hours ago, Woodman said:

 Foot hard down in a 718 or 911 GTS and you back off pretty quickly as it feels dramatic. Foot hard down in the Emira even in the rain and no drama

This makes me want a Porsche... Shouldn't a sports car feel dramatic? I've always had a soft spot for cars that try to kill you occasionally.

[jimichanga]

5 hours ago, C8RKH said:

I do think you are tight @jimichanga re why Lotus dropped the Evora Final Edition as it would have been a better performance car.

You are 100% tight and everyone knows it! 😉

What a car that would have been (which nobody would have bought). Seemed very odd at the time but axing it and airbrushing it out makes more sense now. Someone leaked the planned specs a while back and yup 430 motor was on the cards. Pretty much the same spec Emira owners are dreaming about for the 2025 Emira V6 Final Edition.

[r3nault]

2 hours ago, C8RKH said:

Massive difference between getting in to an S1 and a 4xx Evora. The latter will be no harder than an Emira given the Emiras lower roof

Agree re: S1 vs 4xx (although when I tried 4xx I did find the squared off dash easy to bump a knee into). But according to Harry M, incorrect re: 4xx vs Emira. See approx 4.45 here:

 

2 hours ago, jimichanga said:

Since when did ease of getting in and out become so important such on a Lotus forum? Why did anyone who think it’s so great all of a sudden ever buy a Lotus? Also why did the Exige (the hardest car to get in and out of) sell more than the Evora (by far the easiest and most practical Lotus of the previous range). ‘Like a normal car’ used to be a negative around here.

I get that car buyers who are into prestige and impressing other people think the Elise is a toy/masochistic/kit car and they could never take it seriously as ‘a proper car’. The Emira has already achieved the near impossible in convincing so many who previously mocked Lotus to consider actually buying one. All credit to whoever is responsible but somehow they’ve gone one better in convincing many even here that the old cars are crap, weight doesn’t matter but ease of use, cup holders and infotainment are what really matters in a sports car - and done it with a car that’s slower than its predecessor. This sort of thing normally takes decades. Seems to have taken Lotus two weeks at the Goodwood FOS. Truly remarkable.

Your opinions on Emira are well known, why do you insist on repeating them ad nauseum in the Emira part of the forum? I'm not a depositor, don't plan on owning one, yet I find your incessant, negative attitude to be frankly annoying and irritating. Live and let live. I'll also take you to task on your style of arguing, which likes to lean on logical fallacies. I don't see many here arguing the virtues or importance of how easy it is to get in and out; far as I can tell, people are simply observing it is. So what? Should Lotus make a car needlessly difficult to live with? I note you didn't reply to my direct question in another thread some time ago about any specific examples of sports brand SUVs being commercial failures.

I get that there might be general disappointment with Lotus killing off the Elise and Exige, with no plan to replace them. But as well as they sold in relative terms, could Lotus really afford to profitably make new, stripped-out, 80/20 track/road cars complianced with the latest safety and emissions legislation? I doubt they would be anywhere near as light, and there'd just be more fuel to the fire of having lost their roots. Look at how heavy S3 Elise was compared to S1, even though it was on the same platform.

Of course it is logical that anyone who was hoping for a stripped out, racetrack focused car will be disappointed by a car designed to firstly be a road car, and secondly be reasonably capable on track. It's a different beast. I'm not for a moment defending its ability to be all things to all people.

Now, for some perspective - how do you suppose the driving experience of Emira compares to the anodyne, digital SUVs which most people buy? Even many so-called enthusiasts like to spend big money on things that go fast in a straight line (or even around tracks with e-diffs etc) but ultimately have no engagement or enjoyment. In relative terms, the Emira is tiny, very light, an engaging driving experience (probably - I haven't driven one), and also liveable as an only-car - which, sure, has meant some concessions to things a 'traditional Lotus fan' (whatever that means) would not value. But those who decry the 'death of "just add lightness"' seem to conveniently forget that something as iconic as the Esprit was designed to be as much GT as sports car, and if we can accept Evoras in the era of Elise/Exige then surely it's not a huge stretch to see Emira as a better execution of that idea. And commercially that has shown in the extensive wait lists for the car. If I understand correctly, they're already holding deposits for close to double the Evora's 6119 total sales figure?

As for people not having enough opportunity to buy Evoras, surely you're kidding? They were sold for 12 years, widely available in (admittedly limited) showrooms, often available with large discounts, widely praised in reviews for being excellent - bookended by Jeremy Clarkson's Top Gear review in 2009, and Harry Metcalfe's great review of the GT410 Sport - yet still sold less than Lamborghini sold Aventadors. I've never seen an Aventador ad anywhere, by the way. I own an Evora and would be first to defend its value as a driver's car, but for whatever reason, it missed the mark with buyers.

