Emira Styling: We all know it's gorgeous, but why...?

[Bilbao-Emira]

You’re BEtter than this…

This one Special for you @TXEMIRA

 

[Autopsy]

Great analysis!
To me Evija is the most exciting and cohesive hypercar design in the past decade. Not to bash on past lotus but Evora design was far from perfect from my perspective. I have no idea how designers at Lotus (they are all Russell Carr's work aren't they?) leapt from Evora to Evija and Emira. Kudos to them anyway.
Now I just hope type 132 don't dissapoint. Large SUV design is risky business for sports car brand.

 

[EspritGuy]

This one Special for you @TXEMIRA

View attachment 3021

Lone Star is preferred.

 

[Pav]

Thanks @eclat2emira, enjoyed reading your thoughts.

I think the appeal is a lot to do with the impression of an organic and powerful shape. Frank Stephenson talks a lot about cars looking good when they use curves based on cues from fluid forms and motion in nature. (Though how he signed off his 'merch' is beyond me!)

The Emira feels like a style evolution of the S1 Elise to me and a good thing for that reason. I've read about how the team behind that rode Ducatis at the time and wanted to design a car as pretty as the 916. A lot of modern superbikes and supercars are festooned with abrupt angles to look aggressive. There was a time when it look technological and futuristic but its time has past.

The Emira is a return to great car styling, as with the T33. The passion of a Lambo but without the harsh edges. And though it's more to do with how the brand image makes you feel, compared to (most) Ferraris an Emira is a friendly looking supercar.

 

[eclat2emira]

My take on the style is this. When you look at the car your eyes aren't drawn to any one thing. You just keep flowing over the car. When a car has a "strong feature" your eyes tend to rest on that. Like the back of a C8.

Spot on, which gives the sense of flow and movement.

 

[eclat2emira]

Maybe a BE badge?

To BE or not to BE

May end up with:

TL edition (Too Late)
TS edition (Tough Sh*t)
MTB edition (Missed The Boat!)

 

[eclat2emira]

Very cool post @eclat2emira. Way back in the day I used to fancy myself an amateur car designer and would spend hours drawing wild looking sports cars for fun. I knew what I liked, but reading your analysis, I now understand a bit more why. I was always fascinated by the stark contrast of the radical Bertone-designed Lamborghinis vs. the more fluid and athletic Pininfarina Ferraris. Both captivating in their own right, but for very different reasons.

There's no doubt the Emira is a work of art and, like most great art, if has inspired a rather passionate fan base (as evidenced by the intensity of this forum). Every photo and render I see gets me excited. I'm sure seeing the real thing in the flesh will be amazing. Counting the days...

100% agree with that. I have a great book on Bertone Design which features many of those wonderful 70s creations you mention - you'd really enjoy it.

ISBN 978-88-7911-720-3

 

[eclat2emira]

@eclat2emira, what do you think of the bonnet cutouts? Those (and the headlights) are the two parts I struggle with… I like how they exaggerate the bulge above the wheel, but I miss the continuity of colour (as per the 308). I understand how they contribute to passive aero, but still…

Hi, the thing to remember about how those lights read in profile is it's not a view you'll see often or for very long - either the car is moving or you are.

This front 3/4 view shows how the line of the vent actually helps accentuate the front wing bulge, and you are right - that is an important feature in a sports car.

What you can see in the image below is how the vents work with the rest of the lines - a huge amount of thought has gone into this by Russell Carr and his team.

Beautiful flow and cohesion - purpose without gratuitous aggression.

One thing to note - the shadow in the vent aperture does make the vent stand out more strongly - this effect is diminished somewhat in the darker colours, such as my choice of Dark Verdant.

 

[eclat2emira]

Thanks @eclat2emira, enjoyed reading your thoughts.

I think the appeal is a lot to do with the impression of an organic and powerful shape. Frank Stephenson talks a lot about cars looking good when they use curves based on cues from fluid forms and motion in nature. (Though how he signed off his 'merch' is beyond me!)

The Emira feels like a style evolution of the S1 Elise to me and a good thing for that reason. I've read about how the team behind that rode Ducatis at the time and wanted to design a car as pretty as the 916. A lot of modern superbikes and supercars are festooned with abrupt angles to look aggressive. There was a time when it look technological and futuristic but its time has past.

The Emira is a return to great car styling, as with the T33. The passion of a Lambo but without the harsh edges. And though it's more to do with how the brand image makes you feel, compared to (most) Ferraris an Emira is a friendly looking supercar.

You're very welcome Pav, glad you enjoyed it. There are definitely aspects of the S1 styling that have influenced the Emira, and all positive.

The recent angular aggression style (which thankfully seems to be waning) did nothing for me. It is evident in too many recent Lambos - and Ferraris as you say. Also the C8, which I fear will date quite quickly as a result.

Too many of them end up looking like Transformers toys - with very angry faces!

Returning to your excellent point about how a design makes you feel, how you respond to it, intimidated and defensive are not good reactions to trigger! Appreciation and admiration most definitely are and the Emira is friendly without being cute.

 

[JPS_67]

Maybe a BE badge?

To BE or not to BE

The Bespoke Edition?

 

[Bilbao-Emira]

Lone Star is preferred.

The problem with Lone Star is they only make Silver Edition, I think it's for the Type 132 EV SUV

@TXEMIRA deserves at least Gold

 

[TXEMIRA]

The problem with Lone Star is they only make Silver Edition, I think it's for the Type 132 EV SUV

@TXEMIRA deserves at least Gold

View attachment 3033

Yes!

 

[TXEMIRA]

@eclat2emira could you also do a render of this same design element breakdown for the dual twin cup holders? I dare you to make my day!

