Emira Review Index [V6 FE]

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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. (y)

ReviewerTypeDirect Link
EdmundsArticle
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 ReviewPublished 21st June
Carwow (Mat Watson)Video Review
TopGearArticles and VideoPublished 3rd July
Chris Harris talks about the Lotus Emira

Published 20th June

AutoTrader (Rory Reid)Video Review
EvoArticle and Video Review
CARArticle and Video ReviewPublished 22nd July


Lotus Emira vs Cayman 718 GTS vs Alpine 110s
AutocarArticle and Video Review
PistonheadsArticle
KHTVVideo Review
The DriveArticle
AutoExpressArticle
Pictures:
WhichCarArticle
CarBuyerArticle
HagertyArticle
Road and TrackArticlePublished 1st September
Lotus Emira Road and Track Drive

GoodwoodArticle
The IntercoolerPodcastReasonably good post-embargo Emira discussion on The Intercooler.
MotortrendArticle
DriveArticle
AFRArticle
ParkersArticle
CarExpertArticle
Caffeine & MachineArticle
Photos on Instagram:
The Sunday Times DrivingArticle
Car and DriverArticle
The SunArticle
AutoCar UKArticlePublished 2nd July

 
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I think the Truth is that Emira is lightyears better than V6 Exige and Evora... both design/finish wise as well as driving dynamics.
Umm, not much chance of the driving dynamics bit.

I will love and cherish the Emira but it ain't no Exige. I drove the 410 Sport a couple of time. Now, that is epic and it still calls to me.

If the Emira can get to 75% of the exige, mixed in with the real world usability and comfort of a GT then Lotus have smahed it.
 
I'd settle for Harris summarising as:

"okay, it is not quite the overall build package of the Caymans, but close, and it is more fun and a hell of of a lot better looking. Overall, a great achievement by the small UK company and it can certainly be considered as the OTHER car"

I fear he will say:

"Lotus have made a decent effort. It falls short of its main rivals in many departments but it should have been lighter and more powerful"

Which will really piss me off as it is not THAT car. Get an Exige. This is a different concept aimed at different and it seems, to me, that only 25% of the people on the Lotus forums get this. I don't care what car is better at what, the Emira will be fantastic in most people's eyes once they actually drive it all the time.
The concept isn't that different. There's two types of sports cars - Grand Tourer's (SL, Vantage, M2/3/4, 911, Cayman, F-type, corvette etc.) and then there are focused sports cars (m comps/CS, SL/GT AMG, GT3/4, R8/RS, Corvette Z06/ZR1 any Ferrari or Lambo)

Mustangs, Supra, non-M BMW, MX-5 etc. in my opinion do not belong in the discussion when comparing. Price points and just overall commonality to the vehicles do not make any of these competitors.

The Emira falls into the "grand tourer" sports car segment. It is not a focused sports car. Just like every other manufacturer they are going to leave you wanting more. That is what the reviews are all saying. The Emira with the i4 will be in production until 2030 most likely. How many new variations will be launched within 7 years. I can see at least 3/4. Final Edition V6 w/ 430HP, and Emira i4 - S, GT, Cup.

I see no problem with any of this, except one. Both the V6 and I4 have already been released with more HP. They went in reverse and it was just a little too obvious what they were doing. I understand why, but in this case it backfired a bit. If I were to launch the Emira, I would have gone full out on the V6 430HP and make it the best iteration out of the box. It only needs 2.5 years worth of orders and then it's done. Add a lightweight carbon/track pkg in the final year or something like that, but not make it a new model or edition, just create additional special pkg's to keep it interesting. That way original Emira F/E owners do not feel completely sandbagged. Then with the i4 since it's new to Lotus would follow the more S/GT/Cup over a 7 year plan. Imagine Porsche launched the 992 with less HP compared to the 991?
 
The concept isn't that different. There's two types of sports cars - Grand Tourer's (SL, Vantage, M2/3/4, 911, Cayman, F-type, corvette etc.) and then there are focused sports cars (m comps/CS, SL/GT AMG, GT3/4, R8/RS, Corvette Z06/ZR1 any Ferrari or Lambo)

Mustangs, Supra, non-M BMW, MX-5 etc. in my opinion do not belong in the discussion when comparing. Price points and just overall commonality to the vehicles do not make any of these competitors.

The Emira falls into the "grand tourer" sports car segment. It is not a focused sports car. Just like every other manufacturer they are going to leave you wanting more. That is what the reviews are all saying. The Emira with the i4 will be in production until 2030 most likely. How many new variations will be launched within 7 years. I can see at least 3/4. Final Edition V6 w/ 430HP, and Emira i4 - S, GT, Cup.

