Lotus Emira
Lotus's last combustion car — Toyota V6 or AMG four, your call.
8 reviewers · 62 videos
Reviewers strongly agree on its performance and handling, but split on daily drivability and value.
across 8 reviewers
"to get this level of driving connectedness and experience while still having Apple carplay a new modern interior that is far more upscale than any Lotus before reverse cam Auto dimming rear view which just makes it so much more usable it's truly something special"
Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 14:01"The seat is already wearing. That's embarrassing. And the seat itself is quite an uncomfortable affair as well."
JayEmm on Cars · ▶ 18:24"This now absolutely feels like a 120 to 130,000 dollar driving experience."
Zygrene · ▶ 10:10"This car is two and a half times the price of my Mazda Miata. Does it give me two and a half times the enjoyment and fun of my Miata? No, definitely not."
Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 8:35Performance
4.5/58 of 8 reviewersstrong consensus“This JB4 map definitely increases the boost by a lot. ... Fast car now. Over 500 at the crank.”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 5:41“This powertrain has been a long-anticipated arrival in the Emira... It's got 400 horsepower... It actually makes a little bit more power versus what this car was supposed to have”
positive · Redline Reviews · ▶ 2:29“This added power is so welcome. Any more than this, it would feel like a handful. This is now properly quick.”
positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 15:53Handling
5.0/58 of 8 reviewersstrong consensus“Wow, Öhlins TTX dampers were like magic over the bumps. Not only does the car soak up the bumps like they're nothing, it also corners flat.”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 4:48“I can feel exactly what's happening in the front end because we have hydraulic steering.”
positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 5:01“Oh, it rotates beautifully.”
positive · TheTopher · ▶ 8:10Fun to drive
5.0/58 of 8 reviewersstrong consensus“Lotus is for the driver that values communication they value the connection to the machine”
positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 15:32“if you want something that feels like an occasion to drive and something that has a higher learning curve but one that grows with you then the Amira I think right now out of everything that's on the market this might be one of the most special driving experiences”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 18:47“I've just been cracking up driving this car this week. It's so entertaining.”
positive · TopherDrives · ▶ 12:19Daily drivability
3.5/58 of 8 reviewerssplit“to get this level of driving connectedness and experience while still having Apple carplay a new modern interior that is far more upscale than any Lotus before reverse cam Auto dimming rear view which just makes it so much more usable it's truly something special”
positive · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 14:01“My back started to get a bit sore after about 50 mi, I will admit. Uh and the lumbar doesn't really seem to cut it.”
mixed · TopherDrives · ▶ 16:45“this is definitely a big step up in terms of quality and design.”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 15:48Value
4.0/58 of 8 reviewerssplit“This now absolutely feels like a 120 to 130,000 dollar driving experience.”
positive · Zygrene · ▶ 10:10“This feels like it has a nicer interior. ... Everything's wrapped in leather.”
positive · TheTopher · ▶ 33:34“This car is two and a half times the price of my Mazda Miata. Does it give me two and a half times the enjoyment and fun of my Miata? No, definitely not.”
critical · Jubbal & Cars · ▶ 8:35The last of its kind. The Emira (Type 131) replaced the Elise, Exige and Evora in one shot, and it's the car that ends Lotus's combustion story. Two very different hearts: the carry-over Toyota 2GR-FE supercharged 3.5 V6 — offered, importantly, with a six-speed manual — and a later Mercedes-AMG M139 2.0 turbo four driving an eight-speed DCT. The trade vs the old cars is deliberate: a proper interior, usable doors, modern electronics, at the cost of the stripped-out purity that defined the Elise/Exige. What carries over is the bonded-aluminium chassis, double wishbones and a kerb weight that's still light for the class. The enthusiast pick is the V6 manual — the combination Lotus knew its faithful wanted before the brand goes electric. Where it places: the bridge between Hethel's analogue past and its EV future, and the last new Lotus you can shift yourself.
Hear it in the reviewer’s words
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- First Editionlaunch-spec V6, fully loaded
The last combustion Lotus. Early cars had software and build-quality teething, and the AMG-sourced M139 four (8-speed DCT) arrived well after the Toyota V6. The manual is V6-only — if you want three pedals, it's the supercharged 2GR or nothing.