Consolidated Emira Prototype Review Thread

With most of the reviews out now it's best to create one centralised thread to discuss review impressions, comments and feedback

Print Reviews:​

First drive: 2022 Lotus Emira prototype review | Autocar

Truly crucial coupé: Hethel’s final combustion-engined car, its first creation under Geely ownership and the replacement for three models

www.autocar.co.uk

2023 Lotus Emira Closes Combustion Era in Fine-Handling Fashion

Ahead of Lotus’s fully electric future, the Emira is its final combustion sports car.

www.autoweek.com

We drive the Lotus Emira Prototype and ask: Is Lotus' last ever petrol car also its best? — CAR

LOTUS EMIRA PROTOTYPE DRIVEN

apple.news

Lotus Emira prototype | PH Review

Spoiler alert: it's brilliant

www.pistonheads.com

2022 Lotus Emira Looks to Be One of the Brand's Best

The final gasoline-powered Lotus chooses dynamic purity over absolute power.

www.caranddriver.com

Lotus Emira review: exclusive road test of first prototype Reviews 2023 | Top Gear

What’s with the stickers? Ah, you’ve spotted them. Yes, this white VP2 007 (is somebody trying to subconsciously fill us with warm, fuzzy Bond’s Esprit vibes?) test car is a validation prototype; we’ll drive the final production car next month, making this sort of a sign-off drive. At least in...

www.topgear.com

2023 Lotus Emira review – strong showing for Porsche Cayman GTS rival | Evo

The first new Lotus for a generation, and the last to be petrol powered, shows great promise but needs some polish

www.evo.co.uk

Video Reviews​

 

[frazzer]

Strange how the copy in each of the written reviews is almost identical - provides some insight into how the press works, or perhaps how lazy they are.

 

[timbo999]

Strange how the copy in each of the written reviews is almost identical - provides some insight into how the press works, or perhaps how lazy they are.

Autocar and Pistonheads are always essentially the same review as they are both Haymarkets and often carried out by the same person as in this case (Mike Duff).

 

[Pegasi]

Oh goodness, a whole thread of reading. Wonderful! I am taking a long lunch today.

 

[Steve24]

What bothers me about this is that all of the reviews are of a prototype car.

I thought we were supposed to be getting reviews of the real thing by now?

 

[Lots_Of_Trouble]

Still they use that Fugly blue bottle cap in the engine bay (smh)

 

[frazzer]

Confusing Catchpole talks about not being able ESC off, yet the written reviews talk about the how manageable it is with the ESC off

 

[eclat2emira]

Strange how the copy in each of the written reviews is almost identical - provides some insight into how the press works, or perhaps how lazy they are.

That struck me too! I kept thinking, haven't I already read this one? I wonder if they were given written handouts which they have all used a bit too literally...possibly lazy as you say?!

 

[Kentviking]

Top Gear video is now up...

 

[eclat2emira]

I am a bit puzzled by some of the negativity around the reviews, did I not read that these were all done a few weeks ago so we all know there were no production cars available then, hence Validation models used?

I'd much rather have these now than waiting for production car reviews - I guess those will come together with the first actual road (rather than track) tests?

It feels like there is absolute transparency about what is final production standard and what is not, with some useful comments based on that. If anything some of this ratchets up the expectation, I think Henry Catchpole made a comment along the lines of "Lotus have clearly set the bar higher for themselves if they are calling things out as sub-standard right now which would have made production a few years ago."

To me, this is easily close enough to a production car to tell me what I needed to know - in other words it is independent validation of what Lotus and a few select others have been telling us since launch.

 

[eclat2emira]

Top Gear video is now up...

Thank you - lunchtime viewing sorted!

 

[New to Lotus]

Just watched this sounds more positive I think the final production car will be great and next months reviews when the car is on the road is where it will really shine.

 

[EspritGuy]

Top Gear video is now up...

Best video report so far. If you had to recommend just one, this is it.
Thanks for sharing

 

[xen]

The Top Gear review was much better. Might have jumped the gun with my initial impressions because this put a smile back on my face.

I appreciate that they took the time to give an overall impression of the car (I assume they had more time) and having different perspectives and presenters helped to keep the content fresh. Really looking forward to mine now.

 

[timbo999]

2023 Lotus Emira review – strong showing for Porsche Cayman GTS rival | Evo

The first new Lotus for a generation, and the last to be petrol powered, shows great promise but needs some polish

www.evo.co.uk

 

[Lots_Of_Trouble]

its amazing how 2 different reviews can leave you feeling differently.

The Carfection one i saw this morning left me feeling "flat and deflated enthusiasm", a lacklustre but honest (tbf) review and they were limited to the track.

This review has left me feeling excited again for my first edition.
Seeing it in the valleys, and a comparison next to the exotic Huracan (i believe) made all the difference.

They really have stepped up in terms of the interior finish, one of the key concerns for me, and from what i have seen on the red interior, i feel confident i made the right choice.

i am also glad it wasnt Chris Harris "Hooning" it around the track

 

[Lots_Of_Trouble]

The Top Gear review was much better. Might have jumped the gun with my initial impressions because this put a smile back on my face.

I appreciate that they took the time to give an overall impression of the car (I assume they had more time) and having different perspectives and presenters helped to keep the content fresh. Really looking forward to mine now.

exactly what i just said too

 

[eclat2emira]

its amazing how 2 different reviews can leave you feeling differently.

The Carfection one i saw this morning left me feeling "flat and deflated enthusiasm", a lacklustre but honest (tbf) review and they were limited to the track.

This review has left me feeling excited again for my first edition.
Seeing it in the valleys, and a comparison next to the exotic Huracan (i believe) made all the difference.

They really have stepped up in terms of the interior finish, one of the key concerns for me, and from what i have seen on the red interior, i feel confident i made the right choice.

i am also glad it wasnt Chris Harris "Hooning" it around the track

Couldn't agree more.

 

[FederGigant]

What I don't like at the moment is that throughout all the reviews they stated that the Emiras exhaust note is way quieter than the Evoras. I thought that this will happen, but still it's a big disappointment. It also doesn't sound remotely as good as the Evora as far as you can tell from hearing both trough a YouTube video.

 

[Lots_Of_Trouble]

What I don't like at the moment is that throughout all the reviews they stated that the Emiras exhaust note is way quieter than the Evoras. I thought that this will happen, but still it's a big disappointment. It also doesn't sound remotely as good as the Evora as far as you can tell from hearing both trough a YouTube video.

agreed - but i think one mentioned its to do with new regulations on emission bla bla bla

Surely an aftermarket part or two will sort this down the line