The 2023 Lotus Emira Sends Internal Combustion out With a Bang

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Lotus’s new EV, the Evija, is right around the corner. But before it goes electric, the British automaker is giving internal combustion one last hurrah. That send-off is the 2023 Lotus Emira, a mid-engine sports car in the brand’s best tradition. However, the Emira isn’t just a swan song; it’s also a preview of what comes next.

The last internal-combustion Lotus sports car comes in two different flavors

2023 Lotus Emira front 3/4 | Lotus

Up until now, Lotus’s modern cars, from the Evora to the non-US-market Elise, have all used Toyota engines. And that’s also the case with the rear-wheel-drive 2023 Lotus Emira. However, that’s not the only kind of engine the Emira offers.

Initially, the 2023 Lotus Emira will only come with a 3.5-liter supercharged V6, Roadshow explains. It’s the same supercharged V6 engine the Evora GT uses. Like the Evora GT, the V6 Emira offers two transmissions: a six-speed manual and a six-speed automatic. And the former comes standard with a limited-slip differential.

The other 2023 Lotus Emira engine, though, doesn’t come from Toyota. Instead, it’s AMG’s 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, Motor1 explains. And like the Mercedes-AMG products it comes in, the 2.0-liter engine only comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.

An overhead rear 3/4 view of a blue 2023 Lotus Emira
2023 Lotus Emira rear 3/4 overhead | Lotus

Besides having a stick, the V6 Lotus Emira also has more power than the 2.0-liter model. Although AMG has tuned its engine to over 416 hp, in the Emira it ‘only’ makes 360 hp, MotorTrend notes. And to be fair, the Emira’s supercharged V6 is detuned from its Evora GT levels, too, but only slightly. Instead of 416 hp, it makes 400 hp. However, it matches the Evora GT’s 317 lb-ft of torque, Car and Driver reports.

That being said, the 2.0-liter Emira might be the quickest model. Lotus claims that the mid-engine sports car goes 0-62 mph in under 4.5 seconds, though it doesn’t specify which version. For comparison, the manual Evora GT goes 0-60 mph in 3.8 seconds. But while the V6 Emira makes more power, MT claims it’s also about 110 pounds heavier than the 2.0-liter model. Plus, DCTs shift faster than manuals.

It may honor the old, but the 2023 Lotus Emira also has plenty of new

The black seats and dashboard of a UK-market 2023 Lotus Emira
2023 Lotus Emira interior | Lotus

Speaking of weight, Lotus claims the lightest version of the 2023 Emira weighs 3,097 pounds. That’s thanks to its aluminum chassis, another Lotus sports car hallmark dating back to the Elise S1. Yet another sports nod is the Emira’s hydraulically-assisted power steering; the tech typically provides more feedback than electric assistance.

However, the Emira isn’t focused solely on the past. And nowhere is that more evident than in the interior, MT says, which distinctly lacks “a faintly DIY vibe.” The new Lotus sports car has a 12.3” TFT configurable gauge cluster and a 10.25” center touchscreen with navigation, Apple CarPlay, and Android Auto. Rain-sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, keyless entry, and multiple 12V and USB outlets are also standard. Though the Emira only has two seats, it has a front trunk, a rear cargo area, behind-the-seat storage, and fairly large door bins. And yes, it has cupholders.

Plus, the 2023 Emira is the first Lotus to offer active driver-assistance features, Car and Driver notes. Its optional ADAS package includes adaptive cruise control, lane-departure warning, road-sign recognition, lane-keeping assist, rear cross-traffic alert, and automatic emergency braking. Also, the Emira is the first road car to offer a KEF audio system.

How much will it cost?

As of this writing, Lotus hasn’t released official pricing for the 2023 Emira. But based on the UK pricing, the US-market Emira will likely start at roughly $80,000. And yes, the Emira is coming to the US; deliveries start in fall 2022.

Besides the two engine options, the Emira will also be available in two trims, Road & Track explains. The Tour model, designed around daily road use, has softer springs and Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tires. In comparison, the Sport model has stiffer springs and grippier Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. Those tires are also available as part of the optional Drivers Pack, which includes launch control.

After the 2023 Emira, Lotus won’t make any more ICE cars. But on paper, the mid-engine sports car seems like one heck of a goodbye.

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RELATED: A Connecticut Dealer Just Managed to Sell the Last 2014 Lotus Evora S

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When it Comes to C8 Corvettes GM Sticks it to the Aftermarket

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Increasing performance is what the aftermarket has been built around. It started with Henry Ford’s Model T. But really got teeth on Ed Cole’s Chevy small block V8 in the 1950s. But today, GM won’t let anyone touch the engine in a C8 Corvette. And that’s what infuriates the aftermarket.

