EVO: BMW M2 v Porsche Boxster GTS v Lotus Emira v Alpine A110 v Ford Mustang

[Read T]

I stopped watching automotive "journalist" when it became painfully obvious the reviews were being bought. Journalists are sent to ultra exclusive resorts to spend a week in a car. Amazingly all the journalists on the trip all have the same talking points that closely mirror the press kit which was handed out.

I feel it's more the "opposite". If a journalist says something damning about a car they might not be privy to the manufacturer's next model.

 

[cyanmauve]

The Emira went in the wrong direction over the course of ten years. Even more so when you compare a C7 to a C8 - that is a proper 10 years of evolution in today's car environment. Note; I didn't even use the Evora GT numbers, as that would just be worse.

The Emira is a better car, but not a better sports car.

As I have stated before, I haven’t driven a Porsche, so I might change my tune if I had a broader frame of reference.

From a 10,000 foot view, it seems that automotive journalist pine for days gone by. The Emira seems to be one of the very, very few cars that gives a proper old-school sports car experience. I think they have sprinkled in enough modern convenience and design to stay relevant. Whereas the competition have figured out a way to mix some of the Lotus-style rawness and communication into more livable products like the Cayman/Boxster GTS. As I write this, I recall that was more or less the position of Car and Driver when they first reviewed the Emira.

 

[Lotustoronto]

Good read;

Comparing The 2025 Lotus Emira V6 and Porsche Cayman GTS

The 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS and Lotus Emira V6 are top-shelf examples of modern, mid-engine sports cars. Here's how they stack up against each other.

www.forbes.com

 

[Rupes]

Good read;

Comparing The 2025 Lotus Emira V6 and Porsche Cayman GTS

The 2025 Porsche 718 Cayman GTS and Lotus Emira V6 are top-shelf examples of modern, mid-engine sports cars. Here's how they stack up against each other.

www.forbes.com

This is the kind of review you get when Porsche isn’t your main sponsor.

 

[seriously]

This is the kind of review you get when Porsche isn’t your main sponsor.

I also thought it was a very honest assessment.

 

[nickorette]

This.

I know this is taboo, but all car rags favor who advertises with them and to some extent, any large car manufacturer (given they have deep pockets). It is absolutely easy to crap all over Lotus, they don't have the resources to respond. It's that simple.

Let's not forget Lotus doesn't have the budget to wine and dine journalists in 5 star resorts on pristine secluded driving roads.

 

[nickorette]

Evora sold about 6,100 units in its life cycle over 12 years. Emira has sold 10K+ in 3 years - big difference and I think it shows that the Emira is a "better" car than the Evora was.

The reason car mag's were easier on the Evora than Emira is the difference of when they were launched. Evora was being created in the mid 2000's (launched in '09). 15 years later there is an expectation for increased performance and while it is true that over the first "base" Evora the Emira is a lot quicker, the Evora 400 (same powertrain as Emira) was unveiled in 2015. That's ten years ago. To make this a little clearer;

Vehicle	HP	Weight (lbs)	Lbs/HP
Evora 400	400	3,120	7.80
Corvette Stingray	455	3,298	7.25

Vehicle	HP	Weight (lbs)	Lbs/HP
Lotus Emira V6	400	~3,200	8.00
2025 Corvette C8	495	~3,535	7.14

The Emira went in the wrong direction over the course of ten years. Even more so when you compare a C7 to a C8 - that is a proper 10 years of evolution in today's car environment. Note; I didn't even use the Evora GT numbers, as that would just be worse.

I don't think it's so much that the Emira is a bad car, it's just that it did not move the needle enough from an Evora 400 that came out 10 years ago. I don't think there is an example of any car evolution that went down in performance over ten years... Yes, I get that the Evora is a difference car than an Emira... but is it really? Or does Lotus want that to be the narrative and the auto journalists aren't bitting.

The Emira is a better car, but not a better sports car. That's why it terms of pricing they left it about the same as the Evora - otherwise I don't think Lotus could sell many Emira's at Porsche 911 price points.

Power to weight ratio is down, but it goes faster round a track then the Evora 400+ due to wider track.

They probably should have released the i4 with 500hp, but I'm happy with the V6 regardless

 

[nickorette]

Of course I’m going to agree with this. It’s written by a fellow OS Emira owner, so his opinion must be dead on!

I subscribed to Evo earlier this year, as I really miss Road & Track from when I was a kid. It’s not the same, but finding good general interest print car magazines is getting harder and harder. Hagerty Drivers Club is very good too, in a different way.

The Evo Porsche bias is strong. Very, very strong. I heard about it on the interwebs before I was a subscriber, but now that I have been reading it monthly for several issues, I believe it. They review every possible iteration of Porsche made, including tuner cars.

I have never drive a Cayman or Boxster, and I’m sure that they are great cars. However, the common thread amongst those on this forum and elsewhere that own both an Emira and Cayman/Boxster S/GTS, is that the Emira steals the heart, while the Porsche convinces the mind.

Evo does seem a bit biased against the Emira.

EVO has given a perfect 5-star to every single Porsche GT product ever made, and to every single 911 turbo except the 992.1, which broke the streak with a 4.5 stars.

 

[seriously]

Power to weight ratio is down, but it goes faster round a track then the Evora 400+ due to wider track.

They probably should have released the i4 with 500hp, but I'm happy with the V6 regardless

I think the i4 has heat mgmt challenges as is. 500 wouldn’t be a problem for the engine but it may heat soak quickly in the mid engine configuration. We’ll find out as more i4 owners tune their cars.

 

[Black Ice]

I think the i4 has heat mgmt challenges as is. 500 wouldn’t be a problem for the engine but it may heat soak quickly in the mid engine configuration. We’ll find out as more i4 owners tune their cars.

It will make 500hp obviously, but the fact Mercedes don’t offer it with anything close to that suggests it’s probably beyond what they consider “safe”.

To be honest, based on the reviews I’ve seen of the Turbo SE it’s a rocket ship as it is. Do Lotus maybe quote conservative performance numbers to maintain the hierarchy as they see it? (I’ve no idea incidentally, it’s just a theory!).

 

[Lotustoronto]

Power to weight ratio is down, but it goes faster round a track then the Evora 400+ due to wider track.

They probably should have released the i4 with 500hp, but I'm happy with the V6 regardless

Do we know that for sure? Anyone have Hethel track numbers to confirm?