Lotus Emira First Edition Review

Odd times we live in.

As the automotive world goes increasingly electric, here we want to celebrate the last internal combustion hurrah from a manufacturer that has a storied history in making simple, lightweight sports car.

So naturally, the last iteration of that simple, lightweight formula is the least simple and least lightweight sports car its ever made.

The Emira is the final internal combustion Lotus that will be produced before the brand goes fully electric

Sports car formula

This is the Lotus Emira First Edition, and to deeply confuse you, it is not the actual 'First' edition, because that would be the Emira equipped with the supercharged 3.5-litre V6.

This car is powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre in-line four, and has had confusingly many names over the short time it has been on the market. At some point it was the Emira i4, then the Emira 2.0, the Emira Turbo, and now the Emira First Edition.

As the V6 model is presently not offered in Singapore, this remains the singular Emira on sale. What do you get?

Under that engine cover, a 2.0-litre engine produces a solid amount of power for daily use, but its most notable and delightful quality is the soundtrack it produces - noisy, playful and smile-inducing

For starters, power comes from an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre engine that produces 360bhp and 430Nm of torque. The car will complete the century sprint in 4.3 seconds - it's plenty quick, but it doesn't feel shockingly fast (a good thing, in my books). It is power you can use, which is a strangely uncommon thing given the bhp rat race manufacturers seem to be caught in. 

Where it endlessly tickles and excites is with its soundtrack - a bassy gargle at low revs, then a hilariously clamorous mix of metallic intensity overlayed with whooshing and whistling from the turbocharger when you pin the throttle harder. Is it slightly childish? Perhaps. Is it boisterous fun? Absolutely. It will put a huge grin on your face. 

A hydraulic power steering setup means that the Emira delivers engaging feedback through its helm, letting you attack corners with confidence 

Also exciting is the Emira's helm - unlike most cars that have gone down the electric steering route, the Emira still utilises a hydraulic power steering system. This gives the steering wheel a greater sense of feedback and directness.

This translates to a car that's fun and engaging to drive. There's lots of mechanical grip, a taut and responsive (but not harsh) chassis setup, and an overall dynamic and responsive character. Direction changes are sharp and immediate - it feels every bit the sports car it wants to be.

Different drive modes adjust the powertrain responsiveness, exhaust loudness and stability control, but otherwise the car's Touring chassis setup is excellent for driving on public roads

Yes, it's not featherlight like Lotuses of old (at 1,446kg it's a struggle call this "lightweight"), but it still delivers a distinct and particular small sports car experience. It delights in being wrung hard.

The only shortcoming is the gearbox - while competent, it feels reluctant to respond to quick shifts in manual mode. Left in auto, it's again just okay. Also, the gear selector is a little odd where you have to always engage N before going to either D/R (unnecessarily trying to 'model' a manual box), and it's not particularly quick, so just be slightly patient when parking/three-point turning.  

Unlike Lotus sports cars previously, the Emira is perfectly comfortable to drive in amidst urban traffic

And yet, when you eventually have to adhere to typical speed limits and urban traffic, the Emira is distinctly different from the Lotus sports cars that have come before, in that it is defiantly forgiving and relatively comfortable.

Yes, it's still a low slung sports car with firm suspension and limited ground clearance, but it's never harsh nor tiresome. It feels… like an everyday sports car (there's even cruise control if you need). This particular car comes with the Touring chassis (there's a more focused Sport one), and it's definitely the right configuration for more regular, non-track driving.

The Emira features high levels of equipment, including wireless Apple CarPlay and a premium KEF sound system

Everyday luxury

This sense of usability and daily comfort is notably aided by a cabin that exudes quality and premium luxury. Expensive materials are everywhere you look, and in this First Edition model you get the full equipment getup that includes a premium KEF sound system, an Alcantara headliner, satellite navigation, smartphone connectivity, it's all there. There's nothing bare bones about this car at all.

I will ding the steering wheel, which features touch controls similar to the ones you'd find in a Volvo/Polestar (same parent company and all). While the functionality is useful, I found them too sensitive, which sometimes leads to unintended keystrokes.

Throughout the cabin, you will find plus materials that highlight the up-market nature of Lotus' products moving forward

Besides that, the cabin is honestly a lovely place to be in. It is comfortable and ergonomic, and exudes the kind of quality that you expect from this new-generation Lotus brand.

It's not even that cramped! Yes, it's still just a two-seater, but there's actually a decent amount of storage space aft of the seats (Lotus quotes 208 litres to complement the 151-litre rear boot), and even a small storage tray underneath the centre console.

When you eventually park up and have to get out, you'll also delight in the fact that you do not need to be an Olympic gymnast. 

Aggressive, bold yet elegant (and yes with hints of other supercar brands), the Emira is visually arresting and attention grabbing

And once out, you can take in the stunning and sharp design of the Emira. Does it have echoes of a Ferrari/McLaren? Sure, it does. But it's still an attention-grabbing silhouette, bound to draw curious and envious stares wherever you are parked up. Aggressive air vents combine with the gloss black splitter and rear diffuser to craft a purposeful and undeniably sporty look - I think it looks endlessly fascinating.

Misfit tribute

The Emira is an oddity.

In some ways, it draws on the heritage of its forebears like the Elise/Exige/Evora - compact, lightweight, dedicated to the driving experience. But it's never fully that - it's way too usable, practical, comfortable and feature-packed to be a direct echo of the purposeful, almost dedicatedly impractical Lotus sports cars that came before. It's got an ease about it that you'd never find in an Exige. It's a long way from the vision originally set out by the Mark VI.

In other ways, it also reflects the direction the brand is headed, as evidenced with its EV models like the Eletre and the Emeya. High on functionality and luxury, delivering creature comforts generously - and that comes with an accompanying large half-million-before-COE price tag, of course.

The Emira delivers an interesting (albeit expensive) mix of classic sports car performance and handling with modern daily luxury and comfort

In this space, competition is limited. You can count the Alpine A110 and Porsche 718 Cayman amongst the two-seater sports car competition (those are much more affordable), and then you quickly vault upwards into the million-dollar supercar territory.

The Emira exists slightly awkwardly between the two - not affordable enough to directly compete against the Alpine or Porsche (the Lotus is a noticeably more premium product), yet also lacking the badge clout to swim among the established supercars.

Furthermore, the Emira isn't going to be with us for long - production will likely not go on past 2027.

As a celebration of a soon-to-be-gone internal combustion sports car formula, the Emiya is a triumph

And it's precisely because of all these factors that I find myself quite enamoured with this car. Its contrarian nature appeals to me. Cynics will deride this as just a tribute act (and it undeniably is), but what a tribute it is. It's a final, petrol-burning love letter to Lotus' sports car heritage before the full and inevitable electric transformation - and a Lotus sports car you can definitely use daily.

Odd as it may be, this not-particularly-light, not-particularly-powerful Lotus two-seater sports car may be one of the most desirable models out there right now. It's a celebration of misfits - of the ones who dare to be different, who go against the grain of normality. And I think it's a triumph. 

Here are other mid-engine sports car worth checking out: 

The Alpine A110 delivers rewarding dynamism and lightweight agility

The Porsche 718 Cayman headlines with its handling and driveability