Lotus Emira

[CDN-Driver]

BMW should hire the designer whatever the cost

[stein_325i]

[heavyD^2]

I absolutely love the design of this car but after watching the videos and seeing the car in motion the only pause I have is the vents on the hood (frunk) look odd at certain angles. I'm sure it's something that you won't notice in person.

[KevinGS]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

I absolutely love the design of this car but after watching the videos and seeing the car in motion the only pause I have is the vents on the hood (frunk) look odd at certain angles. I'm sure it's something that you won't notice in person.

I thought the same thing. Those hood vents kind of throw me off. I think the cuts in the hood are just too big. But the vents will be less noticeable in darker colors.

It's a tidy, clean design....except for that hood.

[Humdizzle]

Looks like they may have missed the mark.

[Alfisti]

Curious, what does a mildly used 997.2 or 991.1 cost in the UK?

Edit; Just checked, seems to be about 25 to 30K pounds less than a new Emira for sub 25K miles. Interesting decision.

GEtting heavy 458 vibes from the Emira in this video, front end especially.

[ScullyD]

Originally Posted by Humdizzle

Looks like they may have missed the mark.

Sounds like a brutal miss, I can hear the sound of deposits being pulled en masse today.

[Alfisti]

The two review videos are worlds apart though, weird. I would seriously reserve judgement re. track performance as these cars won't see much track time, these super stiff, super responsive cars go to shit on crappy roads.

[ScullyD]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

The two review videos are worlds apart though, weird. I would seriously reserve judgement re. track performance as these cars won't see much track time, these super stiff, super responsive cars go to shit on crappy roads.

What two reviews? The prototype cars were not reviews and not production cars. Top gear gave it a bad review today and said an a110 was a better car.

An M2 CS isn't a super stiff car and was EVO car of the year. So is a GT4. Why deal with the lotus headache if the car is "meh"?

[Alfisti]

The two above, posts 182 and 179.

[ScullyD]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

The two above, posts 182 and 179.

Those were not reviews of the production car.

[Alfisti]

No idea what your point is, we are discussing these reviews? You're saying pull deposits based on the EVO one then saying it's not a production car, i don't follow your train of thought.

[ScullyD]

Originally Posted by Alfisti

No idea what your point is, we are discussing these reviews? You're saying pull deposits based on the EVO one then saying it's not a production car, i don't follow your train of thought.

It's pretty consistent with all the other reviews from all the other British magazines that came out today. UK auto magazines were dying to heap universal praise on this car as Lotus is a UK company, so to have such pedestrian reviews is a big disappointment.

I personally don't have money to buy every car to see how they are, so magazine reviews from trusted reviewers are important. I've been reading Jethro's thoughts on cars for 20+ years, if he's negative on a car this much, for me it's no longer a consideration.

[Alfisti]

That all makes sense I was just confused re. the "it's not a production car review" comment.

This car will get a pass on looks alone I think. If not tracking and if one does not have great roads nearby, it just looks more exotic than a Cayman.

[BMW F22]

I placed a deposit on an Emira about 9 months ago. Was impatiently waiting for these reviews/first drives. All the reviews have been mixed and left me on the fence. I guess most of that placed deposit last year was expecting stellar reviews: on par with 718 GTS if not better, and along with that sexy looks. My backup option is a GTS 4.0. Will have to drive the Emira once demos are available at dealerships and make final decision (also waiting for Chris Harris’s take on it). To be honest, most of these reviews have just been first drives and not really reviews. It’s not where it’s been driven on a track hard and then cruise around town. Will have to wait a bit longer for additional data points.

[Germanauto]

C&D review was also not as glowing as I expected.

I'm sure this is still a joy to drive and will go down as a future classic. But I'm just not seeing an identity here. The more I see it, the more I feel the design is wholly generic. This is a very niche car made for somebody who has a strong affinity for the Lotus brand, British culture, and/or wanting to drive something unique.

[M3WC]

Originally Posted by ScullyD

Sounds like a brutal miss, I can hear the sound of deposits being pulled en masse today.

Hope you are right, I really want one. Under msrp would be fantastic.

[M3WC]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

I placed a deposit on an Emira about 9 months ago. Was impatiently waiting for these reviews/first drives. All the reviews have been mixed and left me on the fence. I guess most of that placed deposit last year was expecting stellar reviews: on par with 718 GTS if not better, and along with that sexy looks. My backup option is a GTS 4.0. Will have to drive the Emira once demos are available at dealerships and make final decision (also waiting for Chris Harris’s take on it). To be honest, most of these reviews have just been first drives and not really reviews. It’s not where it’s been driven on a track hard and then cruise around town. Will have to wait a bit longer for additional data points.

Watch Harry Metcalfe's review, he had both Sport and Tour versions for 5 days. Got to actually live with the cars and really feel them out.

[BMW F22]

Originally Posted by M3WC

Watch Harry Metcalfe's review, he had both Sport and Tour versions for 5 days. Got to actually live with the cars and really feel them out.

His review and AutoTrader's (Rorie) were pretty positive. The others were negative or lukewarm. I'll need to drive it to make final judgment though. Been waiting on this car for a while so need to test drive it for sure.

[FC4]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

C&D review was also not as glowing as I expected.

I'm sure this is still a joy to drive and will go down as a future classic. But I'm just not seeing an identity here. The more I see it, the more I feel the design is wholly generic. This is a very niche car made for somebody who has a strong affinity for the Lotus brand, British culture, and/or wanting to drive something unique.

Well said. Agreed.

Still getting one, though.

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

C&D review was also not as glowing as I expected.

I'm sure this is still a joy to drive and will go down as a future classic. But I'm just not seeing an identity here. The more I see it, the more I feel the design is wholly generic. This is a very niche car made for somebody who has a strong affinity for the Lotus brand, British culture, and/or wanting to drive something unique.

It seems like they addressed a lot of complaints with past Lotus cars improving quality and finally outfitting one of their cars with a legitimate interior at the cost of maybe softening the edges a little. Sounds like a great car to me that's higher quality and more accessible than previous Lotus offerings. So strange how some say they will not buy a G8x based on its appearance despite it's brilliance as a driver's car then turn their backs on one of the most beautiful designs in recent history because it's not a perfect drive. It's why building cars for automobile enthusiasts is a fool's errand for manufacturers.

[W///]

Originally Posted by BMW F22

I placed a deposit on an Emira about 9 months ago. Was impatiently waiting for these reviews/first drives. All the reviews have been mixed and left me on the fence. I guess most of that placed deposit last year was expecting stellar reviews: on par with 718 GTS if not better, and along with that sexy looks. My backup option is a GTS 4.0. Will have to drive the Emira once demos are available at dealerships and make final decision (also waiting for Chris Harris’s take on it). To be honest, most of these reviews have just been first drives and not really reviews. It’s not where it’s been driven on a track hard and then cruise around town. Will have to wait a bit longer for additional data points.

I have no dog in this fight, but I think the Lotus might be priced a little too close to the GT4 (which is the pinnacle) when you really option it out. And personally I'd never even consider the 4 pot.

The only Lotus I've ever driven is an Evora S. I was so curious to see what Lotus' was all about and I came away kind of lukewarm as well, especially considering the price. Kind of like the EVO review said, the engine is super nice (especially when people say it's "just" a Toyota engine), but it's no Porsche 4L. What I was most disappointed in was the gearshift, it's not even on the same planet as any of the Porsche gearboxes, yet alone the 6MT in the GT4. I will say though, the Evora got so much attention during the test drive, so I'm sure the Emira will do the same.

I think your approach is correct, you just have to drive both of them to get a good feel.