Lotus is normally associated with lightness, not luxury, but the Emira is a little special in this respect. The last internal combustion Lotus is not only exquisite to look at and almost unbelievably sharp and direct to drive, but it also has one of our favorite drivetrains: the 3.5-liter Toyota-sourced supercharged V-6 paired with a deeply involving and mechanically pleasing six-speed manual transmission. Sure, it’s carried over from the old Evora GT, but why make changes when nothing is broken? (The Emira is available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged four-cylinder outside of the U.S.)
That’s because the transmission really is special. It’s very notchy and accurate. The shifter is well-weighted, and it feels like it’s moving on a flat plane as you shift, rather than as an extension of a pivot point. It’s a little unusual at first, but with very little adjustment on the driver’s part, you’ll find yourself banging gears with speed and confidence. If this is the last manual transmission we’ll ever see from Lotus, at least it’s a great one.
In production since: 2022
Top powertrain option: 3.5-liter supercharged V-6
Power: 400 hp and 310 ft lbs of torque
Zero to 60 mph: 4.2 seconds
Top speed: 180 mph
Starting price: $99,900
From the article by Kyle Hyatt, Bryan Hood
