Compare the2025 Porsche 911VS 2024 Lotus Emira

Safety
Warranty
Reliability
Engine
Fuel Economy and Range
Transmission and Drivetrain
Brakes and Stopping
Tires and Wheels
Suspension and Handling
Chassis
Passenger Space
Cargo Capacity
Servicing Ease
Ergonomics
Model Availability
Recommendations

Safety

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The 911 (except GT3) has standard Warn and Brake Assist, which use forward mounted sensors to warn the driver of a possible collision ahead. If the driver doesn’t react and the system determines a collision is imminent, it automatically applies the brakes at full-force in order to reduce the force of the crash or avoid it altogether. The Emira doesn't offer collision warning or crash mitigation brakes.

Over 200 people are killed each year when backed over by motor vehicles. The 911 (except Manual/GT3) offers an optional Maneuvering Assist that uses rear sensors to monitor for objects to the rear and automatically applies the brakes to prevent a collision. The Emira doesn’t offer backup collision prevention brakes.

The 911 offers all-wheel drive to maximize traction under poor conditions, especially in ice and snow. The Emira doesn’t offer all-wheel drive.

A passive infrared night vision system optional on the 911 helps the driver to more easily detect people, animals or other objects in front of the vehicle at night. Using an infrared camera to detect heat, the system then displays the image on a monitor in the dashboard. The Emira doesn’t offer a night vision system.

The 911’s lane departure warning system alerts a temporarily inattentive driver when the vehicle begins to leave its lane and gently nudges the vehicle back towards its lane. The Emira doesn’t offer a lane departure warning system.

The 911 offers an optional Surround View to allow the driver to see objects all around the vehicle on a screen. The Emira only offers a rear monitor and front and rear parking sensors that beep or flash a light. That doesn’t help with obstacles to the sides.

To help make backing out of a parking space safer, the 911’s optional Rear Cross Traffic Alert uses sensors in the rear to alert the driver to vehicles approaching from the side and automatically engage the brakes. The Emira doesn’t offer a rear cross-path warning system.

The 911’s driver alert monitor detects an inattentive driver then sounds a warning and suggests a break. According to the NHTSA, drivers who fall asleep cause about 100,000 crashes and 1500 deaths a year. The Emira doesn’t offer a driver alert monitor.

The 911 has standard Porsche Connect, which uses a global positioning satellite (GPS) receiver and a cellular system to remotely unlock your doors if you lock your keys in, help track down your vehicle if it’s stolen or send emergency personnel to the scene if any airbags deploy. The Emira doesn’t offer a GPS response system, only a navigation computer with no live response for emergencies, so if you’re involved in an accident and you’re incapacitated help may not come as quickly.

Both the 911 and the Emira have standard driver and passenger frontal airbags, front side-impact airbags, front seatbelt pretensioners, four-wheel antilock brakes, traction control, electronic stability systems to prevent skidding, rear parking sensors and available blind spot warning systems.

Warranty

The 911 comes with a full 4-year/50,000-mile basic warranty, which covers the entire car. The Emira’s 3-year/36,000-mile basic warranty expires 1 year or 14,000 miles sooner.

The 911 comes with free roadside assistance for 4 years 50,000 miles. Porsche will send help if you run out of gas, need a jump-start, lock your keys in or need any assistance on the road. Lotus doesn’t give free roadside assistance for the Emira.

The 911’s corrosion warranty is 4 years longer than the Emira’s (12 vs. 8 years).

There are over 5 times as many Porsche dealers as there are Lotus dealers, which makes it much easier should you ever need service under the 911’s warranty.

Reliability

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 911 second among premium sporty cars in their 2024 Initial Quality Study. The Emira isn’t in the top three in its category.

Engine

The 911 has more powerful engines than the Emira:

	Horsepower	Torque
911 3.0 turbo 6-cylinder	388 HP	331 lbs.-ft.
911 GT3 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder	502 HP	331 lbs.-ft.
911 GT3 RS/ST 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder	518 HP	342 lbs.-ft.
911 GTS 3.6 turbo 6-cylinder hybrid	532 HP	449 lbs.-ft.
911 Turbo 3.8 turbo 6-cylinder	572 HP	553 lbs.-ft.
911 Turbo S 3.7 turbo 6-cylinder	640 HP	590 lbs.-ft.
Emira 2.0 turbo 4-cylinder	360 HP	317 lbs.-ft.
Emira 3.5 supercharged V6	400 HP	310 lbs.-ft.

