My FH5 Log: Emira's Horizon Macabre

From cars like the Elan, the Elise, and the Exige, Lotus championed itself by creating sports cars that value dynamics over performance in the name of lightness.

In the age of the new normal, Lotus presented the greatest sports car ever made.

From Forza Horizon 5's Horizon Racing Car Pack comes the Lotus Emira, the last-ever pure ICE-powered Lotus sports car.

So, what's it all about the Emira?

The Lotus Emira is the last-ever pure ICE-powered Lotus sports car that replaces the trio of sports cars such as the Elise, the Exige, and the Evora. With styling inspired by the all-electric Evija, the Emira runs on Lotus' new Sports Car Architecture and comes with two chassis and suspension settings ranging from a comfort-oriented Tour setting and the preferable Sport setting from the optional Lotus Drivers Pack.

The First Edition, seen here, is powered by the same Toyota-sourced 3.5L V6 supercharged engine from the Exige but produces 400hp of power and 430Nm of torque while mated to either a 6-speed MT or AT with the latter capable of hitting 180mph of top speed. Aside from the V6 variant, the entry-level Emira Turbo variant is powered by the 2.0-liter in-line four-cylinder sourced from the Mercedes-AMG A45, packing up to 360hp of power.

As I stick with the Emira First Edition specifications, let's find out if the Emira is as good as one of its predecessors, the Exige, around the Emerald Circuit venue. There's the E to that, mind you. Anyway, let's roll the tape.

And now, the results...

Exige - 1m04.164s

Emira - 1m02.830s

Nearly one-and-a-half seconds apart between the Exige and the Emira. I guess Lotus was right about creating the culmination of its sports car lineage.

As the final Lotus sports car to operate solely on internal combustion, the Emira marks a significant moment, especially in today's era of electric vehicles. However, it represents the peak of Lotus' rich sports car heritage, which includes iconic models like the Elan, Elise, and Exige.

Well, I guess that's everything about the Lotus Emira but...the macabre's just begun as I prepared something special for the Emira's hard work in the festival. But first...

What do you think? The Emira's looking sharp in Ren Hazuki's attire...for sentimental reasons.

With Ren Hazuki as her special guest, today's Emira's Horizon Macabre proudly presents...an EventLab presentation by Papi Gamer7597. Hang on, is this what the roads of Mt. Aso look like? It doesn't look like the one from the Kaido Battle games but never mind. Let the macabre begin!

Ain't the Mt. Aso I'm familiar with but the Emira barely performed decently. Well done.

I am incredibly honored to drive the Lotus Emira in Forza Horizon 5. This car represents the pinnacle of Lotus' sports car lineage, and I truly respect its dynamics and performance, which are characteristic of a Lotus.

Thank you, Lotus.

Lotus Emira

Served as the replacement for the aging Elise, Exige, and Evora range, the Lotus Emira is a full-blown, all-new sports car that promises to be the best Lotus to drive in ages for it is known to be the last ICE-powered Lotus ever made. Times are tough because as the world braces for electrification, rest assured that Lotus's last-of-its-kind will be the best of its kind ever.

2023 Lotus Emira

2023 Lotus Emira

With prices starting at below 60K GBP, the Lotus Emira is an all-new model that competes with the likes of the Porsche 718 and the Maserati MC20. From every angle, the Emira is promising to be one of the best sportscars to drive in the age of the new normal.

Beginning with the design, the Lotus Emira is somewhat a mini-me Evija from top to bottom, bearing a resemblance to Lotus's first electric hypercar. Although this is not an electric car compared to the Evija, the new Lotus design DNA made the Emira an attractive-looking car that deserves to be coveted.

2023 Lotus Emira interior

Step into the Emira's interior and you'll find that most of the high-tech stuff sprinkled into the dashboard is not the Lotus way speedo boys love. In the past, the Elise and the Exige's stripped-off interiors made the cars driver-focused in every way. For the Emira, it feels more like a fancy smartphone rather than a go-kart but it's still a driver-focused car fit for two, meaning you can enjoy driving to the track on a Saturday afternoon and then take your date to the fancy restaurant on the evening. Ah, the joys of driving a fancy Lotus sportscar that was kitted with tech and ADAS on it.

2023 Lotus Emira

The cream of the crop of the Lotus Emira is its performance and this is troublesome for those who are jealous enough to want one because, with such dynamics, it's going to be too awesome to be ignored. Running on a brand-new Sports Car Architecture, the Emira features two chassis and suspension settings ranging from a comfort-oriented Tour setting and the preferable Sport setting from the optional Lotus Drivers Pack, which makes the Emira more enjoyable to drive on the road and track. Coupled with the hydraulic steering, the Emira delivers a dramatic driving feel that is enjoyable to drive without the drama. Best of all, it feels down-to-earth and addictive.

Speedo boys who managed to get the £75,995 V6 First Edition are lucky enough to enjoy the Toyota-derived 3.5L V6 supercharged engine that produces 400hp of power, 430Nm of torque, and mated to either a 6-speed MT or AT with the latter capable of hitting 180mph of top speed. Those who are too late for that will have to make do with the 2.0-liter in-line four-cylinder sourced from the Mercedes-AMG A45, packing up to 360hp of power, over a half less than the Maserati MC20.

Although not the Lotus you would hope for because of the tech involvement in it, the Emira showcased to us that this is the peak performance of what a Lotus delivers, and because being the last Lotus to be powered by an internal combustion engine, it's a light-hearted killer blow Lotus has unleashed to the world, making it too cool to be ignored.

Because this is the last ICE-powered Lotus in history, those who are expressing jealousy really wish they wanted to drive one someday because this is by no means the best Lotus in ages since the Elise and the Exige. Period.

Photo: Lotus Cars