I see no problem with any of this, except one. Both the V6 and I4 have already been released with more HP. They went in reverse and it was just a little too obvious what they were doing. I understand why, but in this case it backfired a bit. If I were to launch the Emira, I would have gone full out on the V6 430HP and make it the best iteration out of the box. It only needs 2.5 years worth of orders and then it's done. Add a lightweight carbon/track pkg in the final year or something like that, but not make it a new model or edition, just create additional special pkg's to keep it interesting. That way original Emira F/E owners do not feel completely sandbagged. Then with the i4 since it's new to Lotus would follow the more S/GT/Cup over a 7 year plan. Imagine Porsche launched the 992 with less HP compared to the 991?
yes true, although the new GT3 was released with almost the same power... as the whole power thing has got crazy now and its almost like instagram users competing for millions of users, it does not guarantee useful content.
I dont think Harris will mention the power of the emira compared to the evora, since he himself is happy with less is more... supposedly
 
yes true, although the new GT3 was released with almost the same power... as the whole power thing has got crazy now and its almost like instagram users competing for millions of users, it does not guarantee useful content.
I dont think Harris will mention the power of the emira compared to the evora, since he himself is happy with less is more... supposedly
While I agree that 400HP should be more than enough to have fun in the Emira. It's more about the fact that you can see that Lotus did it on purpose. If they already had a 430HP version of that engine released years ago. They should have kept with that. I think it's just the obvious nature to it.

It's like eating at your favourite restaurant and enjoying the portions they give you. Then they open another location with new furniture and updated decor, the atmosphere is miles better. Except the portions are a tad smaller and the food is just not as tasty. You would feel disappointed because you know they can do better. That's what the reviewers felt.
 


"This gear change is bloody wonderful".
There is a review of a car with many many faults, out of date, over priced, crappy interior, BUT, but, but, the review is still positive, very positive.
Need I say more...... wrong section, but well.... thats how you do it, as they say.
 
While I agree that 400HP should be more than enough to have fun in the Emira. It's more about the fact that you can see that Lotus did it on purpose. If they already had a 430HP version of that engine released years ago. They should have kept with that. I think it's just the obvious nature to it.

It's like eating at your favourite restaurant and enjoying the portions they give you. Then they open another location with new furniture and updated decor, the atmosphere is miles better. Except the portions are a tad smaller and the food is just not as tasty. You would feel disappointed because you know they can do better. That's what the reviewers felt.
well yes, although it could help my waist line.. haha.

You are 100% right, but at the end of the day it IS the decision they took and its clearly one they felt they had to take to make the v6 last a bit longer, so they can then raise the power and price. And dont forget, out of the 5000 orders or 7, not sure, probably 80% or more likely 90 - 95, wont have driven or owned an Evora, so its not an issue of "importance" although I sympathise.

Just posted Harrys review of the evora and he loved it although floored......
 
While I agree that 400HP should be more than enough to have fun in the Emira. It's more about the fact that you can see that Lotus did it on purpose. If they already had a 430HP version of that engine released years ago. They should have kept with that. I think it's just the obvious nature to it.

It's like eating at your favourite restaurant and enjoying the portions they give you. Then they open another location with new furniture and updated decor, the atmosphere is miles better. Except the portions are a tad smaller and the food is just not as tasty. You would feel disappointed because you know they can do better. That's what the reviewers felt.
People keep forgetting that the regulations of years ago have been replaced by tougher regulations, and they're about to change again to even tougher regulations. If Lotus had to reduce the power of the V6 from 416 to 400 hp due to emissions regulations now (if that is indeed what the final spec car has), then what do you think would have happened with the 430 hp version? The 430 hp version may simply not be able to meet current emissions by itself, much less Euro7 when it becomes the standard.

The other problem facing Lotus is the Emira is their only production car and there isn't any econo model with great emissions and mileage to offset the Emira with a fleet average. If they can get the Eletre out before they have to stop producing the V6, then they may be able to use the 430 tune at that time, but things are too tumultuous right now and in the immediate future to be able to say one way or the other.

Right now I'm going to be very grateful to be able to get an Emira, and I plan on enjoying it as-is for what it is.
 
Umm, not much chance of the driving dynamics bit.

I will love and cherish the Emira but it ain't no Exige. I drove the 410 Sport a couple of time. Now, that is epic and it still calls to me.

If the Emira can get to 75% of the exige, mixed in with the real world usability and comfort of a GT then Lotus have smahed it.
All it had to do was be better than the Evora GT410. Slightly better performance, dynamically on par, ultimately faster on track because of the increased track and 90% as comfortably furnished as a Cayman.
IF its proved that is not the case, i REALLY cannot fathom why considering Lotus technically started with an Evora GT
 


"This gear change is bloody wonderful".
There is a review of a car with many many faults, out of date, over priced, crappy interior, BUT, but, but, the review is still positive, very positive.
Need I say more...... wrong section, but well.... thats how you do it, as they say.
See my post above.
I have watched this video many many times.
60k for a GT410 feels like the bargain at the moment with no more review feedback forthcoming
 
While I agree that 400HP should be more than enough to have fun in the Emira. It's more about the fact that you can see that Lotus did it on purpose. If they already had a 430HP version of that engine released years ago. They should have kept with that. I think it's just the obvious nature to it.

