Emira Review Index [V6 FE]

For those looking for the latest Emira V6 FE reviews scheduled to be released today, I've self-volunteered to maintain a quick reference index here.
Please let me know of any missing articles and I'll update accordingly.

Reviewer	Type	Direct Link
Edmunds	Article	New Lotus Emira Is Worth the Wait | Edmunds The 2022 Lotus Emira, powered by a supercharged 3.5-liter V6, is both the end and the beginning of an era as the automaker transitions to a world of fully electrified supercars and crossovers. www.edmunds.com
Harry's Garage (Harry Metcalfe)	Video Review	Harry drives the Sports and Tour suspension back to back on the same road and shares his thoughts.
Schmee150 (Tim Burton)	Video Review	Published 21st June Bought the Right Car?! LOTUS EMIRA V6 FIRST DRIVE The countdown is on! The folks at Lotus have delivered an Emira V6 First Edition to @TheShmuseum in a near-identical spec to my inbound car, to take for a fi... www.youtube.com
Carwow (Mat Watson)	Video Review	Lotus Emira review - and my BANNED test! Looking to sell your car? Then you've come to the right place. carwow is the free, easy way to change your car online. Check it out here: https://bit.ly/Buy-... www.youtube.com
TopGear	Articles and Video	Published 3rd July Chris Harris talks about the Lotus Emira Chris Harris On… The All-New Lotus Emira | Top Gear Series 32 “I’d feel a bit scared if I were a McLaren or an Aston Martin at the moment” Chris Harris chats to Top Gear Magazine’s Jack Rix about the all-new Lotus Emira... youtu.be Published 20th June Lotus Emira Review 2023 | Top Gear The last ever petrol-powered Lotus looks fantastic and drives with precision, but not quite as much emotion as we might’ve hoped www.topgear.com The big sportscar test: Lotus Emira vs Porsche Cayman vs Alpine A110 www.topgear.com
AutoTrader (Rory Reid)	Video Review	NEW Lotus Emira: The Last REAL Lotus? | 4K Rory reviews the new Lotus Emira, Lotus' last ever petrol sports car. Soon the company will transition to electric cars, but for this last hurrah the Emira p... www.youtube.com
Evo	Article and Video Review	2023 Lotus Emira review – strong showing for Porsche Cayman GTS rival | Evo The first new Lotus for a generation, and the last to be petrol powered, shows great promise but needs some polish www.evo.co.uk
CAR	Article and Video Review	Published 22nd July Lotus Emira vs Porsche Cayman GTS vs Alpine A110 group test review CAR magazine UK compares the Lotus Emira sports car with the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 and Alpine A110 S www.carmagazine.co.uk Lotus Emira (2023) review: new 2.0-litre engine driven The brand new Lotus Emira, tested on road and track by CAR magazine. www.carmagazine.co.uk Lotus Emira vs Cayman 718 GTS vs Alpine 110s
Autocar	Article and Video Review	Lotus Emira V6 First Edition 2022 UK first drive | Autocar Most important Lotus in decades heralds a new era and sees out an old one, being the firm's last petrol sports car www.autocar.co.uk
Pistonheads	Article	2022 Lotus Emira | PH Review The Emira is one step closer to production-ready. And the good news (mostly) keeps coming www.pistonheads.com
KHTV	Video Review
The Drive	Article	2023 Lotus Emira First Drive Review: Lotus Grows Up, and Just in Time The Lotus Emira is the last of its kind, the final gas-powered car from the legendary company. And what a thrilling sendoff it is. www.thedrive.com
AutoExpress	Article	New Lotus Emira V6 First Edition review | Auto Express We hit road and track in the new Lotus Emira - the model that redefines the brand as a sports car maker www.autoexpress.co.uk Pictures: New Lotus Emira 2022 review - pictures | Auto Express Pictures of the new Lotus Emira www.autoexpress.co.uk
WhichCar	Article	2022 Lotus Emira review: V6 First Edition, international launch Lotus wants to compete with daily-driver premium sportscars like the Cayman and its new Emira V6 First Edition is a big step in the right direction www.whichcar.com.au
