Compared to their European counterparts, American sports cars have always seemed to be a step behind the refined sports cars across the pond. But in recent years, that stereotype seemed to have changed with a few choice sports cars like the Chevrolet Corvette, and to a certain degree, the Dodge Viper. But they were still behind in terms of interior materials and technology.

The C8 Corvette broke the internet after its release and is no doubt the hottest car to hit the sports car market in recent times. It was set up for ultimate success from on-set with its new mid-engine layout, exotic looks, updated interior and technology, superb handling, and affordable price. It was so good that MotorTrend named it their Car of the Year which is no easy feat. But the Corvette isn’t the only one making a buzz.

The Lotus Emira looks like a sportscar that costs way above its current price. It is all new and features many new updates never found in past Lotus vehicles. You even have two engine and transmission options. It is the most important car in the brand’s history as it aims to be a more mainstream car than a niche vehicle.

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The Lotus Emira Is Very Beautiful

Stiil shot of a Lotus Emira in Hethel Yellow

The Emira is no doubt one of the most gorgeous sports cars under $100,000. It takes design cues from the multimillion dollar Electric Evija Hypercar, so you get Hypercar looks for Sports car money. You also see a lot of similarities in design with McLaren and Ferrari especially with air intakes behind the doors. It has smooth bodywork with flowing lines that exude class and sophistication. The Emira wears its look so well that you would always take a second look when you walk away from it.

The C8 on the other hand hasn’t failed to remind us of its American roots, it may have gone mid-engine but it is more edgy than ever. Its face has so many sharp edges similar to what a Lamborghini would have but it may look better with fewer straight lines. The door to the rear seems to have been designed separately from the front.

A front 3/4 shot of a 2020 Chevrolet Corvette C8 Coupe

Its big intakes tease us of what lurks in its engine bay and give it a muscular stance. At the rear things seems to fall apart a bit, unless you opt for the Z51 package which comes with a rear spoiler the car looks incomplete. Don’t even mention those exhaust tips, they don’t look good on this car and many owners have swapped them with circular tips that look much better.Both vehicles also allow you to see the engine bay which is a trademark among supercars. Chevy does score some points for being able to take the roof off.

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The Corvette Has The Better Engine But The Emira Is More Engaging

Six-speed manual gear shifter in the Lotus Emira

This isn’t just because the Corvette has a V-8 and the Lotus makes use of a V-6, the V-8 has character which the V-6 just can’t seem to match. Once the C8 starts up the soundtrack reminds you that you have a powerful motor sitting behind your head. It is also much quicker than the Emira with a claimed 60 MPH Time of 3.0 seconds.

Testing has shown them regularly at 2.8 seconds, the Emira would be destroyed in a drag race. But speed isn’t all there is to it, the DCT transmission also adds to the excitement of the V-8 soundtrack. Downshifts are especially crisp with this engine, each shift produces a rumble that the Emira’s V-6 just can’t make.

Engine Specifications

Handling has always been the reason you bought a Lotus, speed was secondary. But Lotus has at least given buyers a few choices, a supercharged V-6 Toyota and a turbocharged inline-four from Mercedes AMG. You get a six-speed manual and automatic with the V-6 but the turbo-four is DCT only, but both have similar acceleration times of 4.3 and 4.2 seconds respectively. No matter your powertrain choice you still get a responsive and dynamic chassis that will keep up with Corvette, especially on twisty roads.

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The Corvette Has The Better Interior

Interior shot of a white interior in the C8 Corvette spyder

Both cars have come a long way from their predecessors with cheap plastic in Corvettes and sparse interior for Lotus. The C8 and Emira have updated and better-looking interiors with nice materials like leather and Alcantara with various color finishes. Both have fully digital instrument clusters which are configurable, the lotus display is slightly bigger at 12.3 inches while the C8 makes do with just 12 inches. The Emira also has the C8 beat with its center screen at 10.25 against just 8 inches with both offering Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and other infotainment features.

Despite sharing similarities in interior features, the Corvette is a nicer place to spend time. Lotus may have updated its interior but it is still sparse and has fewer gimmicks than the Chevy. The quality, feel, and layout of the C8’s interior are much better than the Emira. Simplicity is seen all over the Emira’s interior which has a lot to do with the Lotus DNA but The C8 has taken it a step further.

Interior shot of the 2023 Lotus Emira V-6

You get better leather materials stretching the full length of the interior, brighter colors, a clearer display, and quirky square steering. Lotus has retained a nice feature found in its manual cars, a mesh in the center console which exposes the gear linkage. This allows you to see the shift action work which is so cool and is a feature you find in cars like Pagani and Spyker.

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Great Daily Driver Sports Cars

Front shot of a Seneca blue Lotus Emira in motion

Daily driving a sports car has been made much easier with new technologies at our disposal. Breaking the norm for Lotus, the Emira has features like auto emergency brakes, lane departure warnings, and adaptive cruise control. These were never found on previous Lotus products because of their focus on being lightweight. They’ve managed to add all these without adding much weight to the vehicle while the Corvette weighs much more.

The C8 Corvette also gets these features but with added blind spot monitoring and rear cross-traffic alert. Both cars have ample luggage capacity at the rear despite their mid-engine layout which can fit sizable luggage for short trips. But unlike most mid-engine cars the Emira doesn’t have a frunk (front trunk), the ‘Vette beats it in this aspect being able to carry more luggage.

Since both cars aren’t that big and wide, they are easy to maneuver around town. The smaller Lotus may find this task easier. GM’s latest Magneride suspension is so good and gives the car the ability to stiffen the suspension depending on each mode. Most owners have reported that this makes big changes in suspension compliance. On the other hand, in keeping with the Lotus ethos you have a choice of a sport or touring chassis from the factory. Once chosen you can’t make changes so you need to make a sacrifice.

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The Corvette Is A Bargain Sports Car

Front 3/4 view of red Chevrolet Corvette Z51 and rear 3/4 view of Chevrolet Corvette Stingray parked.

With a starting price of $60,000, the C8 Corvette is the performance bargain of the century. Realistically, this is with no options which is impossible, but a well-optioned C8 will cost under $90,000. It’s a lot of money but also a lot of car for what you get but in comparison, an Emira has a starting price of $77,000. First edition models of the Emira cost around $94,000, in this regard they are similarly priced vehicles.

Choosing between both cars may seem a bit easier than you think. Lotus and Corvettes may not have been directly cross-shopped in the past but they now will. The buyer’s mindset will ultimately determine the purchase. The C8 Corvette offers a lot more in terms of performance and overall sports car value beyond what the Emira offers. But the Emira has evolved into an everyday sports car with better amenities while retaining the characteristics of a Lotus. But the ‘Vette has gotten a head-start and the Lotus has to play catchup.