The Analog Performance Car That Rejects Digital Overload
8 minutes reading
Sunday, 30 Aug 2026 18:00 0 3 autotech
Cars are increasingly getting more digital. Ever since the world decided that Tesla’s “smartphone on wheels” idea was a good thing back in 2012, cars have gone down the digitalization route. Software became the core of a vehicle’s relevance, but while that’s all well and good in a lot of commodity cars, this trend is unfortunately making performance cars feel numb and synthetic.
Thankfully, there are still a few performance car options out there that feel authentically analog. Of course, this doesn’t mean it forgoes modern accouterments like an infotainment system, but thanks to the minimal digitalization of the driving experience, this is a car that’s about as authentic as it gets. Without further ado, here’s the performance car that we think offers one of the most analog and authentic driving experiences in 2026.
Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Tesla Model S Plaid in red being driven on roadTesla
To understand why we chose the performance vehicle we’re about to reveal later in this article, we’ll have to first explain which areas cars have become increasingly digital in.
How Software-Defined Vehicles Are Stripping The Soul From Sports Cars
You’ve probably heard of the term software-defined vehicle, or SDV, and these are the kinds of vehicles in which most of their systems are controlled by a centralized computer rather than by numerous scattered electronic control units (ECUs), as in modern cars from legacy automakers. For instance, your power-adjustable seats would have their own ECU, while in an SDV, this is linked through a single ECU handling all interior vehicle features. This level of centralized integration allows automakers to add new features to vehicles or even address issues and recalls purely electronically via over-the-air (OTA) updates.
An SDV is pretty much the embodiment of the smartphone-on-wheels concept. See the BMWs running on iDrive Operating System 8.5 or newer? Their start-up animations currently feature Spider-Man, due to the brand’s collaboration with Marvel for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. To Spider-Man fans, this is a welcome Easter egg, but for those who couldn’t care less, it’s a level of intrusion they may not be keen on.
When Your Steering Wheel Stops Telling You The Truth
BMW Heart of Joy Computer System Parked GrilleBMW
But an SDV can (and often does) go beyond the vehicle’s infotainment, features, and safety systems. Case in point, BMW’s Neue Klasse electric vehicles (EVs). These EVs have what the brand calls their “Heart of Joy”, a central processing unit that translates software code to how the vehicle enters and exits corners, as well as how power is shuffled across the drive wheels. Does it translate to a dynamically great EV? Reviews seem to point out that it’s one of the most well-sorted EVs to date.
This, however, also means that whatever you’re feeling behind the wheel, as well as what happens when your foot manages the pedals, isn’t necessarily 100 percent your input. And with a multitude of cars having electric power steering these days, what you’re feeling through your hands has been filtered somewhat by the electrical systems in your steering rack. To be fair, a great electric power steering system doesn’t feel numb, but it’s not 100 percent your input anymore.
Rear 3/4 driving photo of a blue 2027 BMW i3 50 xDriveBMW
That’s also the case with drive-by-wire and brake-by-wire. The former no longer relies on a set of cables linked to the engine throttle, while the latter is no longer connected by hydraulic lines. What your foot perceives as brake feel now becomes a simulation. Again, when all of these are tuned nicely, like in many BMW M cars these days, they can work well, but it still begs the question as to whether the driving feel is still authentic.
Lotus Emira: The Sports Car That Solved The Digital Numbness Problem
Front 3/4 view of 2024 green Lotus Emira.Garret Donahue | TopSpeed
This now leads us to the 2026 Lotus Emira—one of the most analog performance cars you can buy today. But wait, the Emira looks properly modern; how come it’s also considered analog?
Highly-Tactile Hydraulic Steering
Overall view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
Did you know that Lotus was one of the last automakers to still offer modern cars without any form of power steering? Yes, models like the third-generation Lotus Exige from 2012-2021 didn’t come with power-assisted steering. Imagine driving a vintage car, but with modern sculpted lines and a fuel-injected, mid-engined 3.5-liter V-6, and you pretty much get the gist of driving an Exige. With this information in mind, it’s likely unsurprising for you to find out that Lotus is doing the same with the Emira by being one of the last cars with hydraulic power steering.
The wonderful thing about hydraulic steering is that it’s a middle ground in terms of delivering a tactile steering feel while still being light enough for daily use. Electric power steering has been favored in recent years since its lightness makes modern cars easy to handle, but for a sports car, it also somewhat numbs the tactile feel. Its electric nature also improves fuel economy numbers. Furthermore, if you want your car to have lane-keeping assist or any steering intervention for advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), electric power steering is the only way.
Modern To Look At, Old-School To Drive
Side view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
This now leads us to how the Emira drives, which, thankfully, our team was able to review this sports car. Don’t go thinking that the Emira’s modern and sleek looks, as well as the premium and high-tech interior, have made this sports car too refined, because it’s absolutely not. The hydraulic power steering is as tactile as you could imagine, and it is matched to a very slick six-speed manual. The grip levels are high, and the vehicle simply flows beautifully through the corners, so you’ll easily enter a flow state as you increase your pace.
Yet you don’t necessarily have to drive this car at illegal speeds to enjoy it. That’s because the Emira feels singular. It doesn’t have millions of possible suspension, throttle, or steering settings. That’s simply not possible with only passive suspension and hydraulic steering. As a result, the Emira’s driving personality always feels focused. The Emira looks refined, but it’s nowhere near as refined to drive as its looks may suggest.