As tested in Car and Driver the 911 GT3 4.0 DOHC 6-cylinder is faster than the Lotus Emira supercharged V6 (manual transmissions tested):

	911	Emira
Zero to 60 MPH	3.3 sec	4.3 sec
Zero to 100 MPH	7.5 sec	10.3 sec
Quarter Mile	11.5 sec	12.7 sec
Speed in 1/4 Mile	124 MPH	111 MPH
Top Speed	199 MPH	180 MPH

The flat cylinder configuration of the boxer engine in the 911 lowers its center of gravity, enhancing handling stability. The Emira doesn’t offer a boxer engine configuration.

Fuel Economy and Range

Regenerative brakes improve the 911 GTS’ fuel efficiency by converting inertia back into energy instead of wasting it. The Emira doesn’t offer a regenerative braking system.

In heavy traffic or at stoplights the 911’s engine automatically turns off when the vehicle is stopped, saving fuel and reducing pollution. The engine is automatically restarted when the driver gets ready to move again. If the conditions warrant or the driver wishes, the system can be manually disabled at any time for the duration of a trip. The Emira doesn’t offer an automatic engine start/stop system.

The 911’s standard fuel tank has 2.1 gallons more fuel capacity than the Emira (16.6 vs. 14.5 gallons), for longer range between fill-ups. The 911’s optional fuel tank has 7.6 gallons more fuel capacity than the Emira (22.1 vs. 14.5 gallons).

Transmission and Drivetrain

An eight-speed automatic (SMG) is standard on the Porsche 911, for better acceleration and lower engine speed on the highway. Only a seven-speed automatic is available for the Emira.

All wheel drive, available in the 911, provides the best traction for acceleration in wet, dry, and icy conditions. In corners, all wheel drive allows both outside wheels to provide power, balancing the car. This allows for better handling. The Lotus Emira is not available with all wheel drive.

Brakes and Stopping

For better stopping power the 911 CCB’s brake rotors are larger than those on the Emira:

	911 CCB	Emira
Front Rotors	16.5 inches	14.6 inches
Rear Rotors	16.1 inches	13.8 inches

The 911 offers optional heat-treated ceramic brake rotors, which last ten to twenty times as long as conventional cast iron rotors, don’t rust, don’t fade during repeated high speed braking, and their lighter weight contribute to better braking, handling and acceleration. The Emira doesn’t offer ceramic brake rotors.

The 911 stops much shorter than the Emira:

	911	Emira
100 to 0 MPH	251 feet	293 feet	Car and Driver
70 to 0 MPH	133 feet	149 feet	Car and Driver
60 to 0 MPH	92 feet	100 feet	Motor Trend

Tires and Wheels

For better traction, the 911 GT3 RS’ optional tires are larger than the largest tires available on the Emira (F:275/30R20 & R:335/30R21 vs. F:245/35R20 & R:295/30R20).

The 911 GT3 RS’ optional tires provide better handling because they have a lower 30 series profile (height to width ratio) that provides a stiffer sidewall than the Emira’s 35 series front tires.

For better ride, handling and brake cooling the 911 offers optional 21-inch rear wheels. The Emira’s largest wheels are only 20-inches.

Suspension and Handling

The 911 (except Base/GT3) offers active sway bars, which help keep it flat and controlled during cornering, but disconnect at lower speeds to smooth the ride and offer greater off-road suspension articulation. This helps keep the tires glued to the road on-road and off. The Emira doesn’t offer an active sway bar system.

The 911 has a standard driver-adjustable suspension system. It allows the driver to choose between an extra-supple ride, reducing fatigue on long trips, or a sport setting, which allows maximum control for tricky roads. The Emira’s suspension doesn’t offer adjustable shock absorbers.

The 911 offers optional vehicle speed sensitive variable-assist power steering, for low-effort parking, better control at highway speeds and during hard cornering, and a better feel of the road. The Emira doesn’t offer variable-assist power steering.

The 911 GT3 handles at 1.17 G’s, while the Emira pulls only 1.00 G’s of cornering force in a Car and Driver skidpad test.

