Jan 2025 Car & Driver * Emira AMG * one-pager

[Emira Fan]

Just received my Jan C&D digital issue. Below is the full page article for your collection (same as what Toon posted from his phone Screen shots)

 

[Teshoo Lama]

I was watching a Korean review of the i4 on YouTube (with subtitles), and the very thorough road tester noted some high speed instability. As a prospective i4 owner, I was interested to read that again here. Is this a Sport setup thing? The Korean review was also on Sport suspension with Cup 2s. I wonder if the Touring setup shares the same characteristics.

 

[Emira Fan]

[road tester noted some high speed instability]

It's an interesting observation, wouldn't expect this characteristic to be isolated to the AMG version. Did the Korean review indicate at what speed this instability is noticed? The Car & Driver guys probably noticed this is in the 1/4 mile test around maybe around 120 mph.

 

[HydroJim]

0-60 in 3.4s (excluding 1 ft rollout)
vs
5-60 in 4.5s

Am I missing something?

 

[Wiz33]

0-60 in 3.4s (excluding 1 ft rollout)
vs
5-60 in 4.5s

Am I missing something?

Launch control with the engine reved up.

 

[Teshoo Lama]

[road tester noted some high speed instability]

It's an interesting observation, wouldn't expect this characteristic to be isolated to the AMG version. Did the Korean review indicate at what speed this instability is noticed? The Car & Driver guys probably noticed this is in the 1/4 mile test around maybe around 120 mph.

I've found the review, which was quite critical overall. The speeds in question are triple digit like C&D, and his conclusion was that the Emira shouldn't be driven above 200kph. This isn't a great concern for a road car obviously, but how the car behaves on fast, long European journeys is something I want to bear in mind. How predictable the car feels at 90mph, for example, would definitely influence my choice of chassis or powertrain if they acted differently.

 

[Wiz33]

I've found the review, which was quite critical overall. The speeds in question are triple digit like C&D, and his conclusion was that the Emira shouldn't be driven above 200kph. This isn't a great concern for a road car obviously, but how the car behaves on fast, long European journeys is something I want to bear in mind. How predictable the car feels at 90mph, for example, would definitely influence my choice of chassis or powertrain if they acted differently.

They're in the minority. The weight difference is minimal (~50lbs) and it's in the rear not in the front. By all accounts, the i4 360 drives very similar to the V6. I would say their problem is in the sport suspension and even the V6 with sport suspension was a bit twitchy on less than perfect road at high speed.

 

[EspritGuy]

I've found the review, which was quite critical overall. The speeds in question are triple digit like C&D, and his conclusion was that the Emira shouldn't be driven above 200kph. This isn't a great concern for a road car obviously, but how the car behaves on fast, long European journeys is something I want to bear in mind. How predictable the car feels at 90mph, for example, would definitely influence my choice of chassis or powertrain if they acted differently.

I thought the whole Aero design of the various intakes had the goal of high speed stability. Mine feels 'more planted' above 80 mph but I'm not going deep into the triple digits.

 

[Blat]

I've found the review, which was quite critical overall. The speeds in question are triple digit like C&D, and his conclusion was that the Emira shouldn't be driven above 200kph. This isn't a great concern for a road car obviously, but how the car behaves on fast, long European journeys is something I want to bear in mind. How predictable the car feels at 90mph, for example, would definitely influence my choice of chassis or powertrain if they acted differently.

I've only just run my car in, but even keeping it at less than 4,000 revs, it cruises well above 80mph, no problem. I've now tried it on quiet country roads in Sport mode at varying speeds and it's been glued. I love it. But as an everyday car for me, it's a 2.0T (later tech, I believe, than the early 2000s derived Toyota V6) on a Touring chassis with tyres that can deal with a British winter. I appreciate all those who recommended a manual V6 on the Sports chassis, but as I'm often driving in stop start traffic and with no intentions of tracking my Emira, no chance! The Sports chassis with Cup 2 tyres would be perfect for a smooth track, but a Sport chassis car I tested on local roads is way too jittery for everyday driving and long journeys, in my opinion. My wife would never get in it and as we plan to tour...
I've planned a roadtrip up to the Scottish borders next year and will, no doubt, be touring mainland Europe in the future. I'll post back if I feel any instability.

 

[VL3X]

11 second ¼ mile huh? That's pretty impressive. I'll be driving an i4 Emira this week. Looking forward to the test drive.

 

[Emira Fan]

Perhaps a much more aggressive front splitter with reduce the high speed stability issues reported. One of the companies producing front effects should spend some time optimizing to enhance stability, if the reports are accurate.

 

[nelly111s]

Mines a V6 on Sports Suspension and Goodyears. It’s fine at 150mph / 240kph on the autobahns. No instability at all.

 

[Lotus64]

The I4 puts up astounding performance numbers in every single metric.... Respect!

 

[Honcho]

No issues with high speed stability here. Drove V6 and 2.0t

 

[marc1adrien]

FWIW, during the Lotus Driving Academy at Hethel I hit 138 on the back stretch. That was on a former test mule touring suspension car. In touring mode, it was pretty solid. That said, there was a lot coming at me.

 

[gr1p]

Gentlemen, the high speed instability is easily corrected with alignment.

 

[CarrHarris]

FWIW, during the Lotus Driving Academy at Hethel I hit 138 on the back stretch. That was on a former test mule touring suspension car. In touring mode, it was pretty solid. That said, there was a lot coming at me.

Same here, hit somewhere in the mid 130's mph, no issues.