It's like eating at your favourite restaurant and enjoying the portions they give you. Then they open another location with new furniture and updated decor, the atmosphere is miles better. Except the portions are a tad smaller and the food is just not as tasty. You would feel disappointed because you know they can do better. That's what the reviewers felt.
Yeah, that’s one reason I was so disappointed last week and said I felt nickel and dimed. I still think that’s true.

Although, I’ve managed to get over the initial disappointment and through many hours of therapy on this forum and can finally understand the marketing approach. Which is the one thing we can all agree is an area where lightness has been added.
 
While I agree that 400HP should be more than enough to have fun in the Emira. It's more about the fact that you can see that Lotus did it on purpose. If they already had a 430HP version of that engine released years ago. They should have kept with that. I think it's just the obvious nature to it.

It's like eating at your favourite restaurant and enjoying the portions they give you. Then they open another location with new furniture and updated decor, the atmosphere is miles better. Except the portions are a tad smaller and the food is just not as tasty. You would feel disappointed because you know they can do better. That's what the reviewers felt.
At the new restaurant the prices are 20-30% lower but you still get a satisfying meal. Lots of people will go there because it's great value for money and they'd never heard of or visited the old restaurant. Does that change how you view it?
 
Nah, that is unrealistic and why the car is £78k.
If I could afford a Pista then I would have that car.

This car was, unfortunately, never 'For the Drivers'.

It was built to be 'For enthusiastic drivers needing a bit more comfort'. That is the sacrifice against the previous models.
You're overthinking it. But your last point was spot on.

I like to think that the Emira is more:

"For the new drivers who always wanted a Lotus but couldn't get past how kit car-ish the Evora interior was and who also don't want to track their weekend toy, so in a nutshell, the Emira makes perfect sense for new buyers like myself who want a sexy sports car that I could potentially use everyday, but won't because it'll still just be my weekend car that I just want to cruise around in on lovely days. Car."

Lap times, comparisons against GT this, GT that, Porsche's, Corvettes, etc......if it can do 1 second around the Nordschleife...........none of that matters to me. If that is what people are so focused on, they should get an Exige. That's what an Exige is for.

It has comparable numbers to my 2020 M2 Competition and is lighter, sexier, and finally has a cohesive interior I love. I didn't buy my M2 to go on track days (even though it can), or beat Cayman GT4's, etc. I wanted to buy a nice sports coupe that just brings a smile to my face when I go for a drive, and enjoy lovely air conditioning, comfy and great looking seats, and an infotainment platform that will crank out my playlist on Spotify well.

That's all that matters to me (as I'm sure a lot of people who ordered this car).
 
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All it had to do was be better than the Evora GT410. Slightly better performance, dynamically on par, ultimately faster on track because of the increased track and 90% as comfortably furnished as a Cayman.
IF its proved that is not the case, i REALLY cannot fathom why considering Lotus technically started with an Evora GT
It's the "90% as comfortably furnished as a Cayman" part that adds the weight. I think it will be faster on a track that favors momentum driving, because the Emira will be able to sustain higher speeds, but there's going to be those who just don't want a Lotus that's 90% as comfortably furnished as a Cayman. To them that's not a Lotus, and no one is going to change their minds.
 
well yes, although it could help my waist line.. haha.

You are 100% right, but at the end of the day it IS the decision they took and its clearly one they felt they had to take to make the v6 last a bit longer, so they can then raise the power and price. And dont forget, out of the 5000 orders or 7, not sure, probably 80% or more likely 90 - 95, wont have driven or owned an Evora, so its not an issue of "importance" although I sympathise.

Just posted Harrys review of the evora and he loved it although floored......
It's annoying about the power and redline reduction because it is purely software.
If it had been reduced to save money on hardware or to allow the car to fit into an existing range more 'neatly' I wouldn't care
As it stands everyone who knows about the Evora is going to choke a little on those small portions
 
It's the "90% as comfortably furnished as a Cayman" part that adds the weight. I think it will be faster on a track that favors momentum driving, because the Emira will be able to sustain higher speeds, but there's going to be those who just don't want a Lotus that's 90% as comfortably furnished as a Cayman. To them that's not a Lotus, and no one is going to change their minds.
I love what they have done to save weight with this car. But they REALLY didn't need to add the 12 way adjust seats. Get rid and boom take 50kg off
 
The concept isn't that different. There's two types of sports cars - Grand Tourer's (SL, Vantage, M2/3/4, 911, Cayman, F-type, corvette etc.) and then there are focused sports cars (m comps/CS, SL/GT AMG, GT3/4, R8/RS, Corvette Z06/ZR1 any Ferrari or Lambo)

Mustangs, Supra, non-M BMW, MX-5 etc. in my opinion do not belong in the discussion when comparing. Price points and just overall commonality to the vehicles do not make any of these competitors.

