Lotus Emira (2027)

Throttle House is deeply enthusiastic about the Lotus Emira, calling it one of the best sports cars ever. They praise its gorgeous design, manual gearbox, exceptional steering communication, mid-engine balance, and confidence-inspiring precision; on Cup 2 tires, it recorded an impressive 1:11.50 lap. The Emira feels more connected and engaging than a Cayman, though its grip makes playful oversteer difficult. Criticisms include limited engine revs, supercharger whine, merely adequate seats and audio, unreliable CarPlay, and Lotus quality-control concerns. Despite canceling their order, Throttle House clearly regards the Emira as a brilliant, highly desirable driver’s car.

ThatDudeinBlue is thrilled by the Lotus Emira, calling it an unusually raw and satisfying modern sports car. He praises its supercharged V6, crisp six-speed manual, hydraulic steering, communicative chassis, evocative sound, and dramatically improved interior, likening it to a greatest-hits blend of the Elise, Exige, and Evora. He appreciates how the Emira keeps drivers engaged rather than insulated, even at highway speeds. The compromises are clear: firm ride, poor fuel economy, tiny rear visibility, minimal storage, and an occasionally sticky trunk seal. Still, he views it as an extraordinary, possibly irreplaceable final ICE Lotus.

Roads Untraveled is highly impressed by the Lotus Emira Turbo, despite preferring the manual V6 overall. The AMG-sourced four-cylinder feels explosively quick, with brutal launches, strong low-end torque, entertaining turbo noises, exceptional grip, and the Emira’s unusually communicative hydraulic steering. The 8-speed DCT makes traffic far easier than the manual, while the Touring suspension rides surprisingly well and the cabin feels genuinely usable. Still, inconsistent low-speed gearbox behavior, engine buzz, intrusive steering kickback, limited long-distance comfort, and a delayed gear selector expose its Lotus quirks. His ultimate verdict is affectionate but clear: it’s an excellent daily-capable sports car, yet the manual V6 remains the more special choice.

KHTV is unequivocally thrilled by the Lotus Emira V6 SE, calling it one of the best cars tested. After a week on familiar roads, the reviewer praises its exotic styling, superb hydraulic steering, tactile manual gearbox, mechanical V6 soundtrack, and surprisingly comfortable Tour suspension. It feels engaging even below 60 mph yet remains practical enough for long trips, with useful storage and a polished cabin. Reservations are minor: confusing steering-wheel buttons, quick bolster wear, intrusive driver-assistance alerts, difficult-to-clean wheels, and water dripping into the engine bay. Overall, the Emira is presented as an unusually accessible, analog sports-car triumph.

Gabrielle is enthusiastically impressed by the Lotus Emira, especially its AMG engine, sharper dual-clutch transmission, and exceptionally balanced handling. As a longtime Elise and Evora owner, she feels the Emira preserves Lotus’s engaging character while adding comfort, practicality, extra storage, and a more refined, turnkey experience. She particularly values its 400-hp power-to-weight balance, which remains enjoyable in everyday traffic rather than overwhelming. Her main reservations are its rarity compared with the Evora and the loss of the Evora’s limited 2+2 seating. Even so, she would buy the AMG automatic—without replacing her existing Lotuses.

AutoSugar is highly enthusiastic about the 2027 Lotus Emira, especially the 420 Sport’s sharper, more track-focused character. The hosts praise its dramatic styling, engaging AMG turbo power, quick DCT, functional aero, and Lightweight Handling Pack, calling the car an exciting evolution rather than a mere trim exercise. They also value the V6 manual’s continued availability, viewing it as an increasingly rare purist choice. Their caution is measured: Lotus’s confusing model-year changes, disrupted deliveries, uncertain hybrid timing, expensive options, and intrusive ADAS reminders complicate ownership. Still, the 420 Sport clearly inspires excitement, while long-term ownership reinforces strong confidence in the Emira.

Jonny Lieberman is strongly positive about the Lotus Emira AMG, though he sees meaningful rough edges. He loves its dramatic “Baby Ferrari” styling, turbocharged character, horsepower, and sharp performance, especially the dual-clutch transmission in Track mode. Around town, however, the gearbox behaves awkwardly, phone reconnection is irritating, and switching drive modes takes unnecessary steps. He also finds the AMG version more twitchy and demanding at speed than the V6, possibly because of its revised rear subframe. He would choose it over a four-cylinder Cayman, but not a Cayman GT4, and says tariffs could undermine its value.

Edmunds is positive about the Lotus Emira overall but clearly prefers the V6 version. The AMG-sourced 2.0-liter makes 400 horsepower and is 0.4 seconds quicker, yet pronounced turbo lag dulls the fun, while its cabin noise is dominated by an unpleasant turbo note. Edmunds still views the Emira’s handling, suspension tuning, and steering feel as sublime, calling it a wonderful sports car. For an additional $5,500, though, the V6 seems worth choosing.

Luke Gibbons is highly enthusiastic about the Lotus Emira and says he plans to buy one. He loves its sensational, Ferrari-like styling, Toyota-derived V6, and manual gearbox, calling the engine beautiful and reliable. His reservations are candid but limited: questionable build quality, including a drive-mode button that already feels worn and a return function that may become irritating, plus weight he considers excessive for a Lotus. He struggles to name a third dislike, reinforcing that the criticisms are secondary to his excitement.

Schmodified is enthusiastic about the Lotus Emira, calling it a supercar despite its imperfections. He frames its roughly $110,000 price and limited production as convincing evidence of exclusivity, then points to the 400-horsepower supercharged Toyota-sourced V6, enjoyable character, and unusually visible manual-shift mechanism. He concedes it is not the world’s fastest car, but that caveat feels minor rather than dismissive. Overall, the Emira comes across as an exciting, distinctive, and relatively rare sports car that earns the supercar label in spirit.

ZidansAutoReviews is playfully enthusiastic about the Lotus Emira, calling it an ideal first car despite its obvious impracticality. The video spotlights the supercharged 3.5-liter V6, roughly 400 horsepower, manual gearbox, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, premium audio, usable trunk space, and bright-blue visibility. Its jokes frame the manual as a texting deterrent and the car as a magnet for middle-aged enthusiasts, while acknowledging that it is slower than the Tesla the parents might prefer. Overall, the Emira comes across as exciting, stylish, and entertainingly “responsible,” rather than genuinely economical or sensible.