The NDA has lifted for the Emira reviews which are all of final prototype production cars, so apart from maybe software updates, this is the final car hardware wise and is how the customer cars will drive, just the software/infotainment may improve:
Poll: Lotus Emira Discussion
- Thread starter Mysterae_
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Harry Metcalfe has just put a review out. Overall very positive.
Lotus Emira review. Driving Tour & Sport versions of Emira back to back but which is best?
I spent 5 days living with the new Lotus Emira V6 manual and what I was most keen to find out was the difference between the Tour and Sport chassis setup on ...youtu.be
He made some interesting comments about the suspension. Seems that you'll have to opt for either a sports or touring suspension when ordering, as they don't use adaptive dampers. But the sports setup may be a little too harsh for road use. Of those who have ordered a car, what have you chosen (or have you not had to make that choice yet)?
Edit: hah...sod's law that as I posted that, I then went on to watch the Evo review. Although testing a sports model purely on track, Bovingdon states he did try it on the road and "can't see why you'd bother with the touring setup" so jury is still out on the better road setup i guess. Although he too doesn't seem that enamoured with the manual box.
New Lotus Emira | evo REVIEW
The Emira is the first new Lotus to launch since its Geely acquisition, and it's also the very last to be combustion powered. Jethro Bovingdon puts the V6 Fi...
I drove the Evora 400 with tour and sports chassis, the latter on Cup 2 and found it to have amazing ride quality. As such I went with sports chassis and Goodyear tyres which will lessen harshness a little but in saying that to me the car never felt harsh, my GT3 is harsher as is my Spyder and GR Yaris, as such for me sports chassis all the way as the tour chassis would maybe come across as too soft for me, it is personal preference. The tour chassis will for sure soak probably anything up and give an almost luxo barge ride quality with sports car handling with quite a bit of lean, as such I wanted the sports.
The car I feel will be a little slow for some, but for many it is also the positive, a car you can enjoy and push on the roads.
The last video I posted the KHTV one is a sports chassis car with Goodyear tyres and as per my expectations they say its not harsh at all, soaks the bumps nicely but has a nice sport feeling to it.
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I went for the Sports chassis - it won't be my daily car, so didn't see the benefit of going for Tour chassis which is designed more with making the Emira a more comfortable ride in mind.
I still think visually it needs spacers though - annoyingly - the roadshow cars did look better stanced.
I still think visually it needs spacers though - annoyingly - the roadshow cars did look better stanced.
Looks like they've nailed it, I think I'd have one over a GTS 4.0 but not a GT4. Really looking forward to the Cup/R/Whatever version. Shame it doesn't come on coilovers to sort the stance out, but I'm sure the usual suspects will have kits ready asap.
Problem is having seen a final car in the flesh, I'd not touch the ride height, OK no one can beat Porsche for stance but the compromise is they need lifters and ride a little harsh in low speed stuff, whereas Lotus know a bit more suspension travel does wonders, my 458 is the same it has some suspension travel too and the pay off is great ride quality even at low speed and no need for a lifter.
I'd personally not touch the Emira and anyone thinking of doing so needs to be very careful, I'd probably literally only recommend like say a 5-10mm spacer and no more than say a 10-15mm drop, anything more and your going to severely compromise the car for getting over bigger speed bumps and navigating steep inclines.
Trust me from a person who has seen a final car in the flesh you won't be disappointed with the stance at all, it sits lovely in the flesh and remember in person you look at a car from above, whereas the reviews and photos are from below or level with the car, its never a perspective you really look at a car from. I think most once they get the cars won't want to lower them, the biggest issue for most will be maybe wanting a bit extra power, something the AMG will deliver on due to having shorter ratios and a far more tuner friendly engine.
Also a little disappointed that the Emira seems to only rev to 6800rpm, whereas in my Exige I have 7200rpm to play with in sport/race modes.
Yup, it is a bit low for a sports car, I thought the same, but it is Lotus, they have had to leave some margin in there for the special editions they will launch every 6 months
Yup, it is a bit low for a sports car, I thought the same, but it is Lotus, they have had to leave some margin in there for the special editions they will launch every 6 months
Yep noise and manual aside I really think the AMG is going to be the car to have. It will solve essentially what a few reviews have picked up on which the engine and gearbox is dated, but you have to laugh, everyone is and was asking for great sounding cars with a manual, Lotus deliver and now everyone wants a DCT, can't make it up.
Still the AMG DCT will be the better and more sensible car, the first six ratios are very short and the final two ratios are overdrives, so you get the frantic acceleration from the short gearing and then cruising gears for the motorway and able to return 40mpg plus. If Lotus can manage some artificial sound trickery into the cabin it will be a great engine, end of the day as the driver do you really care how it sounds on the outside?
Think I will just flip mine as soon as I get it and order a base AMG as soon as the configurator permits. Keep my Exige because the engine and gearbox work superb in that car.
