Emira Road Tests & Reviews

[Steve K]

I’ve got a verdant green, tan interior, silver wheeled, touring spec turning up in July hopefully. I’ve had a couple of Porsches before and I test drove the main rival Cayman GTS 4.0 manual when it came out and didn’t pull the trigger because the gearing is just way too long. It goes to 80 mph in 2nd so you’re generally short shifting and there’s little torque at the bottom end.  I actually preferred the 4 cylinder GTS to drive but that sounds like a hairdryer.

 

Hence the Emira which looks way better and is British! I was bit disheartened by the early reviews but the recent ones have got me excited again and I can’t wait for it to turn up.  It’s going to sit alongside my beloved R8 V10 manual for a bit but might end up replacing it……… 

Edited June 22, 2022 by Steve K

[Evotion]

Keep the latter. It will only go up. Even if you just SORN it. I am looking at an R8 N/A Manual SPyder myself. It has reached the bottom of its depreciation curve IMHO.

A lot of people have been brought back onside with the latter 3rd party reviews of The Emira all but wiping out the memory of the EVO track video review.

[Steve K]

Good advice Ade, I’ll show my wife your post and keep the R8!

[deanb]

3 hours ago, hamza said:

Its a good point about the look. I quite like the GT versions of the Cayman (in looks) personally but I wouldn't say its in the same league as the Emira (in looks).

In that regard perhaps it should also be compared to something like an Aston or a Jag F type? Sure the Aston will be a lot more money and the Jag is probably a lot heavier but as you quite rightly point out, the average buyer doesn't select cars on the basis of specs like kerb weight or power to weight ratio. They wouldn't even care about lap times if journalists and marketing departments weren't constantly stuffing them down our throats.

On the basis of looks a think a lot of people would take it as an alternative to an Aston or a Jag and quite frankly that demographic really won't care about the finer points of its driving dynamics.

The single biggest thing going for the Emira is that it looks like at  £200k car but costs £75k or less. The last car that did something like that which I can think of is the BMW i8. Not sure how much of a sales success that was for BMW but it was certainly well thought of by non enthusiast sports car drivers.

I couldn't agree more. I thought this morning that the F Type might be more of a competitor. That's another good looking car.

3 hours ago, Steve K said:

I’ve got a verdant green, tan interior, silver wheeled, touring spec turning up in July hopefully. I’ve had a couple of Porsches before and I test drove the main rival Cayman GTS 4.0 manual when it came out and didn’t pull the trigger because the gearing is just way too long. It goes to 80 mph in 2nd so you’re generally short shifting and there’s little torque at the bottom end.  I actually preferred the 4 cylinder GTS to drive but that sounds like a hairdryer.

 

Hence the Emira which looks way better and is British! I was bit disheartened by the early reviews but the recent ones have got me excited again and I can’t wait for it to turn up.  It’s going to sit alongside my beloved R8 V10 manual for a bit but might end up replacing it……… 

Lovely colour combination.

My mate has a BRG Elise s2 with full tan leather and dark silver wheels and it looks beautiful.

Not jealous....not jealous......not jealous

Nope, it's not working. I am jealous!!

[Dobbin145]

Just now, deanb said:

I couldn't agree more. I thought this morning that the F Type might be more of a competitor. That's another good looking car.

Still love the looks of the F Type. Personally my plan was to defect to a V6 F Type when I could no longer get in to the Exige. By which time I wouldn't look out of place at a National Trust cardigan convention then Project Gamma got in the way and the cardigan is going to have to wait.

[Mctaff]

Looks wise the only competitors seem to be supercars as far as I can see

performance wise is cayman gts or v8 f-type territory 

[stephenwhyte]

[New Emira]

7 hours ago, hamza said:

Its a good point about the look. I quite like the GT versions of the Cayman (in looks) personally but I wouldn't say its in the same league as the Emira (in looks).

In that regard perhaps it should also be compared to something like an Aston or a Jag F type? Sure the Aston will be a lot more money and the Jag is probably a lot heavier but as you quite rightly point out, the average buyer doesn't select cars on the basis of specs like kerb weight or power to weight ratio. They wouldn't even care about lap times if journalists and marketing departments weren't constantly stuffing them down our throats.

On the basis of looks a think a lot of people would take it as an alternative to an Aston or a Jag and quite frankly that demographic really won't care about the finer points of its driving dynamics.

The single biggest thing going for the Emira is that it looks like at  £200k car but costs £75k or less. The last car that did something like that which I can think of is the BMW i8. Not sure how much of a sales success that was for BMW but it was certainly well thought of by non enthusiast sports car drivers.

You are absolutely right. I purchased my current F Type because it looks stunning, sounds amazing and drives superbly on the road. If it wasn’t for the Emira I would be keeping it but was seduced by the Emira’s looks at the launch last year and immediately put down a deposit. The Cayman just doesn’t have the wow factor and nor does the 911. They both probably go around a track better than the Emira but don’t create the same level of excitement that has come across in many of the reviews.

