Lotus Emira Review….when?

[vanman1936]

Anyone heard of any journo reviews in the pipeline?

Deposit down, but don’t want to really commit without at least hearing about it from someone other than Jensen….

[BertBert]

Not this year I think it's the answer. I think press cars are coming available early next year unless they are delayed which I suspect they might be.

With the roadshow coming it'll be interesting to see the terms of the orders to be placed. Ie when they become committed.

I too will find it hard to commit without at least dinner reviews, but hopefully a test drive!

[qwerty21]

Was informed by the dealer that i have my deposit with that you can come and have a look at the car end of September but they will not be doing any test drives as they have too many customers with deposits, seen the car at Festival of Speed, but it will need to really impress me to commit without any reviews or a test drive, was told if i wanted a test drive it will not be till April next year

[natben]

I do like it but there is no way I will be committing to an order with out a test drive in it. Reviews will help but I need to get behind the wheel before parting with £70k.

[BertBert]

Perhaps we'll find out how all that lot works soon with when you have to finally commit to a car.

[LordOfTheManor]

I'm still hoping for "white"

[Honeywell]

I am keen to read a review.

I was just looking at the Evora review in Autocar on the assumption that the chassis and handling will be as good given the similarities of the cars and likely the even better development budget of the Emira under Geely.

I was pleasantly surprised to read this:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/lotus/evora/r...

"On the limit? The Evora is as sublime as you’d imagine, allowing its driver to take liberties normally only possible in front-engined, rear-drive cars. Put simply, it is the finest-handling car on sale today."


I had known they were good but I hadn't clocked that they were that highly rated.

I am going to have to wait for an i4 non-launch edition so the agony of patience is wearing me down!

[trackdemon]

That's long been Lotus' stock in trade, and the Exige & Evora are both fabulous to drive if you focus purely on the dynamics. What the Emira needs to fix is all the stuff Porsche are good at - build quality, interior ambiance and ergonomics, the fine details of driving like gearchange quality, pedal weighting and positioning. If they move the dynamics on a small step but everything else a huge step with those looks then it looks extremely promising. Geely aren't known for half measures. Fingers crossed, but I'd be willing to take a punt if I had the folding

[bcr5784]

trackdemon said:

That's long been Lotus' stock in trade, and the Exige & Evora are both fabulous to drive if you focus purely on the dynamics. What the Emira needs to fix is all the stuff Porsche are good at - build quality, interior ambiance and ergonomics, the fine details of driving like gearchange quality, pedal weighting and positioning. If they move the dynamics on a small step but everything else a huge step with those looks then it looks extremely promising. Geely aren't known for half measures. Fingers crossed, but I'd be willing to take a punt if I had the folding

Hope they DON'T emulate Porsche on ergonomics - at least not Cayman ones. Some of the worst ergonomics (probably the worst) of any car I have owned. Heater controls hidden behind gear lever, too many switches which require you to look down too far from the road, and a handbrake best operated by those with a six inch limb growing from their right kneecap.

[trackdemon]

bcr5784 said:

trackdemon said:

That's long been Lotus' stock in trade, and the Exige & Evora are both fabulous to drive if you focus purely on the dynamics. What the Emira needs to fix is all the stuff Porsche are good at - build quality, interior ambiance and ergonomics, the fine details of driving like gearchange quality, pedal weighting and positioning. If they move the dynamics on a small step but everything else a huge step with those looks then it looks extremely promising. Geely aren't known for half measures. Fingers crossed, but I'd be willing to take a punt if I had the folding

Hope they DON'T emulate Porsche on ergonomics - at least not Cayman ones. Some of the worst ergonomics (probably the worst) of any car I have owned. Heater controls hidden behind gear lever, too many switches which require you to look down too far from the road, and a handbrake best operated by those with a six inch limb growing from their right kneecap.

Each to their own; I've always found Cayman ergonomics pretty decent. The point wasn't to put Porsche on a pedestal, but rather to illustrate these are the areas Lotus have traditionally lagged behind, making up for it with superb dynamics.

[bcr5784]

trackdemon said:

Each to their own; I've always found Cayman ergonomics pretty decent. The point wasn't to put Porsche on a pedestal, but rather to illustrate these are the areas Lotus have traditionally lagged behind, making up for it with superb dynamics.

On that topic I've just been to view the Emira and have to say the ergonomics are much more to my taste. The interior is perhaps simpler than I expected but the main controls are much more accessible than on a Cayman. Some might find the interior a bit bland but it would suit me just fine. What I'd find less pleasing are the doors which are huge and thick. Combine that with a wide car to start with and I can imagine getting out in a tight parking space being pretty difficult - much so than in a Cayman or Alpine.

[Gadzookoids]

Honeywell said:

I am keen to read a review.

I was pleasantly surprised to read this:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/lotus/evora/r...

"On the limit? The Evora is as sublime as you’d imagine, allowing its driver to take liberties normally only possible in front-engined, rear-drive cars. Put simply, it is the finest-handling car on sale today."

I drive an Evora 410 Sport (so more track focused than a regular Evora) but even then I'd say that the on-limit handling deserves some respect. It's mid-engined with most of the weight over the rear axle so when it let's go you have to be quick to catch it. It's not a drift car! Fortunately, the steering and chassis feel is excellent so you know when you are near the limits. Given that the Emira has a wider track compared to the Evora it is likely that the on limit behaviour will be even better. It is pretty much a dead cert that the Emira will be brilliant and the AMG engine is likely to be the pick in terms of handling as it is a little lighter and can sit a little lower. The transverse engine layout means that the CofG is relatively high - especially when there is a supercharger bolted on top of the (V6) engine. The AMG engine/transmission should also cope a bit btter with tuning (if 400hp isn't enough!). It just won't sound as good as the V6 - which is glorious

[gareth h]

natben said:

I do like it but there is no way I will be committing to an order with out a test drive in it. Reviews will help but I need to get behind the wheel before parting with £70k.

Me either, even though my last 4 fun cars have been Lotus, I wouldn’t dream of buying a car I wasn’t able to test drive first.

[trackdemon]

Gadzookoids said:

Honeywell said:

I am keen to read a review.

I was pleasantly surprised to read this:

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/lotus/evora/r...

"On the limit? The Evora is as sublime as you’d imagine, allowing its driver to take liberties normally only possible in front-engined, rear-drive cars. Put simply, it is the finest-handling car on sale today."

I drive an Evora 410 Sport (so more track focused than a regular Evora) but even then I'd say that the on-limit handling deserves some respect. It's mid-engined with most of the weight over the rear axle so when it let's go you have to be quick to catch it. It's not a drift car! Fortunately, the steering and chassis feel is excellent so you know when you are near the limits. Given that the Emira has a wider track compared to the Evora it is likely that the on limit behaviour will be even better. It is pretty much a dead cert that the Emira will be brilliant and the AMG engine is likely to be the pick in terms of handling as it is a little lighter and can sit a little lower. The transverse engine layout means that the CofG is relatively high - especially when there is a supercharger bolted on top of the (V6) engine. The AMG engine/transmission should also cope a bit btter with tuning (if 400hp isn't enough!). It just won't sound as good as the V6 - which is glorious

Tbf I think that review refers to an early 'standard' car, or maybe an S with the 'charger. I've only driven one of those truly in anger (at Bruntingthorpe, with its vast space) and found it an absolute doddle to do long smokey drifts in, super friendly in its yaw moment and bags of lock to hold it. The GT430 I drove more recently definitely felt a bit more edgy but it's to be expected that as you ramp up the spring rates the transition between grip and slip is a lot narrower. The Exige is even easier to slide. An Elise you just spin