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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that track time does seem a little disappointing... But he did say it is a great road car, maybe the best for the price.
Indeed, I sure hope so, since that is what mine will be used for - touring, road trips, weekends away, and the occasional blasts on my own, or group drives with like minded enthusiasts...
 
that track time does seem a little disappointing... But he did say it is a great road car, maybe the best for the price.
According to Youtube auto translate "a time certainly not up to expectations" I guess the V6 (at least) really is a road car...
 
Here are some TL;DR notes

Pros:
  • Strong brakes
  • Very beautiful (if it didn't have a Lotus badge it could pass as a modern Ferrari Dino)
  • Good car for the price and feature set
  • Enjoyable on the road (but not so much on the track)
Cons:
  • Frustrating gear box (ratio/efficiencity of shifts/slow shifting)
  • Soft frontend (believe he was on Sport suspension w/ Goodyear Eagle F1 tires)
  • Rear is planted but to a fault (difficult to get rotation with the soft frontend)
  • Lacks the performance he was expecting (disappointing lap time compared to its peers)
 
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It's hard not to see that the fly in the ointment seems to be the Goodyear Eagle F1's. I'm wondering how much better the tour suspension is going to be with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on it. That's such a good tire, it may be the magic combo on the street for both the tour and sport chassis.
 
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  • #925
Why does everyone insist on track times with Goodyears? 🧐

It would be interesting to compare the Evora 410 front end spring rate to the Emira.
 
Why does everyone insist on track times with Goodyears? 🧐

It would be interesting to compare the Evora 410 front end spring rate to the Emira.

Meh.. The Emira on F1 Super Sports is just 2.5 seconds slower than the Porsche GT4 with Cup2s. Not too shabby IMO.
 
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It's hard not to see that the fly in the ointment seems to be the Goodyear Eagle F1's. I'm wondering how much better the tour suspension is going to be with a set of Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires on it. That's such a good tire, it may be the magic combo on the street for both the tour and sport chassis.
People keep insisting/assuming/hoping the PS4S is somehow going to be magically better than the Goodyears... but I struggle to see how, if Gavan and friends spent ages specifically tuning the bloody tyre construction and compounds to the car. I know the PS4S is a great tyre, and I run them on my current car, but during development surely Lotus would have, you know, chucked a set on to see if they were any better. I get where you are coming from, but it just seems... too easy?

My take is that the Goodyear is likely completely fine for fast road use, but that they have dialled the geometry for understeer as a safe default, so that newbs to mid-engine handling (and I include myself in that number) don't instantly spin off into the weeds when they push too hard. A lot of... ahem... "non-enthusiasts" are lining up to buy this vehicle, so having 50% of them involved in crashes is probably something they wanted to avoid. Getting your dealer/specialist to set an extra degree of negative front camber and maybe a smidge of toe out would possibly make all the difference. 🤷‍♂️
 
People keep insisting/assuming/hoping the PS4S is somehow going to be magically better than the Goodyears... but I struggle to see how, if Gavan and friends spent ages specifically tuning the bloody tyre construction and compounds to the car. I know the PS4S is a great tyre, and I run them on my current car, but during development surely Lotus would have, you know, chucked a set on to see if they were any better. I get where you are coming from, but it just seems... too easy?

My take is that the Goodyear is likely completely fine for fast road use, but that they have dialled the geometry for understeer as a safe default, so that newbs to mid-engine handling (and I include myself in that number) don't instantly spin off into the weeds when they push too hard. A lot of... ahem... "non-enthusiasts" are lining up to buy this vehicle, so having 50% of them involved in crashes is probably something they wanted to avoid. Getting your dealer/specialist to set an extra degree of negative front camber and maybe a smidge of toe out would possibly make all the difference. 🤷‍♂️
/\ THIS
I've already posted on another thread that the Goodyears comfortably outperformed the PS4 in EVOs last tyre of the year comp.
Any 'issues' are inherent to the chassis set up. The Emira has been set up soft and safe on purpose. We know it's based on Evora architecture though, so should be simple enough to make adjustments as required.

Screenshot_20221005-192649_Chrome.jpg
 
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Guys, wtf I just see with this suspension movement 😂😂

This video is so fake. That is not a front lift system. Just look at the front tyre compress and de-compress. Someone has a jack under it lol

The car is also an earlier prototype. It doesn't have the final sports pedals, caliper colour does not match the lotus badge and it has the airbag fault because prototypes didn't have all airbags fitted (e.g. airbags installed within seat bolsters).

Nothing to see here folks! Keep calm and carry on.
 
/\ THIS
I've already posted on another thread that the Goodyears comfortably outperformed the PS4 in EVOs last tyre of the year comp.
Any 'issues' are inherent to the chassis set up. The Emira has been set up soft and safe on purpose. We know it's based on Evora architecture though, so should be simple enough to make adjustments as required.

