I4 Vs V6

[AndyVX]

This chap had a V6 when they first came out and did quite a few trips and track days in it so interesting to see how he compares the turbo

In Depth Lotus Emira i4 REVIEW: Better Than the V6? Full review/Driving Impressions! AMG 2.0L Turbo!

 

[Wiz33]

Now that the US have their i4 with 400hp, Lotus needs to get them out for new revies.

 

[netsinah]

It took several months of daily driving, to cement my love affair with my V6. That said, it's all a matter of taste/preference: a turbo engine very different than a supercharged engine and they each have their fans; for those who enjoy a manual transmission, that's not available with the V4 turbo. Many have said you can upgrade the turbo far easier than the V6 or get more HP out of the turbo, so for those into engine mods, that could be a huge plus. Regardless of which version you get, it's the same great interior and exterior. Nice to hear his point of view, but he's expressing just that...there's no right or wrong with either choice. The "right thing" we should be happy about, is that we do have a choice.

 

[Rupes]

The "right thing" we should be happy about, is that we do have a choice.

For now!

 

[brainf18]

The V6 Manual is the best sports car I've ever owned....I wouldn't even look twice at the i4. Not interested. And it appears the market feels similarly. 6-8 month wait for V6, and unsold i4's on dealer lots. But of course others milage might vary.

 

[Rainier]

I switched from many years of Elise driving to US Spec I4 (400 HP)
The I4 is phenomenal, incredibly fast ( to get to posted speed limits ), furious engine, sounds great and bags of low end torque; very pleased with it and don't miss the manual transmission at all.

 

[harleyujoe]

This I4 / V6 conversation will go on until end of Emira....Had the clutch not been so heavy this 73 yr old would
have owned one.. But both knees bone to bone....I own a custom Polaris Slingshot turbo 5 speed and clutch
is like butter and had Emira had that I would own it...
But to be honest the traffic here in New Jersey and just trying to hot rod around is becoming more difficult
because of so much traffic..
So maybe the I4 this summer will be more practical and driving up to Bucks County
Pa. Covered Bridges and grass field airport ride I take 4 or 5 times a year...
Will keep you posted once salt is washed away here in East..
Enjoy Your Emira's what ever Version you Own..

 

[gdotp]

The V6 Manual is the best sports car I've ever owned....I wouldn't even look twice at the i4. Not interested. And it appears the market feels similarly. 6-8 month wait for V6, and unsold i4's on dealer lots. But of course others milage might vary.

good for you…

 

[Rupes]

In before it gets ugly!

 

[Andy H]

We should all just be grateful that Lotus gave us a choice of great powertrains

 

[Gooner]

I’ve got a V6 and was recently fortunate enough to get the i4 as a hire car for a couple of days.

The i4 was great - no hesitations / delays with gear changes using the paddles and quick off the mark despite being 40bhp lower than the V6. It actually felt a fair bit quicker than my V6 as it can smash through the gears quicker than I can! The i4 engine can also be easily mapped (unlike the v6), to give it a bit more poke. If I was dailying an Emira, this would be the one I would choose.

However, my Emira is a second / fun car and as a result, I personally much prefer my V6 as it feels like much more of an “occasion” when I drive it. I’d suggest that’s down to the sound generated from the v6 vs the i4 (also helped by having the cat delete mod and a valve controller). There is no comparison - the i4 sounds no different to some family cars I’ve had in the past. The v6 is an all together different beast - to the extent that I can’t switch it on before 7am for fear of pissing the neighbours off My daily is also an auto and has been for 10 years plus now, so it’s nice to have more engagement with a manual (although I have also cursed it on heavy traffic…..).

Just my 2 cents worth, but in reality, you can’t do wrong with either one.

 

[harleyujoe]

I’ve got a V6 and was recently fortunate enough to get the i4 as a hire car for a couple of days.

The i4 was great - no hesitations / delays with gear changes using the paddles and quick off the mark despite being 40bhp lower than the V6. It actually felt a fair bit quicker than my V6 as it can smash through the gears quicker than I can! The i4 engine can also be easily mapped (unlike the v6), to give it a bit more poke. If I was dailying an Emira, this would be the one I would choose.

However, my Emira is a second / fun car and as a result, I personally much prefer my V6 as it feels like much more of an “occasion” when I drive it. I’d suggest that’s down to the sound generated from the v6 vs the i4 (also helped by having the cat delete mod and a valve controller). There is no comparison - the i4 sounds no different to some family cars I’ve had in the past. The v6 is an all together different beast - to the extent that I can’t switch it on before 7am for fear of pissing the neighbours off My daily is also an auto and has been for 10 years plus now, so it’s nice to have more engagement with a manual (although I have also cursed it on heavy traffic…..).

Just my 2 cents worth, but in reality, you can’t do wrong with either one.

