Times have changed, and so have automakers themselves and the way they build cars. The shift to electrification has basically knocked out whatever heritage or progress every automaker had when it comes to the internal combustion engine (ICE), and the need for EVs has rewritten the rules of car development.

Lotus is one such automaker that has been heavily affected by this—for better or worse. A company that was known for ultra-lightweight sportscars painstakingly began abandoning its founder’s idea of simplifying, then adding lightness in these ever-changing times, and this is why the Lotus Emira is a sportscar that’s worth celebrating.

Related: Why The 2023 Lotus Emira Is Better Than The Porsche Cayman

What Makes The Emira So Good?

The Lotus Emira builds upon the lightweight sportscar concept—though admittedly, it isn’t as light as sportscars like the Elise. With its modern accouterments and a plush interior never before seen in a Lotus, this meant that the Emira is slightly heavier than the sportscars it replaces. Still, at its current weight of 3,187 to 3,211 lbs, it’s still relatively light, though a 718 Cayman at its lightest weighs a little less at 3,109 lbs.

Two engine choices are available for the Lotus Emira. One of these will be familiar to Lotus fans as this is a V-6 that’s sourced from Toyota and then with a supercharger that’s been attached to the engine. Lotus has had a long history of getting its V-6 engines from Toyota, and you know that these engines have therefore been very reliable.

This V-6 produces 400 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and it sends power to the rear wheels via a six-speed automatic or get this, a six-speed manual. Oh yes, there’s a manual, but you can only get that in this V-6, and it’s a transmission that is also very much Lotus. Thankfully, its major competitor, the 718 Cayman, also keeps the manual, which is always a good thing in s world where manuals have started to disappear.

The other engine choice is a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that’s sourced from Mercedes-AMG. This is a first-of-its-kind partnership for Lotus, and this serves as the base engine for the Emira. It produces 360 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission--the only option you have for this engine. Interestingly enough, even though it uses a smaller engine, the 2.0-liter version of the Emira is merely 24 pounds lighter at 3,187 pounds compared to the V-6.

Another ace up the Emira's sleeve is its steering because oh joy it uses a hydraulic power steering as opposed to the ubiquitous electric power steering. In a sea of even sportscars having number steering than the models it replaces, the Emira is decidedly old school in that aspect and therefore unparalleled when it comes to man and machine connection. There's a rich road feel being transmitted to the wheel, letting you know the limits of the front wheels much better than any car with a more modern but less connected electric power steering.

Lotus Emira Vs. Porsche Cayman Specifications

As mentioned a while ago, the Emira's major competitor would be the 718 Cayman, and the table above compares the 2.0-liter Emira with the 718 Cayman S and the Emira V-6 with the 718 Cayman GTS 4.0.

Related: 10 Reasons Why We Can Never Forget The Lotus Elise

It’s The Last True Sportscar... And The Last True Lotus

As mentioned at the beginning, the shift towards EVs has basically undone whatever innovation or heritage an automaker had for the past century in the ICE age. Lotus isn’t immune to this sudden change, and this is why the Emira will be the last true Lotus.

That begins with the powertrain this car has. The Emira will be the last Lotus with an ICE. So yes, after the Emira, say your goodbyes to the supercharged V-6 or even that turbocharged four-cylinder. Heck, even the manual, because yes, as with every automaker, Lotus is going all-in on EVs.

They already have an EV hypercar at the moment, but one that you can’t buy even if you have the money to fork out. Called the Evija, and all of the allocations for this electric hypercar have already been spoken for. But there is one Lotus EV you can buy right now because this one doesn’t have a production cap. It’s also the Lotus that totally goes against everything that the automaker is known for. I’m talking about the Lotus Eletre, because first, it’s an SUV, and to further add insult to injury, it’s also quite a heavyweight.

Colin Chapman would probably be rolling on his grave if he finds out that the company he left to the hands of others has built a vehicle that goes against the values of the brand he built. Then again, an electric SUV that will most likely sell in huge numbers is key for the brand to remain significant and of course, fund the development of whatever electric sportscars Lotus has in mind.

Oh, that Porsche 718 Cayman. The German sportscar manufacturer has already announced that the current 982 generation will be the last ICE-powered model. Yes, as a reminder, the next-generation Cayman and its Boxster counterpart will swap fossil fuels for electrical power. Since the Emira is the newer car, expect this ICE-powered sportscar to remain in the market longer and therefore, one of the last true sportscars.

Related: The Lotus Emira Just Became the AMG-Powered Competitor the BMW M4 Never Saw Coming

Lotus Is Aping Porsche’s Formula For Success

If there’s one brand that has successfully done this and yet was able to preserve its heritage and its desirability, that would be Porsche. The Cayenne was a vehicle that went against everything Porsche is all about, but in the years that followed, the Cayenne brought new types of customers that eventually upgraded to owning a sportscar.

That same effect happened with the Taycan, too. In fact, half of Taycan buyers are new to the brand. The customer profile of the Taycan is those truly looking for an EV, but one that comes with world-class handling and performance. Basically, an EV that only Porsche could do. Lotus also aims to replicate this with its upcoming electric sedan, which is set to rival the Taycan, among other excellent performance EVs.

So yes, the Emira will not just be the last true Lotus, but it will also be one of the last true sportscars. While the EV sportscars that will succeed the Emira probably won’t be as light as Lotus's engineers probably wished or intended to be, we hope that at least its dynamism and fun factor have been preserved in the EV age. That’s something that they achieved in the Eletre based on initial reviews, so that’s a good sign at least for the future of Lotus.