Now, for the avoidance of doubt and further logical fallacies, let me make these points clear:

• I do not claim Emira to be perfect, nor every answer to every question, nor beyond criticism.
• What is clear is that Emira has hit the mark with new car buyers, in a way previous Lotus have not.
• I'd defer to the expertise of those who've driven Emira and many other things in the past, like Harry M, as to whether it is truly a 'Lotus' or not. He put his money where is mouth is and friggin' BOUGHT one, so I'm guessing the answer is 'yes'.
• I'm a huge Elise, Exige and Evora fan, and they are great Lotus cars.
• I'm sure Lotus could make a stripped out, lighter Emira for the hardcore fans and trackday enthusiasts - but I'm not sure they could make money on it. I suppose we will see whether they do.

 

[MJON]

Your opinions on Emira are well known, why do you insist onrepeating them ad nauseum in the Emira part of the forum? 
 

@r3naultUmm…. 🤔 Maybe it’s because he’s a bit of a Knob 🤭😂😂

Apologies @Bibspromise not to use the K word on forum again but needs must

[blindside]

17 hours ago, r3nault said:

I'm sure Lotus could make a stripped out, lighter Emira for the hardcore fans and trackday enthusiasts - but I'm not sure they could make money on it. I suppose we will see whether they do.

Wouldn’t it be fantastic if they did though! Such niche ‘halo’ projects usually serve a broader market purpose around brand identity & provide a strong demonstration of technical acumen. It’s not just about making a  profit and has wider benefits. Although I strongly suspect that if Lotus decided to produce a limited run of 500 properly lightweight Emiras married to the latest iteration of the AMG 4pot, (415 bhp/500nm torque as in the A45 S), they would be sold out immediately. Even with a c£100k price point.

Sadly it’s more likely that the ICE project ship has already sailed away from Hethel. Their focus is now primarily on the all electric drivetrain.

[Phaeton91]

I went for my test drive in the Emira the other day and am now really torn as to what to do.  I own an Evora 400 which I love. 

The Emira is a lovely car.  Absolutely stunning to look at from every angle, and of course it has the appeal of being new.  The interior is quality too, and a very nice cabin.  The switchgear compared with the Evora is light and easy to use.  The clutch and gear change are especially easier.  I felt that I sat a bit higher and that the seat base was a bit shorter but beyond that the driving dynamics were quite similar.  I found the sound of the Evora to be better as the Emira is a bit muted but still nice.  I absolutely love how the designers have accentuated the supercharger whine.  It is super addictive.  
 

I get it now how people say this is a car you can use as a daily driver.  Apart from the fact that I’d be worried about leaving it anywhere I could certainly live with it in that way, whereas the Evora is more hardcore.  The clutch and gear change is heavier, the noise and ride is more imposing on you and it’s possible but not great to consider as a daily.

But the Evora I believe comes with more of a sense of occasion.  It attacks all of your senses when you engage with it whereas the Emira is not so engaging/brutal whilst being every bit as competent if not more.  It is still a weapon but wrapped in cotton wool.  
 

And that’s what it will come down to for me.  Drive it less and excite all of my sense or all of my senses versus the practicality and ability to drive it more.  
 

Oh, and the 2 back seats are a big factor.  
 

I’m going to have a tough decision to make in April/May (assuming I don’t win the lottery before then).

[Dave Eds]

More than happy to share tonight's winning Euromillions numbers with you in the morning if that helps ..........

[ramjet]

Everyone, play nice.

There is a post just above mine that requires approval for it to post. I'm not going to approve it as this is not the place for it.

Everyone just be civil to each other for crying out loud.

There will always be differing opinions.

It's Christmas, for Pete's sake.

Stop wasting emotional real estate on having a crack at things or people constantly.

If anyone wants to have a crack at me for this post, rest assured, I will just hide your post & ignore you.

The pettiness is becoming very tiresome.

[Rambo]

Article on the Emira in the latest issue (30) of Absolute Lotus

[Woodman]

On 09/12/2022 at 08:54, Phaeton91 said:

I went for my test drive in the Emira the other day and am now really torn as to what to do.  I own an Evora 400 which I love. 

The Emira is a lovely car.  Absolutely stunning to look at from every angle, and of course it has the appeal of being new.  The interior is quality too, and a very nice cabin.  The switchgear compared with the Evora is light and easy to use.  The clutch and gear change are especially easier.  I felt that I sat a bit higher and that the seat base was a bit shorter but beyond that the driving dynamics were quite similar.  I found the sound of the Evora to be better as the Emira is a bit muted but still nice.  I absolutely love how the designers have accentuated the supercharger whine.  It is super addictive.  
 