GM fears massive mayhem giving the ECU keys to the aftermarket

The #4 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R of Tommy Milner and Nick Tandying the Chevrolet Sportscar Classic IMSA race | Brian Cleary, Getty Images

For three years the C8 engine’s Global B electrical architecture has been hands-off. This is because of fear of hackers causing massive mayhem if given the Corvette’s ECU keys. Cybersecurity is a big deal and will continue to be so. We get it.

Piggybacking computers in tandem hooked to the factory ECU is how it’s done now. It is full of wonky compromises, expenses, and voiding your warranty. This isn’t how the aftermarket is supposed to work.

Muscle Cars & Trucks discussed the matter with Corvette Chief Engineer Tadge Juechter. Be forewarned there is a lot of corporate-speak in talking to him about anything even the slightest bit touchy. And access to the Corvette’s ECU is a touchy matter for Chevy.

Every component and aspect of modern cars is integrated into ECUs

The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Pace Car during the Daytona 500 on February 14, 2021 at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach. Fl.
The 2021 Chevrolet Corvette | David Rosenblum/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

We all know that ECUs or computers are essential for today’s vehicles. Everything from the door locks to cylinder temperatures and steering is all run through the ECU. And all of those components are constantly communicating with each other through the ECU. Now, just taking a door handle off will kill your car’s ability to start. 

“The aftermarket crew is very talented and resourceful,” said Juechter to MC&T. “They have been for years. So our business model doesn’t really cater to the aftermarket. We have to do all the things internally between the Corvette just like any other GM product. Our desire is to make the car as hackproof as possible to protect our customers.”

GM had the same attitude about the aftermarket before

An image of a 2021 Chevrolet Corvette C8 parked outdoors.
2021 Chevrolet Corvette | Chevrolet

This attitude toward the aftermarket reared its ugly head back in the days of OBD1 and OBD2 diagnostics. And it was a similar refrain. GM was concerned about revealing trade secrets to the heathen hot rodders. But it was also to keep the competition from discovering secrets as well. 

It was also afraid of the aftermarket tampering with emissions controls and having the feds go after the auto manufacturers. Eventually, the aftermarket worked with and around GM to gain access to ECUs and black boxes. But in more recent years we have seen emissions tampering happen with the diesel crowd. Rolling coal is a visible symptom of that. 

What makes sense is for a select group of aftermarket manufacturers to sign their lives away for access to ECUs. These are disciplined entrepreneurs with lifetime investments in their businesses. They won’t jeopardize that to give away Corvette ECU secrets or mess with emissions controls. 

“We think the best will figure it out”

The gray-and-yellow No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R driving on a tree-line road
No. 4 Chevrolet Corvette C8.R | Chevrolet

But Juechter says no. “We’re not going to go and give everybody keys to the backdoor into our modules to do whatever they want. We think the best will figure it out.”

And if in figuring it out a few customers’ Corvettes are compromised, then what? The whole experience will probably shift that person to a Ferrari or Lamborghini next time. So what’s great about the “figuring it out?” If GM sees it is inevitable, it should do as it did back in the mid-1990s with OBD diagnostics. 

Until then, the aftermarket is stuck with the Corvette C8 scraps. 

RELATED: The 3 Worst Chevy Corvette C8 Modifications You Can Make

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Grave Digger: Monster Jam’s Most Monstrous Truck

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Monster Jam is an automotive clash of the titans that involves behemoths like the Grave Digger monster truck. The first Grave Digger was a legend and has been recreated several times because of its popularity. Drivers like Dennis Anderson and Adam Anderson have taken the Grave Digger on legendary freestyle runs at the Monster Jam World Finals. It has also competed against beasts like the Megalodon and Max-D monster trucks. But what’s this Monster Jam truck’s story, and how did it become such a staple in monster truck culture? 

Grave Digger: The most iconic monster truck?

The Grave Digger monster truck | Barcroft Media via Getty Images

Grave Digger 1 is the brainchild of Dennis Anderson. In 1981 Anderson got the idea to modify a 1951 Chevy Panel Wagon using some scrap parts he gathered. Today the Grave Digger’s spooky black and green paint job is recognizable by millions. 

The Grave Digger is even available as an official SpinMaster 2.4ghz RC truck, 24-volt battery ride-on, and ATV for the kids. The brand also now extends to the Kevin Harvick Grave Digger track car that competes in NASCAR races. This monster truck is a motorsports legend. It has its own gift shop and display location devoted to it in Poplar Branch, North Carolina, called Digger’s Dungeon.

The heavy-duty truck, now owned by Feld Entertainment, is arguably more famous than its skilled drivers. Unlike most of its drivers, it’s been part of the popular United States Hot Rod Association (USHRA) television series Monster Wars. Dennis Anderson made sure the Grave Digger name went unsullied over its years of dominating the monster truck scene. 

The family behind Grave Digger

The Grave Digger monster truck crushing cars.
The Grave Digger monster truck | Rene Johnston/Toronto Star via Getty Images

The first person other than Dennis Anderson to drive a Grave Digger monster truck was his brother Leslie Anderson. Dennis Anderson retired in 2017. That same year driver Tyler Menninga won the East Coast Monster Jam series in Grave Digger 23. 

