The mid-engine sports car is an increasingly rare breed, but Lotus still carries the torch with its Emira, which is available with a choice of supercharged V6 or turbocharged inline-four cylinder engines. Between its steering, compact dimensions, standard manual transmission, and low mass, it’s a breath of fresh air, and it’s ready to capture the hearts of enthusiasts. Pricing starts at $102,250 for the V6, which is in direct competition with the Porsche 718 Cayman GTS while it lasts, and a sea of mostly cosmetic options inflated this example to $116,950.
Like many Lotuses before it, the Emira’s foundation is a bonded aluminum chassis with Bilstein passive damper-equipped double-wishbone suspension at all four corners and the engine mounted right behind the seats. Curb weight isn’t as low as you’d think at 3,187 lbs (1,445 kg), but it’s contained within an overall length, width (sans mirrors), and height of 173, 75, and 48 inches (4,395 mm, 1,905 mm, 1,220 mm), respectively.
Mid-engine layouts generally put the same components like radiators in the same places, and the Emira’s shape follows its predecessors (as well as cars from McLaren or Ferrari) with large intake ducts straked across its doors and rear fenders, a low nose, and little overhang past the axles. In fact, these are key in its sense-of-occasion appeal; climbing over its door sills and into its driver position is teeming with “let’s go” energy, and the view out the windshield—fenders, short nose, and all—is more exotic than anything else at its price.
The shape is dictated by the underlying form.
Credit:
Peter Nelson
Behind the seats is a Toyota-sourced 3.5 L V6. Lotus has tuned the engine and added an Eaton/Edelbrock-sourced supercharger. It revs freely like a sportbike, and it produces a sharp, angry tone anywhere above 2,000 rpm. Adding to the drama is a clear view of the bypass valve in the rear-view mirror, feeding or re-routing boost depending on throttle input. Power is rated at 400 hp (300 kW) and 310 lb-ft (420 Nm) of torque, which feels healthy everywhere—but especially within the final thousand rpm or so. Hitting 60 mph (97 km/h) from a standstill takes just 4.3 seconds.