I get it now how people say this is a car you can use as a daily driver.  Apart from the fact that I’d be worried about leaving it anywhere I could certainly live with it in that way, whereas the Evora is more hardcore.  The clutch and gear change is heavier, the noise and ride is more imposing on you and it’s possible but not great to consider as a daily.

But the Evora I believe comes with more of a sense of occasion.  It attacks all of your senses when you engage with it whereas the Emira is not so engaging/brutal whilst being every bit as competent if not more.  It is still a weapon but wrapped in cotton wool.  
 

And that’s what it will come down to for me.  Drive it less and excite all of my sense or all of my senses versus the practicality and ability to drive it more.  
 

Oh, and the 2 back seats are a big factor.  
 

I’m going to have a tough decision to make in April/May (assuming I don’t win the lottery before then).

The Evora is a more exciting car and will be rarer. If you have a nice one I would hold on to it! I've now had a few drives of the Emira and it doesn't wow you in the same way an Evora does. That is if the car is running - Both my tests were delayed or cancelled and rescheduled because of problems with the car.

[jonwat]

Clarkson in today's Sunday Times:

Handling? I know people get all wistful and interesting about the way Lotuses go round corners but I’ve never really understood why. Even the Elise, regarded by many to be the best-handling car of all time, was awfully understeery if you really gave it the beans. And when I learnt that more than 60 per cent of the Emira’s weight sat over the back wheels, I figured I’d be in for more of the same. Wrong. The front is very pointy, which means you can, and I did, play a little bit with the back. Again this made it feel more like a sports car than the supercar it resembles.

And it’s the same story on the inside, which you can access very easily, even if you’re tall and a bit fat, like me. There’s no quilted leather or hand-stitched door panels. It’s very no-nonsense. So no-nonsense in fact that some of the plastic does look and feel like it’s come off a 1972 home stereo 

This would be a bad thing, of course, if the Emira was eye-rollingly expensive. But it isn’t. Prices start at £75,995 — the AMG-powered version will be significantly less — so you could have three for the price of one scum-spec Ferrari. It’s very good value for money.

[Snakes]

Here's the full article

[EGTE]

 

[HXT]

So I finally got to have a drive in an Emira……..pleasantly surprised after some of the negativity. I’m not going to go into all the BS technicality of driving gods but for me I thought it was great. The car had Touring which felt fine although I’d like a go in a Sport for comparison.

Will it get me out of my Exige? Not at the moment, but I can see myself in one at some point in the future.

[Jack Stone]

 

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Come back Top Gear: all is forgiven!

[JB]

On 24/03/2023 at 09:24, HXT said:

So I finally got to have a drive in an Emira……..pleasantly surprised after some of the negativity. I’m not going to go into all the BS technicality of driving gods but for me I thought it was great. The car had Touring which felt fine although I’d like a go in a Sport for comparison.

Will it get me out of my Exige? Not at the moment, but I can see myself in one at some point in the future.

Sport is a bit more lively on the steering and bumps, but no need to visit your dentist as it’s not too firm to dislodge your fillings. It would be a difficult choice for sure. From an Exige probably sport, from a jaaaaaaag touring would feel lovely. Although some nice adjustable ohlins would be 👌🏻

[electro_boy]

Yep echo what Jon said above;  I tried both Touring and Sport at the LDA, it's not a massive difference but it is noticeable.  The sport is just a bit more firmer and direct and the touring just a bit more softer and better for everyday use.  Both are totally suitable for a fantastic sports car like the Emira, both will send you happily round corners and neither will feel harsh over bumps.

The difference is less than Evora S1 NA damping (softer and beautiful on an open road) vs Evora Sport 410 damping (stiffer and beautiful round a track).

[Jack Stone]

Interesting to hear the comment at the end about having the DCT 4-cylinder version on track at Rockingham “very soon”

 

[simonb]

test drove at a dealer in January, and they were expecting i4 demonstrator in April

I am sat on a July build / August delivery, and expect that to slip as the demonstrators slip

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

Strange review that one. The outside road film of the yellow car must have been filmed last summer (trees all in full leaf), so there’s very little coverage of the magma car he is actually driving. Also that’s got to be the worst track review I have ever seen!

[Jack Stone]

2 hours ago, simonb said:

test drove at a dealer in January, and they were expecting i4 demonstrator in April

I am sat on a July build / August delivery, and expect that to slip as the demonstrators slip

Interesting. When I last checked with my dealer (B&C) in February they said their I4 demonstrator was expected “mid-summer”.