CarBuyer	Article	Lotus Emira coupe review | Carbuyer “The Emira marks a big step on in terms of design and quality for Lotus, and it’s great to drive” www.carbuyer.co.uk
Hagerty	Article	Lotus Emira first drive review: Will the fab four become the famous five? | Hagerty UK Is the Emira good enough to turn the fab four – Elite, Elan, Esprit, Elise – into the famous five? Read Andrew Frankel's review to find out. www.hagerty.co.uk
Road and Track	Article	Published 1st September Lotus Emira Road and Track Drive The Lotus Emira Is One of the Greats Lotus's final combustion-engined sports car starts a new era for the English automaker, and a prime example of what a well-funded Lotus can build. www.roadandtrack.com The 2023 Emira Is an All-Time High For Lotus The Emira comes from a bygone era. www.roadandtrack.com
Goodwood	Article	First Drive: Lotus Emira 2022 Review | GRR The Emira is the final combustion-engined Lotus, and it might finally be a match for the Porsche Cayman... www.goodwood.com
The Intercooler	Podcast	Reasonably good post-embargo Emira discussion on The Intercooler. Apple Podcasts Web Embed embed.podcasts.apple.com
Motortrend	Article	2023 Lotus Emira First Drive Review: The Porsche Substitute Don’t want a Porsche Cayman? Try this. www.motortrend.com
Drive	Article	2022 Lotus Emira review: International first drive With a reborn and reinvigorated Lotus looking to a new and very different future, is the Emira the first excuse-free Lotus? www.drive.com.au
AFR	Article	Lotus takes on Porsche with its $185,000 Emira This is a street car for buyers who appreciate luxury and great looks – although with a claimed top speed of 290km/h, it’s no slouch on the racetrack. www.afr.com
Parkers	Article	Lotus Emira Review (2024) Lotus Emira (2024) in-depth review. Read our experts' views on the engine, practicality, running costs, overall performance and more. www.parkers.co.uk
CarExpert	Article	2023 Lotus Emira review: First drive We drive the last Lotus without electrification around Mount Panorama to see if it's a worthy contender to the Porsche 718 Cayman. www.carexpert.com.au
Caffeine & Machine	Article	Caffeine & Machine Hitting the Alps in the summer, chasing the #cultofmachine in the brand spanking new Lotus Emira. Soul food at its best, delivered in spades across the myriad of special alpine roads littering the... www.facebook.com Photos on Instagram: Caffeine&Machine on Instagram: "Hitting the Alps in the summer, chasing the #cultofmachine in the brand spanking new Lotus Emira. Soul food at its best, delivered in spades across the myriad of special alpine roads littering the region. It would be 1,055 likes, 8 comments - caffeineandmachine on June 13, 2022: "Hitting the Alps in the summer, chasing the #cultofmachine in the brand spanking new Lotus Emira. Soul food at its best, delivered in spades across the myriad of special alpine roads littering the region. It would be so easy to... www.instagram.com
The Sunday Times Driving	Article	Lotus Emira V6 2022 on-track review: Lotus's last petrol car is more than significant ... it's good This isn't going to be one of our usual reviews, because our test drive of the new Lotus Emira wasn't usual, either, having experienced just three and a half laps behind the wheel around Goodwood Motor Circuit,. www.driving.co.uk
Car and Driver	Article	2023 Emira Is a Grown-Up Lotus The last gas-powered Lotus also may be the first you don't have to make excuses for. www.caranddriver.com
The Sun	Article	I've driven the Lotus Emira - you can use it every day and it's saving BRITAIN THERE’S only one type of person who wouldn’t fall in love with the Lotus Emira. Those Twitter-dwelling keyboard warriors who think they know more about cars than everyone else. I’ve seen a few comm… www.thesun.co.uk
AutoCar UK	Article	Published 2nd July Lotus Emira vs Porsche 718 Cayman | Autocar Lotus’s new sports car is a great car in its own right - but can it hold its own against the class leader? www.autocar.co.uk