The 911 GT3 RS executes Motor Trend’s “Figure Eight” maneuver 2.1 seconds quicker than the Emira (21.9 seconds @ .97 average G’s vs. 24 seconds @ .84 average G’s).

For better maneuverability, the 911 GT3’s turning circle is 1.7 feet tighter than the Emira’s (34.1 feet vs. 35.8 feet).

Chassis

The Porsche 911 may be more efficient, handle and accelerate better because it weighs up to about 200 pounds less than the Lotus Emira.

The front grille of the 911 uses electronically controlled shutters to close off airflow and reduce drag when less engine cooling is needed. This helps improve highway fuel economy. The Emira doesn’t offer active grille shutters.

Passenger Space

The 911 offers optional seating for 4 passengers; the Emira can only carry 2.

The 911 has 24 cubic feet more passenger volume than the Emira (73 vs. 49).

Cargo Capacity

A standard locking glovebox keeps your small valuables safer in the 911. The Emira doesn’t offer locking storage for small valuables.

Servicing Ease

The engine in the 911 is mounted longitudinally (North-South), instead of sideways, as in the Emira. This makes it easier to service and maintain, because there are no rear spark plugs and the accessory belts are in front.

Ergonomics

The 911’s standard Comfort Access allow you to unlock the doors from either outside door handle, open the trunk, and start the engine, all without removing the key from the pocket or purse. Keyless Start standard on the Emira only offers hands-free access for the ignition, none to unlock the car.

The 911’s rain-sensitive wipers adjust their speed and turn on and off automatically based on the amount of rainfall on the windshield. This allows the driver to concentrate on driving without constantly adjusting the wipers. The Emira’s standard manually variable intermittent wipers have to be constantly adjusted.

To improve rear visibility by keeping the rear window clear, the 911 (except Cabriolet/GT3) offers an optional rear wiper. The Emira doesn’t offer a rear wiper.

While driving with high beams on, sensitive light sensors standard on the 911 detect other vehicles which could be blinded and automatically switch to low beams. The Emira doesn’t offer automatic dimming high beams.

To help drivers avoid possible obstacles, the 911 offers optional cornering lights to illuminate around corners when the turn signals are activated. The Emira doesn’t offer cornering lights. The 911 also has standard adaptive headlights to illuminate around corners automatically by reading vehicle speed and steering wheel angle.

Optional air-conditioned seats in the 911 keep the driver and front passenger comfortable and take the sting out of hot seats in Summer. The Emira doesn’t offer air-conditioned seats.

On extremely cold winter days, the 911’s standard heated steering wheel provides comfort, allowing the driver to steer safely and comfortably before the car heater warms up. The Emira doesn’t offer a heated steering wheel.

The 911’s standard dual zone air conditioning allows the driver and front passenger to choose two completely different temperatures so people with different temperature preferences won’t have to compromise. This makes both the driver and front passenger as comfortable as possible. The Emira doesn’t offer dual zone air conditioning.

To keep a safe, consistent following distance, the 911 (except Manual) offers an optional Adaptive Cruise Control, which alters the speed of the vehicle without driver intervention. This allows the driver to use cruise control more safely without constantly having to disengage it when approaching slower traffic. The Emira doesn’t offer an adaptive cruise control.

The Porsche 911 has a standard Homelink wireless remote control system for garage door operation and device management, conveniently located on the rear view mirror. Homelink® eliminates the need for separate garage door openers and associated risks of losing, breaking, or having dead batteries. Lotus charges extra for Homelink® on the Emira.

To quickly and conveniently keep personal devices charged without cables tangling and wearing out, the Porsche 911 has a standard wireless phone charging system (Qi) in the front center console. The Emira doesn’t offer wireless personal charging.

The 911 (except Manual/GT3)’s optional Active Parking Support can parallel park or back into a parking spot by itself, starting, stopping and changing direction automatically. Optional Remote ParkAssist will park and retrieve your car remotely: press a button and watch it park itself. This is ideal for tight locations. The Emira doesn’t offer an automated parking system.

Model Availability

The Porsche 911 comes in coupe and convertible bodystyles; the Lotus Emira isn’t available as a convertible.

Recommendations

J.D. Power and Associates rated the 911 second among premium sporty cars in owner reported satisfaction. This includes how well the vehicle performs and satisfies its owner’s expectations. The Emira isn’t in the top three.

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