View attachment 9571
This is right… a small tweak will dial out the understeer.. Gav has said they have to set up for safety due to the target audience of the car..
 
No surprises if we take notice of all other reviewers..... Its not a track weapon and wasnt designed to be, nore is the sports suspension version, it wont compete with the Cayman no matter how hard people on here want dream that it will, it simply wont. Those people should await the 99% for sure will come souppppped up version, which is a VERY easy thing for Lotus to do and I estimate its virtually done, its simply a case of deciding when best to release it.
If the V6 continues to get negative press for track driving, I feel the souppped up car will be released next year to quell those who say.... what have Lotus done? And then you will have a car that will potentially give some competition to the GTS/GT4... simple.
I'm kind of happy everyone says its a great road car.... most sensible none delusional buyers will not be tracking it more than 1 or 3 times a year and I am sure it will be fun, but not as much fun as any of the cars it "replaced". Different demographic looked for and found.
This guy seemed fair and none insulting in his review and I feel he is spot on with everything. A bit underpowered, a crappy gear box for a "new car" in 2022! Should not be flat lining at 6500 for a sports car, but for a road car, great looking and about the right power to not kill yourself and handling adequate for 97% of its market.
The forum over complicates this car and wants it to be something to all, but it cant be.... wait for your 440 HP, firmer suspension... dont set yourself up for disappointment .....
 
This is right… a small tweak will dial out the understeer.. Gav has said they have to set up for safety due to the target audience of the car..
I’m sorry but this, if true, is a lazy cop-out. In essence they dialled out the “right” set-up for the target audience? Who is this target audience? So much for the drivers.
 
I’m sorry but this, if true, is a lazy cop-out. In essence they dialled out the “right” set-up for the target audience? Who is this target audience? So much for the drivers.
#forthesoccermoms ? :)

As I was saying above, I reckon it is set up not to bite people who have not driven a mid-engine before. That seems right in line with everything else they've done in terms of making it less raw and more plush/premium than Lotus cars before it. Obviously that might suck if you prefer a sharper implement, but I expect it isn't hard to correct if Know What You Are Doing ™️
 
People keep insisting/assuming/hoping the PS4S is somehow going to be magically better than the Goodyears... but I struggle to see how, if Gavan and friends spent ages specifically tuning the bloody tyre construction and compounds to the car. I know the PS4S is a great tyre, and I run them on my current car, but during development surely Lotus would have, you know, chucked a set on to see if they were any better. I get where you are coming from, but it just seems... too easy?

My take is that the Goodyear is likely completely fine for fast road use, but that they have dialled the geometry for understeer as a safe default, so that newbs to mid-engine handling (and I include myself in that number) don't instantly spin off into the weeds when they push too hard. A lot of... ahem... "non-enthusiasts" are lining up to buy this vehicle, so having 50% of them involved in crashes is probably something they wanted to avoid. Getting your dealer/specialist to set an extra degree of negative front camber and maybe a smidge of toe out would possibly make all the difference. 🤷‍♂️
Or Maybe good year paid or gave a better deal (lower cost) on supplying the Emira. It’s hard to argue with the whole leaderboard at the top is mostly Michelin with a Pirelli here and there.
 
Or Maybe good year paid or gave a better deal (lower cost) on supplying the Emira. It’s hard to argue with the whole leaderboard at the top is mostly Michelin with a Pirelli here and there.
... except that Lotus also worked with Michelin for the Sport setup. If there was any financially-motivated "deal" to be had, surely it would be struck with Michelin to supply both setups. I see a lot of Cup 2 on that leaderboard, which is just in a whole other league of tyre.

EDIT: I guess it just seems weird to me to pin this underperformance directly on the Goodyear tyres (which are known to be very good), when there are so many other aspects that are known to contribute to a "poor" lap time.
 
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#forthesoccermoms ? :)

As I was saying above, I reckon it is set up not to bite people who have not driven a mid-engine before. That seems right in line with everything else they've done in terms of making it less raw and more plush/premium than Lotus cars before it. Obviously that might suck if you prefer a sharper implement, but I expect it isn't hard to correct if Know What You Are Doing ™️
This would be true if they didn’t force a binary - touring vs sports set-up on you. From what we’ve read the sports suspension option has different geo tuned for the Cup2’s. It’s literally marketed as the option for track.
 
This would be true if they didn’t force a binary - touring vs sports set-up on you. From what we’ve read the sports suspension option has different geo tuned for the Cup2’s. It’s literally marketed as the option for track.
Right... I don't think what you're saying here conflicts with what I'm saying. Selecting the track-biased tyre is that statement of "I know what I'm doing" I suppose. Reviewers aren't complaining about understeer on the Cup2's w. revised geo, are they? (maybe they are, and I missed it)
 

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