 

[Cachaco131]

I agree with @frazzer , I am hoping the Emira has the soul that is missing from the cars that @eriegz has mentioned as the most comparable to the Emira. I have owned a C8, 718 Spyder and 911 992. All are different. The C8 best bang for $, 911 most well rounded, almost too perfect, that can be daily driven with a classic styling. However it has lost it's soul and has become an outstanding GT. The 718 4.0's IMO is the best of the bunch, more sports car than GT. Certainly has the soul that Frazier was mentioning IMO.

My complaints and gripes with Lotus is mostly down to Comm's and my difference of opinion on marketing/CS, I digress.

I am keeping my Emira deposit until the car get's delivered and will drive it to find if it has that soul that is missing from so many of today's modern machines. I agree with the comment that many times the most celebrated cars aren't always the best of the generation. Emira certainly looks amazing and I think the old school mechanical feels that the journalists are pointing out may end up being it's most sought after attributes years from now. Flawed to a point of brilliance. The last Porsche I felt that in was a manual 911 997.2 generation. At the time it was not as highly regarded, but now sought after. It's not about the tech or track times to me personally. (although I still would like respectable track times...718 GTS comparably please ... lol) The feel we are looking for will be different for everyone, you just have to go with what works for you. I know what hasn't worked for me.

It has all the ingredients of being a special piece of automotive art. Reminds me a bit of the Alfa Romeo 8C... Clarkson did a great top gear episode on it, reminds me very much of how I feel about the Emira at the moment.

Amen. Soul searching.

 

[Green]

The more I wait, the more I’m realizing it’s just not really great at anything except for looking like a smaller Ferrari.

It’s decent or good at a lot of things, but so are a lot of far cheaper cars.

You should probably get a go kart. It really sounds like you are looking for max track experience and it would definitely check your boxes.

 

[Lotustoronto]

Amen. Soul searching.

Expensive soul searching mind you ...

 

[Cachaco131]

You should probably get a go kart. It really sounds like you are looking for max track experience and it would definitely check your boxes.

And would save a ton of money. You could buy all the gear, a trailer and maybe even hire a support team .

 

[eriegz]

Honestly it’s seeming less and less exciting than my m4, considerably slower in every aspect, less practical, and far less aftermarket support.

Are some looks really worth about $105K USD? The Emira is nearly the same dimensions and likely slower than the MKV Supra.

Anyways, feeling a bit bummed out and don’t want to turn this thread into a VS. thread. I’ll wait for a test drive.

Do you even want a 2-seater sports car? Haha

 

[kitkat]

Do you even want a 2-seater sports car? Haha

That part is obviously yes based on what you’re quoting and my post history.

The part that’s unknown does the sum of all the parts of this car equal to something that I’ll find special? The only common thread from all the reviews is the looks.

Am I really going to spend $105K on some looks?

 

[kitkat]

You should probably get a go kart. It really sounds like you are looking for max track experience and it would definitely check your boxes.

I clearly want a balance, if I wanted a track only car I’d have kept my S2000.

Also what’s the point of owning a sports car you can’t track a bunch of weekends a year? To sit in traffic in it? Park it at work?

 

[Cachaco131]

That part is obviously yes based on what you’re quoting and my post history.

The part that’s unknown does the sum of all the parts of this car equal to something that I’ll find special? The only common thread from all the reviews is the looks.

Am I really going to spend $105K on some looks?

Spend it on the new M2. I'm sure it beats the Emira and Evora on all your criteria.

I think you are the wrong kind of Lotus buyer to be honest.

 

[eriegz]

That part is obviously yes based on what you’re quoting and my post history.