Dennis’ children have either all driven Grave Digger monster trucks or plan to. Adam Anderson performed the world’s longest monster truck wheelie in Bradenton, Florida, in June 2020. He also introduced one of the few existing spin-off trucks called Grave Digger The Legend, adding to his father’s legacy. 

Grave Digger The Legend was a custom Ford panel truck that gained notoriety of its own. Adam has won five Monster Jam World Championships. He may be Dennis’ most accomplished child but he is far from the only sibling to take a Grave Digger for a spin.

Krysten Anderson made history as the first woman to drive the Grave Digger full time. Krysten broke the record for highest monster truck leap in 2020 at 33 feet and 9.6 inches. She has made three World Finals appearances and is representing the Anderson family to the fullest.

Monster Jam’s meanest machine

The Grave Digger monster truck.
The Grave Digger monster truck | Eduardo Parra/Getty Images

According to NBC Sports, Krysten Anderson is the third sibling to drive a Grave Digger monster truck. Each Anderson has taken the Grave Digger brand to new heights at Monster Jam. Dennis Anderson casts a long shadow but his children have stepped up to the plate and achieved amazing feats of their own.

A Grave Digger is more than just a monster truck that can demolish a school bus. Grave Diggers stand for excellence, dominance, and family. The flaming black and green truck is Monster Jam’s most monstrous truck because we know that no matter who’s behind the wheel they’ll put on a show.

RELATED: $150,000 Can Get You the Closest Thing to a Ford Monster Truck

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U.S. News Declares the 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander as the Most Improved SUV of the Year

by Gabrielle DeSantis

Seeing a car undergo a redesign is always an exciting prospect, especially when the redesigns come with major improvements to the vehicle as a whole and aren’t simply cosmetic changes. One trusted car-reviewing site released its picks for the most improved vehicles of 2021, and the Mitsubishi Outlander took the number one spot. 

Learn more about the criteria used when making this list and all the improvements Mitsubishi made for its compact SUV.

U.S. News’s picks for the most improved vehicles of 2021

2022 Mitsubishi Outlander | Mitsubishi Motors

U.S. News is a highly regarded reviewing website that many consumers trust when the time comes to pick a new vehicle. During each review, they provide an overall score out of 10, which provides a quick and helpful bottom line for prospective owners to consider as a new purchase or lease. 

To create its list of “The 6 Most Improved Cars of 2021”, U.S. News compared the overall scores from the 2020 model year to the new redesign. The vehicles that received the biggest positive change from last year made the list. The top six most improved vehicles on the U.S. News list include the Nissan Rogue, Buick Envision, Acura TLX, GMC Yukon, Cadillac Escalade, and the Mitsubishi Outlander. 

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander topped the list

The Mitsubishi Outlander hasn’t received the attention it deserves for a full redesign since its first plug-in-hybrid model debuted in 2018. Since then, it has only gotten minor upgrades, like an exterior refresh in 2019, but it has otherwise been left alone until the 2022 version debuted. 

The reviewers at U.S. News weren’t super impressed with the 2021 version, as it had unremarkable fuel economy, a boring base engine, and less-than-stellar handling. They did appreciate its easy-to-use infotainment system and cargo capacity, but it was otherwise given a tepid overall score of 6.8 out of 10. 

The 2022 Outlander, on the other hand, was met with a much more positive review from U.S. News, which gave it an overall score of 8.0. This 2.2 point jump from its previous year was enough to propel the Outlander to the top of the most improved list. This heightened score mostly came from the vastly enhanced handling of the 2022 Outlander and its much-improved interior. 

An overview of the 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander

The 2022 Mitsubishi Outlander is an excellent-looking car on the outside. Its unique front grille and massive headlights catch the eye, and it looks particularly striking in red. The interior features a much roomier cabin than previous iterations, and the inside feels comfortable, quiet, and modern.

Mitsubishi clearly put a lot of thought into increasing cargo space, as this SUV now offers more total cargo space than any other compact SUV. It provides 11.7 cubic feet of space when all the seats are up, but it increases to 33.5 and 79.7 cubic feet when the third and second rows are folded, respectively. 

This vehicle comes standard with an eight-inch touch screen infotainment system, Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, and a six-speaker stereo. You can also upgrade to a much larger 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster, and many agree that the upgrade is worth every penny. Other optional upgrades include tri-zone automatic climate control, a 10-speaker stereo, an HD radio, and a smartphone charging pad. 

As a bonus, the 2022 Outlander gets much better gas mileage than the 2021 model year, improving from 28 MPG on the highway to 31. This total redesign by Mitsubishi will be a textbook example of taking a subpar vehicle and turning it into an appealing choice for consumers everywhere. 

RELATED: The 2021 Mitsubishi Outlander Isn’t the Best SUV, but It Is a Value Buy

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