I have no skin in the game, but was really surprised at the weight. So I had a little look back and it seems to be similar to the Evora. I always assumed they were circa 1200kg. Not the mid 1400kg mark.
While being a lover of Jap cars, the 350z was always murdered for its weight, but being 1530kg odd, there really isn't that much more than this. I am sure the Emira is going to be a great car for the Lotus brand no doubt, but if I was buying a Lotus i'd be looking at the previous Exiges to really get the thrill from the manual + supercharged V6 combo. This definitely comes across as a more "everyday" Lotus and in saying that the Touring spec would be more suited. If you want sport then a previous Exige is better? Rambling I know, it seems like a mini identity crisis.
The AMG/DCT combo is where the Emira will shine I think. Suits the more up to date nature.
While being a lover of Jap cars, the 350z was always murdered for its weight, but being 1530kg odd, there really isn't that much more than this. I am sure the Emira is going to be a great car for the Lotus brand no doubt, but if I was buying a Lotus i'd be looking at the previous Exiges to really get the thrill from the manual + supercharged V6 combo. This definitely comes across as a more "everyday" Lotus and in saying that the Touring spec would be more suited. If you want sport then a previous Exige is better? Rambling I know, it seems like a mini identity crisis.
The AMG/DCT combo is where the Emira will shine I think. Suits the more up to date nature.
The Exige is a hardcore racer though, I salute anyone who daily's one as a car as mine only comes out really for track days or the odd road blast, its not a car I'd want to do long journeys in or daily, but the Exige is truly special.
The Emira is around 1485kg for the V6 Manual FE with a full tank of fuel which is really no heavier than say a Cayman. When you adding 12-way powered seats, 10 speaker audio, LCD screens the kilos start to pile on but an Emira will appear to a far more general customer base than say an Elise or Exige would and the Evora just always missed the mark due to the poor interior, the Elise and Exige can be forgiven as you don't really expect any kind of interior in such a car.
The AMG DCT will for sure be the better received car, it will also be quite a bit quicker in real world.
They are definitely trying to squeeze the USP of the Exige/Evora together that is for sure. As we know Lotus will more than likely release some more hardcore versions in time, which also makes the comparison between Sport and Touring all the more interesting. If anyone could make an adaptive damper work really well I'd hedge my bets that it would be Lotus, which would combine the Sports/Touring abilities to make a really good all round package. Which with the updated interior and tech, is surely what they are aiming for. That more sellable every day Lotus.
Yeah my guess is a magnetic adaptive suspension must be pretty expensive kit, I know the ECU controller can be anywhere from a few hundred quick upto a few ground, then the dampers themselves tend to cost more as well and then they normally have more expensive springs or need helper springs if coil over based ones. So maybe Lotus are operating on tight margin or need to meet certain margin expectations and as such adaptive suspension would make the car another 2-3k more expensive which is just not an option.
I already put my letter of interest in with Lotus for a GT4 road car should they do one and I do hope that would be based on the AMG DCT running around 450HP, adaptive suspension, 1300kg and aero package like the race car, just hope it is closer to 100k rather than 200k.
For their first car, the Emira seems great, Porsche have had a lot of time and generations to perfect the Cayman and it seems Lotus have launched a car that competes right out the gate.
Soldato
Ha did think of your thoughts whilst watching. I reckon you’re gonna keep it. Those hints of flipping it with quieten down now 
Think he actually does a really good review here, also shows that even with Sports chassis and Cup 2 tyres the car still rides superb on the road.
I am really not sure what to do right now in regards to taking the car or delaying it and considering an AMG base car.
A little more as to why, my Exige has developed a supercharger rattle, dealership confirmed not a normal noise but need a Lotus field engineer to come and essentially listen to it to sign of repair/replacement work. This was now over a week ago, I've called twice chasing up and to be honest I was not particular that impressed with the response and still no word from Lotus.
This worries me greatly, right now Lotus are selling no cars, so I am sure they are not getting many calls for warranty work but its taking this long, when a car has an issue I'd really expect the level of service and response to be better than this, what happens when 100's, 1000's of Emira's get delivered and some customers get issues, how long will they be waiting?
I shall feedback here, in fairness it has been only just over a week and I am not the most patient person. Also I am still in the mindset that the AMG version will offer me something truly different to my Exige, whereas a V6 powered Emira is just a fat Exige with comfort and toys, not sure I need that with the other cars I have, but then there is the FOMO.
Maybe, but it is a hassle sometimes selling a car and not that sure what if any overs potential there will be, could just be easier to move my deposit into the base AMG queue, not decided yet and until they call me asking for rest of the money I don't need to make a decision, my decision will also weigh on how quick they resolve the issue with my Exige. If the latter becomes an issue then I will certainly not want one of the early cars.
Soldato
Are you able to pass your build slot to someone else? Obviously they would have to pay the deposit to you