The part that’s unknown does the sum of all the parts of this car equal to something that I’ll find special? The only common thread from all the reviews is the looks.

Am I really going to spend $105K on some looks?

Well, the reason I ask is that I don't understand how someone could want either a 2-seater sports car OR a 4/5-seater coupe. Those don't seem interchangeable at all to me. One of them is the "responsible, grown-up" choice while the other is just a silly toy that one buys to have fun with. I'm just curious what your priorities are.

 

[kitkat]

Well, the reason I ask is that I don't understand how someone could want either a 2-seater sports car OR a 4/5-seater coupe. Those don't seem interchangeable at all to me. One of them is the "responsible, grown-up" choice while the other is just a silly toy that one buys to have fun with. I'm just curious what your priorities are.

I’ve never once used the rear seats in the M4, they’re always just folded down. It’s a huge car imho, but it does decently trackside.

 

[kitkat]

Spend it on the new M2. I'm sure it beats the Emira and Evora on all your criteria.

I think you are the wrong kind of Lotus buyer to be honest.

What is the right kind of Lotus buyer? Hopefully not one that makes excuses for their lack of progress and development?

 

[Lotustoronto]

I’ve never once used the rear seats in the M4, they’re always just folded down. It’s a huge car imho, but it does decently trackside.

I personally don't think any M2/3/4 is a comparison for the Emira. Faster and more practical sure, but in 20-30 years from now, the slower, less practical Emira will be regarded higher. Mostly because of the way it looks and that it is rarer. Electric cars will be blowing away any of the numbers for speed/track times and usability. What we will look back at fondly will be cars that evoke emotion, not the arguably the better car. In this specific case, yes the looks alone wins. IMHO

 

[eriegz]

I’ve never once used the rear seats in the M4, they’re always just folded down. It’s a huge car imho, but it does decently trackside.

So you want something that performs well at the track, but you don't want a track-only car, and aesthetics don't seem all that important to you...

Maybe just buy a Tesla then?

I'm mostly joking, but seriously, it sounds like any luxury coupe with huge turbo'd performance numbers sounds more up your alley. And of those, you have your pick.

 

[kitkat]

So you want something that performs well at the track, but you don't want a track-only car, and aesthetics don't seem all that important to you...

Maybe just buy a Tesla then?

I'm mostly joking, but seriously, it sounds like any luxury coupe with huge turbo'd performance numbers sounds more up your alley. And of those, you have your pick.

I have a Tesla for a daily, terrible sports car .

It doesn’t need to be a luxury coupe with a big turbo, I’m not sure where you’re getting this.

Edit: Is it because I already have an M4? I’m selling it for whatever is next.

 

[eriegz]

I have a Tesla for a daily, terrible sports car .

It doesn’t need to be a luxury coupe with a big turbo, I’m not sure where you’re getting this.

Edit: Is it because I already have an M4? I’m selling it for whatever is next.

I was just trying to picture what kind of car would be best suited for you, based on the things you've said. And yes, one reason for saying performance coupe with turbo'd-up power was because you already own an M4. So, what's making you look for something new at this time? I.e.: getting bored of the M4? Want the next level of power? Etc.

 

[Cachaco131]

What is the right kind of Lotus buyer? Hopefully not one that makes excuses for their lack of progress and development?

Someone that understands the concept of trade off and compromise because you are buying something that generally is beyond the sum of the parts and makes your heart tick.

Some buy fixed gear bikes (can't go up hill and some don't even have breaks), some buy vinyl. From what you state in your posts, you want the latest and greatest. That is not Lotus.

 

[freefall_junkie]

I'm conflicted on this and suffer from an exaggerated philosophical bent as midnight approaches.

Some experiences are special yet the components are not, that specialness builds with acquaintance which takes time, it's not immediately apparent, it's below the surface. This has little to do with perfection, often more to do with imperfection. We all experience this in some way or another, cars or otherwise.