[MJON]

A 911 for Emira price. That would be something that may sway me, but a base 911? No, have to be at least a “S” and that’s some serious cash as soon as you make a comparable spec. Never ever considered a Cayman, just doesn’t look right, technically, build quality and finish, just can’t fault it but how a car looks is important too. So for me the Emira is a clear winner

[LotusLeftLotusRight]

There’s an “8 speed auto” for the V6 Emira claims top motoring journalist Andrew Frankel in that Motor Sport article. Good luck with specifying that option.

[jerzybondov]

Good write up in this comparison in autocar, although I’d take issue with elements of the conclusion.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/lotus-emira-vs-porsche-718-cayman

1) Put 100 sports car fans in front of Caymans and Evoras. Will 95 or 98 prefer the Cayman? Definitely not, not to drive. I’d say more like 50/50 evens, ownership proposition & price is where the Evora suffered and hence the reflection in numbers sold.

2) Not quite sure why so many articles in the main copy seemingly prefer any given Lotus and then in the conclusion randomly award first place to a Porsche, but this does it too. Reasons being it’s smaller?! More desirable (don’t think so, not really). And more usable. Maybe the last one, but is that how you award first place to a sports car? Maybe a Volvo estate…

Anyway, reviews don’t matter if the orderbooks are full, which they are. Best of luck to the Emira, feel like Lotus deserves some success.

[alvitdk]

Good review, not having driven the Emira, but having had several 911 and still driving a 981S for the last 7 Years, I am sure it will be tough to beat Porsche's reliability, performance in the twisties, and cultural following (after all I am German, albeit living in the states for the last 25 Years). I still have my order in for the 718 GTS4.0 to replace my aging 981, however, I also ordered the Emira as mentioned before, more or less on looks and specification alone, hoping reliability issues are a thing of the past. As much as I love the handling of my car, I have to admit the styling is getting old. Not much besides little facelifts, which some see as being great and shows Porsche sticking to it's roots. I'm certainly in for something else, more exciting, and the Emira seem to tick all the right boxes. In the end it's not always numbers and single picked out comparisons, it's also about gut feeling, longing for something new and exotic and I'm looking forward to the next agonizing 12 to 18 month of wait....

[C8RKH]

2 hours ago, alvitdk said:

beat Porsche's reliability

It's not what it used to be. At least it won't suffer with EMS issues, or suspension turrets popping etc.

Maybe after you have driven and owned a modern Lotus you'll be better able to have a more balanced view.

[hedgerley]

EVO Replies

Jethro responds to accusations of bias and favouritism towards Porsche and their 'good but not great' review of the Emira. A little tongue in cheek but an interesting conclusion.....

 

 

[NedaSay]

On 23/06/2022 at 01:37, LotusLeftLotusRight said:

There’s an “8 speed auto” for the V6 Emira claims top motoring journalist Andrew Frankel in that Motor Sport article. Good luck with specifying that option.

 8 speed auto?! Since when did Lotus upgrade the auto V6 to the Aisin 8 speed unit? They are still advertising the 6 speed auto on the website. The 8 speed auto would make sense for low emissions and perceived "hightechness" compared to the 6 speed but this is pretty late in the game for 1st edition auto takers. Switching to the 8 speed would open a lot more torque at the top end...

[mg4lotus]

"Good luck with specifying that option."

[Badger77]

 

[Bibs]

On 02/07/2022 at 21:47, hedgerley said:

Jethro responds to accusations of bias and favouritism towards Porsche and their 'good but not great' review of the Emira. A little tongue in cheek but an interesting conclusion.....

And further publishes his blind love for them...

https://evo.co.uk/porsche/204940/it-was-as-if-jesus-himself-had-blessed-porsche-with-a-new-suspension-system

[Trevsked]

Great summary by Chris Harris in that video I think. Obviously not driven the car myself but just how I imagine Lotus to deliver the Emira. Liveable engine in a car that drives exceptionally.

 

Trevor.

[Speedluvver]

And actually - as Harry M says, you can use the engine on the road and it sounds good - the Cayman 4.0 you have to rev to get the noise and power, and thats not easy of the road..

[Steve K]

On 05/07/2022 at 12:49, Speedluvver said:

And actually - as Harry M says, you can use the engine on the road and it sounds good - the Cayman 4.0 you have to rev to get the noise and power, and thats not easy of the road..

I agree, that’s why I didn’t get a cayman GTS 4.0 you’re doing 80 in 2nd before you get the best bit

[Bibs]

https://www.carmagazine.co.uk/car-reviews/comparison/2022/lotus-emira-vs-porsche-cayman-vs-alpine-a110/

 

[New Emira]

Attended the Taste of Lotus today at the Hethel track. Drove cars in both the Sport and Touring setup and they were sublime. The engine note of the V6 was superb and the grip, braking and acceleration were incredible. The quality of the cabin and overall finish was excellent so well worth the wait in these unprecedented times. Nimbus Grey looked stunning as did Verdant Green with privacy glass and black wheels. 

[Eagle7]

Any pictures, especially of Dark Verdant?

[New Emira]

Verdant Green looked quite striking especially with black wheels