 

[Eagle7]

I am with you - but also not! This is a bit of a Hobson's choice as it will not line up with everything, so may always look "off".

It has been positioned to follow the side glazing line, not where the body panel overlaps the engine cover vents - see yellow line on the below:
View attachment 3017
Thankfully on darker colours - like my verdant green, this will be less apparent!

Another thing about the badge; the shape is a reflection of the boomerang cutouts on the front hood, so I think their intent was a continuity of shapes, which I get, but I would have preferred the front of the badge not be sticking up in the airstream. I'm sure they've tested this out, but visually it looks like an opportunity for wind noise.

I would have liked to have seen something like this, where the leading edge of the badge is integrated flush into the edge of the body, and the badge flows out of it back into the cutout. Something like this:

I don't know if that would be a hassle getting it to line up flush with the body, but it would be a cool effect.

 

[TXEMIRA]

Another thing about the badge; the shape is a reflection of the boomerang cutouts on the front hood, so I think their intent was a continuity of shapes, which I get, but I would have preferred the front of the badge not be sticking up in the airstream. I'm sure they've tested this out, but visually it looks like an opportunity for wind noise.

I would have liked to have seen something like this, where the leading edge of the badge is integrated flush into the edge of the body, and the badge flows out of it back into the cutout. Something like this:

View attachment 3034


I don't know if that would be a hassle getting it to line up flush with the body, but it would be a cool effect.

*disclaimers
1. I’m new to Lotus as an owner. Longtime fan, first time owner.

2. This may be somewhere but I’m being lazy.

What is with the (1)? Is that a nod to an old Lotus race car somewhere?

I know it may mean “first” as in “first edition” but why that particular style?

Thank you in advance!

 

[Eagle7]

*disclaimers
1. I’m new to Lotus as an owner. Longtime fan, first time owner.

2. This may be somewhere but I’m being lazy.

What is with the (1)? Is that a nod to an old Lotus race car somewhere?

I know it may mean “first” as in “first edition” but why that particular style?

Thank you in advance!

Yes most likely both; first edition and an homage to the Lotus legend

Jim Clark is widely considered one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, and along with other great drivers, Lotus was Number 1 in Formula 1, with both their drivers winning the series, and Lotus winning the constructor's championships. Back in the 60's and 70's, Lotus was THE team to beat in Formula 1. A long list of legendary drivers drove for Lotus; Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson, Mario Andretti, Ayrton Senna to name a few. If you didn't know, in the racing world, Lotus is a legendary marque right up there with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Porsche.

Jim Clark

Graham Hill

Emerson Fittipaldi

 

[virtualmacho]

I'm sure they've tested this out, but visually it looks like an opportunity for wind noise.

Could change shape when you put it in Track Mode.

 

[TXEMIRA]

Yes most likely both; first edition and an homage to the Lotus legend

Jim Clark is widely considered one of the greatest racing drivers of all time, and along with other great drivers, Lotus was Number 1 in Formula 1, with both their drivers winning the series, and Lotus winning the constructor's championships. Back in the 60's and 70's, Lotus was THE team to beat in Formula 1. A long list of legendary drivers drove for Lotus; Jim Clark, Graham Hill, Emerson Fittipaldi, Ronnie Peterson, Mario Andretti, Ayrton Senna to name a few. If you didn't know, in the racing world, Lotus is a legendary marque right up there with Alfa Romeo, Ferrari and Porsche.

Jim Clark
View attachment 3035
View attachment 3036
View attachment 3037

Graham Hill
View attachment 3038

Emerson Fittipaldi
View attachment 3039
View attachment 3040

There it is! Thank you!!!

 

[TomE]

Hi, the thing to remember about how those lights read in profile is it's not a view you'll see often or for very long - either the car is moving or you are.

This front 3/4 view shows how the line of the vent actually helps accentuate the front wing bulge, and you are right - that is an important feature in a sports car.

View attachment 3031

What you can see in the image below is how the vents work with the rest of the lines - a huge amount of thought has gone into this by Russell Carr and his team.
View attachment 3032
Beautiful flow and cohesion - purpose without gratuitous aggression.

One thing to note - the shadow in the vent aperture does make the vent stand out more strongly - this effect is diminished somewhat in the darker colours, such as my choice of Dark Verdant.

As I mentioned sometime last year, the bulges over the wheels are a very specific Lotus design feature.

All recent Lotus cars have these visual cues provided by the points on top of the front and rear wings, that are clearly visible from the driving seat. These let the driver know where the car is on the road and are called "Becker points", after the late great Lotus chassis engineer Roger Becker who worked on the designs of the Esprit, Elise and Evora. They're also present on the Evija and Emira.

On the nose vents, it was interesting seeing the cars in the production hall at Hethel recently in different colours and lighting conditions. The FE paints all change tone, depth, flow and colour with light and viewing angle: the nose vents create an area of rapidly-changing surface angle going into a dark void and that accentuates the flow and change in the colours. This in turn draws your eye to the nose vents. It's also interesting to see the differences in how they look with strong overhead light compared to a strong side light - the difference between midday and sunset for example.

 

[TomE]

Another thing about the badge; the shape is a reflection of the boomerang cutouts on the front hood, so I think their intent was a continuity of shapes, which I get, but I would have preferred the front of the badge not be sticking up in the airstream. I'm sure they've tested this out, but visually it looks like an opportunity for wind noise.

I would have liked to have seen something like this, where the leading edge of the badge is integrated flush into the edge of the body, and the badge flows out of it back into the cutout. Something like this:

View attachment 3034


I don't know if that would be a hassle getting it to line up flush with the body, but it would be a cool effect.

Here is what the badge on the early styling model looks like. Hand made and with some carbon fibre, but maybe gives some clues on what a non-FE version could be.