Is the Emira going to be special? I have no idea and frankly I doubt a test drive will make a difference. Those sudden encounters rarely reveal the soul of a thing how it'll grow on you and the connection that can be had with it.

I can't read it - Lotus has always made great driving experiences, so do they secretly know something that can only be known with time? or have they designed the Emira by committee to maximise it's success rather than brilliance? Has the underdog lost it's way now it has a break at the big times, backed by that juicy $100m? Just questions here, I don't have any answers.

So many of those highly sought after great cars of the past were not considered so great in their day. And so many considered great in their day and viewed differently now....is the Emira one of these, or just a pretty face?

All I know is cars driven by fire and fuel from the bowels of the earth made up of millions of dead creatures from a pre-historic age, that roar when you summon them to respond to your alert mind through the subtlety your moving hands and feet, those aren't going to be around so long. So my order's still in, but my confidence is out and I'm ok with that.

I'm currently taking a course in philosophy at Edinburgh University which makes you question absolutely everything you ever thought you knew, so I like your philosophical take on all this

 

[Leonard]

Yeah, you're kinda right. Lotus is a quirky brand for quirky people. The Emira will be a fun car for sure and ticks all the boxes for me, but it's not the logical purchase. It would just be nice if it was the best at something.

Not to bring up the new Vette again, but I'm currently watching the latest Throttle House review and they're both so excited about it. Everything is so awesome and outstanding and there are basically no complaints... Meanwhile the Emira reviews are all pretty mellow.

Shows what a great drivetrain does for a car

 

[xen]

Someone that understands the concept of trade off and compromise because you are buying something that generally is beyond the sum of the parts and makes your heart tick.

Some buy fixed gear bikes (can't go up hill and some don't even have breaks), some buy vinyl. From what you state in your posts, you want the latest and greatest. That is not Lotus.

There’s a trade-off and compromise for pretty much every consumer good so that doesn’t really say much.

Before reviews it was new Lotus: £100m investment, brand new state of the art factory with quality control and tolerances, a ‘brand new’ car? Now that’s changed to expecting the latest and greatest is not Lotus…?

What you need to remember is one of the key ideas behind the Emira was to attract new customers to Lotus. To turn around and call these same new customers “non-Lotus” is a bit disingenuous…

 

[Leonard]

I agree with @frazzer , I am hoping the Emira has the soul that is missing from the cars that @eriegz has mentioned as the most comparable to the Emira. I have owned a C8, 718 Spyder and 911 992. All are different. The C8 best bang for $, 911 most well rounded, almost too perfect, that can be daily driven with a classic styling. However it has lost it's soul and has become an outstanding GT. The 718 4.0's IMO is the best of the bunch, more sports car than GT. Certainly has the soul that Frazier was mentioning IMO.

My complaints and gripes with Lotus is mostly down to Comm's and my difference of opinion on marketing/CS, I digress.

I am keeping my Emira deposit until the car get's delivered and will drive it to find if it has that soul that is missing from so many of today's modern machines. I agree with the comment that many times the most celebrated cars aren't always the best of the generation. Emira certainly looks amazing and I think the old school mechanical feels that the journalists are pointing out may end up being it's most sought after attributes years from now. Flawed to a point of brilliance. The last Porsche I felt that in was a manual 911 997.2 generation. At the time it was not as highly regarded, but now sought after. It's not about the tech or track times to me personally. (although I still would like respectable track times...718 GTS comparably please ... lol) The feel we are looking for will be different for everyone, you just have to go with what works for you. I know what hasn't worked for me.

It has all the ingredients of being a special piece of automotive art. Reminds me a bit of the Alfa Romeo 8C... Clarkson did a great top gear episode on it, reminds me very much of how I feel about the Emira at the moment.

TOTALLY agree with this. But I think the issue Lotus have is that you can get this same experience in cars costing far far less than £80k.
I get that same experience in my Corrado VR6 and you could choose all manner of vehicles (a lot considerably rarer than the Emira) for under £20k