The Emira falls into the "grand tourer" sports car segment. It is not a focused sports car. Just like every other manufacturer they are going to leave you wanting more. That is what the reviews are all saying. The Emira with the i4 will be in production until 2030 most likely. How many new variations will be launched within 7 years. I can see at least 3/4. Final Edition V6 w/ 430HP, and Emira i4 - S, GT, Cup.

I see no problem with any of this, except one. Both the V6 and I4 have already been released with more HP. They went in reverse and it was just a little too obvious what they were doing. I understand why, but in this case it backfired a bit. If I were to launch the Emira, I would have gone full out on the V6 430HP and make it the best iteration out of the box. It only needs 2.5 years worth of orders and then it's done. Add a lightweight carbon/track pkg in the final year or something like that, but not make it a new model or edition, just create additional special pkg's to keep it interesting. That way original Emira F/E owners do not feel completely sandbagged. Then with the i4 since it's new to Lotus would follow the more S/GT/Cup over a 7 year plan. Imagine Porsche launched the 992 with less HP compared to the 991?

I agree 100% with you on this. Lotus could have done the Emira V6 FE with the 430HP (and 7200 redline) we all know it's capable of, perfected the shift fee, and initial reviews would have been fantastic. Then they can release an Emira GT or Emira Carbon and then finally a Final Edition... then leave the legacy to the i4 AMG versions to carry on.

But Lotus is a business and they have far exceeded their goals as far as pre-orders go. The money they spent on marketing for the Emira has paid off well and it was done at just the right time when sportscars are in high demand and the entire world is itching for some fun and happiness after these rough past couple of years. So all that being said, do they really care that we're upset the Emira was blatantly softened down so there's room for it to grow? Of course not! They have a new factory, new staff, and a new car to focus on and the sales numbers are looking great. It will likely only get better from here (as they hoped and planned).

Now they just need to work on customer communication and getting these First Editions out to the customers. Hopefully there are no major first model year problems and customers are happy. I'm personally really looking forward to their Advanced Performance Division and hope to upgrade to a custom "bespoke" edition Emira whenever a more powerful V6 manual version is available (hopefully it's not $130k+).
 
I love what they have done to save weight with this car. But they REALLY didn't need to add the 12 way adjust seats. Get rid and boom take 50kg off
Well I really don't think they weigh that much; the newer motors are much smaller and more efficient than they used to be, but I'll say 25-30kg. The base Emira with technical fabric seats and 4-way adjustable should be a decent amount of weight savings if you want an Emira more for track than a daily driver.
 
I love what they have done to save weight with this car. But they REALLY didn't need to add the 12 way adjust seats. Get rid and boom take 50kg off
That option is the Base then, me i prefer to get comfy lumber and thigh extensions begin high on my list - admittedly thigh extension isnt on the Emira.
Lotus must have had guidance on what the market needs to satisfy the number of sales they wanted to create. The old fashioned way of a stripped out car would have meant they would have been the next TVR.
They should ship out some pre-prod models for us to test drive, in various parts of the country - like Ineos did with their grenadier.
 
That option is the Base then, me i prefer to get comfy lumber and thigh extensions begin high on my list - admittedly thigh extension isnt on the Emira.
Lotus must have had guidance on what the market needs to satisfy the number of sales they wanted to create. The old fashioned way of a stripped out car would have meant they would have been the next TVR.
They should ship out some pre-prod models for us to test drive, in various parts of the country - like Ineos did with their grenadier.
It's only the seats, i wouldnt suggest they should have put it on yet more of a diet. That will come later with the GT.
Im obviously in the minority. I'm not sure who is adjusting their seats all the time and needs 12 way electric adjustment to do it? I do it once and if the other half gets in the car it takes 15 seconds to sort. Exactly the same length of time as it takes your memory seat to recognise 'setting number 2'
"FortheOAPs?"
 
It's only the seats, i wouldnt suggest they should have put it on yet more of a diet. That will come later with the GT.
Im obviously in the minority. I'm not sure who is adjusting their seats all the time and needs 12 way electric adjustment to do it? I do it once and if the other half gets in the car it takes 15 seconds to sort. Exactly the same length of time as it takes your memory seat to recognise 'setting number 2'
"FortheOAPs?"
Probably the demographics for someone buying this car are in the 45+ range who like creature comforts :)
 

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