Nice writeup....And sure you are younger than 73 and do not have bone to bone knees ..LOL
And yet you have cursed heavy traffic I suppose because clutch is so heavy ???
And luckily here in U.S. we have the 400 HP version I4 so little plus with dealing with heavy traffic..LOL
Like I have said we are all lucky to have either version of Emira..
Enjoy your Emira and do not start up before 7AM..

 

[chstockd]

I was able to to drive the v6 manual but not the i4 prior making a buying decision in the US. So, I basically purchased the i4 on blind faith and hoped I wouldn't regret my decision. I had the car on order for 1 year before I was told the US cars would be getting 400HP instead of 360. That sealed it for me and Knew I made the right decision for me. I am about to hit break in on my US version I4. Car is amazing. Very quick, lots of torque, and a lot of fun to drive. Drive modes change the car significantly, car is very responsive, and no delay in shifting. I am Pre-Break in so have just barely visited Track mode and stayed under 4K RPMs in Tour and Sport mode but the car is simply brilliant. V6 has a different feel.... more analog and the engine definitely sounds more aggressive. The manual shift also give you great control and connects you to the car. Either car is a fantastic choice and offer different driving experiences. I ultimately made my decision based on the amount of city driving I would be doing but very happy with my choice. I can concentrate on just driving the car and less on gear selection in traffic. The car does all the shifting for me, the downshifts when approaching a turn or stop light/sign are awesome. Never get tired of that sound

 

[Wiz33]

I was able to to drive the v6 manual but not the i4 prior making a buying decision in the US. So, I basically purchased the i4 on blind faith and hoped I wouldn't regret my decision. I had the car on order for 1 year before I was told the US cars would be getting 400HP instead of 360. That sealed it for me and Knew I made the right decision for me. I am about to hit break in on my US version I4. Car is amazing. Very quick, lots of torque, and a lot of fun to drive. Drive modes change the car significantly, car is very responsive, and no delay in shifting. I am Pre-Break in so have just barely visited Track mode and stayed under 4K RPMs in Tour and Sport mode but the car is simply brilliant. V6 has a different feel.... more analog and the engine definitely sounds more aggressive. The manual shift also give you great control and connects you to the car. Either car is a fantastic choice and offer different driving experiences. I ultimately made my decision based on the amount of city driving I would be doing but very happy with my choice. I can concentrate on just driving the car and less on gear selection in traffic. The car does all the shifting for me, the downshifts when approaching a turn or stop light/sign are awesome. Never get tired of that sound

Check with your dealer and make sure they did the Dec 24 software update for the transmission. mine got it but someone close to me that picked up from another dealer in Jan did not.

 

[TurboTambo]

I was able to to drive the v6 manual but not the i4 prior making a buying decision in the US. So, I basically purchased the i4 on blind faith and hoped I wouldn't regret my decision. I had the car on order for 1 year before I was told the US cars would be getting 400HP instead of 360. That sealed it for me and Knew I made the right decision for me. I am about to hit break in on my US version I4. Car is amazing. Very quick, lots of torque, and a lot of fun to drive. Drive modes change the car significantly, car is very responsive, and no delay in shifting. I am Pre-Break in so have just barely visited Track mode and stayed under 4K RPMs in Tour and Sport mode but the car is simply brilliant. V6 has a different feel.... more analog and the engine definitely sounds more aggressive. The manual shift also give you great control and connects you to the car. Either car is a fantastic choice and offer different driving experiences. I ultimately made my decision based on the amount of city driving I would be doing but very happy with my choice. I can concentrate on just driving the car and less on gear selection in traffic. The car does all the shifting for me, the downshifts when approaching a turn or stop light/sign are awesome. Never get tired of that sound

Swap out your exhaust and downpipe for a GRP one, and get the Milltek valve controller. Turns the car into a completely different beast. Sounds amazing. The pops and bangs are mental. The i4 is an absolute animal.

 

[Wiz33]

Swap out your exhaust and downpipe for a GRP one, and get the Milltek valve controller. Turns the car into a completely different beast. Sounds amazing. The pops and bangs are mental. The i4 is an absolute animal.

I'm totally fine with the exhaust as is. Exhaust does nothing for me. In fact, I hate it in my RS5 when it does the artificial rumble at start and people around start looking to see where the noise came from.

 

[TurboTambo]

I'm totally fine with the exhaust as is. Exhaust does nothing for me. In fact, I hate it in my RS5 when it does the artificial rumble at start and people around start looking to see where the noise came from.

Nothing artificial about how it sounds on the i4.
Not into the exhaust sounds..... ever thought about an electric car???

 

[Wiz33]

Nothing artificial about how it sounds on the i4.
Not into the exhaust sounds..... ever thought about an electric car???

Money wasted, rather have 2 Emiras. And if you have good eyes, you'll spy a 2024 718S behind the rollup door too