I drove both Sport and tour spec demo cars and was clearly able to tell the difference. It confirmed my choice of Tour spec. Each to their own here. But drive both for as long as you can before you make your mind up. I suspect there may be those who chose sport because “it’s a sports car so why would you have anything else”, but may quietly regret it before long.
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Emira vs Ferrari - Still not 100% on which to sell
- Thread starter Evotion
- Start date
Same here... Tour just had less "jiggle", which I think would grate on long journeys (especially on a non-car-freak passenger), and was markedly more composed on gnarly back roads.
From what I'm able to tell by looking at the springs on various videos (Harry's was great) and still images, it appears that the primary difference is that Touring uses a progressive front spring, vs. a linear front spring on the Sport. The actual spring rate is probably very similar once the first inch of weight transfer has occurred, but before weight transfer starts the Tour is probably a double-digit stiffness percentage lower in the front.
The advantage in comfort, as some have noted, is in the ability of the suspension to soak up bumps and heaves at the front without transmitting them with intensity to the chassis. But the opportunity cost is the speed of "settle" when you do initiate weight transfer on the way into a turn. The progressive-sprung car will more comfortable over bumps, drops and heaves in the pavement, but will be a touch slower to load up and take a "bite" in the front on corner entry. I wonder if this is what some reviewers have described as a vague front end, because of the speed of loading in the nose.
The rear springs appear to be progressive on both suspension types, with the Sport spring being slightly shorter (one fewer coil) and therefore a smaller wire diameter for a similar nominal spring rate. No idea whether there's any difference in total wheel travel, we'd need on-vehicle data and/or detailed damper specs to figure that out.
Rear spring difference from the Harry factory visit video... as you can see, both of these are progressive. Tour on the left, marked 110 N/mm rate, and the Sport on the right, marked 115 N/mm rate.
The advantage in comfort, as some have noted, is in the ability of the suspension to soak up bumps and heaves at the front without transmitting them with intensity to the chassis. But the opportunity cost is the speed of "settle" when you do initiate weight transfer on the way into a turn. The progressive-sprung car will more comfortable over bumps, drops and heaves in the pavement, but will be a touch slower to load up and take a "bite" in the front on corner entry. I wonder if this is what some reviewers have described as a vague front end, because of the speed of loading in the nose.
The rear springs appear to be progressive on both suspension types, with the Sport spring being slightly shorter (one fewer coil) and therefore a smaller wire diameter for a similar nominal spring rate. No idea whether there's any difference in total wheel travel, we'd need on-vehicle data and/or detailed damper specs to figure that out.
Rear spring difference from the Harry factory visit video... as you can see, both of these are progressive. Tour on the left, marked 110 N/mm rate, and the Sport on the right, marked 115 N/mm rate.
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From Harry's summary video 5 of the 2,500 mile Emira road trip, he mentioned more than a few times how different the front end felt on his car compared to the demo cars. He was expecting the vagueness like he experienced on the demo touring chassis, but it wasn't there. He was amazed at the turn-in response, and this was on wet roads under not-so-good weather conditions.
It would seem Lotus has done some additional work on the touring chassis settings after the feedback they received from the pre-production reviews.
It would seem Lotus has done some additional work on the touring chassis settings after the feedback they received from the pre-production reviews.
Vanman1936
Active member
- Aug 17, 2022
- 37
- 75
Yeah my test drive of a touring showed no understeer tendency really (only got to “test” at low speed of course…the club racer passenger escort I had confirmed the same
Does the Emira have any adjustment in the suspension, the same as the Elise? On one of the Elise's I had, a geo made such a difference that I had it done almost straightaway when I bought the last Elise. Dialled out quite a bit of understeer (at the expense of a little more tramlining).
I love that mountain segment, got me PUMPED
Yeah, I watched it again today. Considering all the cars he has and has driven, when he was going through those gorgeous twisties in the rain, and was so amazed at its performance he said "Where does it find the traction!?" I almost laughed. Great segment.
He couldn’t shut up about how surprised it wasn’t washing out. I’m really excited to buy one cause stuff like this. If my usa YouTube favs love the car, I’ll be doubly pumped
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