You can argue that modern-day cars are too sanitized and there is too much focus on technology along with a slow barrier between the driver as well as the car. These days it is about batteries, screens, and eliminating the driver from the concept of driving itself. Driving can be termed as an immersive experience and that is something very few cars can give but one of them is the Lotus Emira. It is perhaps the last combustion engine gasoline sports car and a modern-day iteration of what the Elan or Evora promised. Lotus has been a sports car maker with a stubborn emphasis on lightweight engineering and driving purity.
The new Emira is just that- at least as much as it can be. Compared to the flaky Lotus cars of yore, the Evora is a Rolls-Royce with its high-quality cabin, premium audio system, and every creature comfort possible. There are no theatrical doors and it is easy to drive since it is compact. The proportions are gorgeous too along with perfect midengined lines. It is simple but stunning. The engine starts with a roar and immediately adds to the sense of occasion.
You can get a six-cylinder as well as a four while the six-cylinder model has a manual gearbox option too. Lotus has also beautifully left the working of the gearbox exposed for our eyes to see. The gearbox is a weighty shift and requires effort but all that is part of the charm. The steering is hydraulic but weighs up beautifully with the correct amount of feedback to caress it over a corner. It feels eager and the way it enters the corner is befitting its history. It does not feel bloated and comes alive in your hands with the right amount of playfulness from the chassis.
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It spurs you on but does not bite you back if you overcook it. It is a compact supercar with a clear exotic vibe straight from the looks to the driving experience while it feels more special because it is not just a garden variety sportscar but something different. Sure, the market has a lot of options including the wonderful Porsche Cayman but the Emira does stand out along with a high-quality finish which new owners of Lotus, and Geely bring. Being its last sports car with a gasoline engine, the Emira is a fitting swansong for the iconic Lotus cars of the past but with a generous dollop of sophistication too.