Rear view of 2024 green Lotus EmiraGarret Donahue / TopSpeed
At low speeds, the steering can feel heavier (though never cumbersome) than electric power steering, while the firm suspension is great through corners—it never disguises the fact that this is a focused sports car in terms of ride quality. The Emira reminds you that greatness doesn’t necessarily mean being able to do everything in one car. All it has to do is focus on a specific goal instead of offering equal measures of everything. Do so, and what you’ll likely get is a car that’s the jack of all trades, but the master of none.
Why The $112,900 V-6 Is The Only Emira Worth Buying For A True Analog Experience
The 2026 Lotus Emira starts at $106,900, but this is only for the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder models. The model you’ll have to get for the most analog and visceral experience is at least the V-6 SE for $112,900.
Want An Analog Experience? Get The V-6
Lotus Emira Turbo SE Racing Line front cabinLotus
That’s because the V6 SE and the V6 SE Racing Line variants are the only models you can get with the six-speed manual. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with the eight-speed AMG Speedshift DCT as your only transmission choice. Besides, the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 is the superior engine anyway. We’re also confident of the engine’s reliability, because it’s the Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V-6, but with a supercharger. Based on our team’s review, it’s a firecracker of an engine, and one that shares durability traits with the Camry and other V-6-powered Toyotas.
Refined Design Inside And Out
Lotus Emira V6 SE front seatsLotus
As mentioned, the 2026 Lotus Emira looks refined and modern, but that’s not reflected in the way it drives—and that’s a good thing. Thankfully, if you’re not out on the canyons appreciating how tactile the Emira feels, you’ll be enamored by its seductive proportions. The sleek front end, together with the coke-bottle-like proportions of its wide hips, is pure eye candy. It certainly helps that the exterior is highly customizable, down to the availability of a removable roof panel.
Lotus sports cars have never been known for their premium feel, but the Emira has turned the tide towards the opposite end of the spectrum. The interior is truly premium, with authentic materials and even the choice between Nappa leather or lightweight Alcántara. Even the Emira isn’t immune to modernity: you get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard. You even get a KEF surround sound system if the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 somehow isn’t entertaining enough for you—completely understandable if you opted for the 2.0-liter AMG-sourced four-cylinder.
The Analog Performance Car That Rejects Digital Overload
8 minutes reading
Sunday, 30 Aug 2026 18:00 0 3 autotech
Cars are increasingly getting more digital. Ever since the world decided that Tesla’s “smartphone on wheels” idea was a good thing back in 2012, cars have gone down the digitalization route. Software became the core of a vehicle’s relevance, but while that’s all well and good in a lot of commodity cars, this trend is unfortunately making performance cars feel numb and synthetic.
Thankfully, there are still a few performance car options out there that feel authentically analog. Of course, this doesn’t mean it forgoes modern accouterments like an infotainment system, but thanks to the minimal digitalization of the driving experience, this is a car that’s about as authentic as it gets. Without further ado, here’s the performance car that we think offers one of the most analog and authentic driving experiences in 2026.
Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Tesla Model S Plaid in red being driven on roadTesla
To understand why we chose the performance vehicle we’re about to reveal later in this article, we’ll have to first explain which areas cars have become increasingly digital in.
How Software-Defined Vehicles Are Stripping The Soul From Sports Cars
You’ve probably heard of the term software-defined vehicle, or SDV, and these are the kinds of vehicles in which most of their systems are controlled by a centralized computer rather than by numerous scattered electronic control units (ECUs), as in modern cars from legacy automakers. For instance, your power-adjustable seats would have their own ECU, while in an SDV, this is linked through a single ECU handling all interior vehicle features. This level of centralized integration allows automakers to add new features to vehicles or even address issues and recalls purely electronically via over-the-air (OTA) updates.
An SDV is pretty much the embodiment of the smartphone-on-wheels concept. See the BMWs running on iDrive Operating System 8.5 or newer? Their start-up animations currently feature Spider-Man, due to the brand’s collaboration with Marvel for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. To Spider-Man fans, this is a welcome Easter egg, but for those who couldn’t care less, it’s a level of intrusion they may not be keen on.
When Your Steering Wheel Stops Telling You The Truth
BMW Heart of Joy Computer System Parked GrilleBMW
But an SDV can (and often does) go beyond the vehicle’s infotainment, features, and safety systems. Case in point, BMW’s Neue Klasse electric vehicles (EVs). These EVs have what the brand calls their “Heart of Joy”, a central processing unit that translates software code to how the vehicle enters and exits corners, as well as how power is shuffled across the drive wheels. Does it translate to a dynamically great EV? Reviews seem to point out that it’s one of the most well-sorted EVs to date.
This, however, also means that whatever you’re feeling behind the wheel, as well as what happens when your foot manages the pedals, isn’t necessarily 100 percent your input. And with a multitude of cars having electric power steering these days, what you’re feeling through your hands has been filtered somewhat by the electrical systems in your steering rack. To be fair, a great electric power steering system doesn’t feel numb, but it’s not 100 percent your input anymore.
Rear 3/4 driving photo of a blue 2027 BMW i3 50 xDriveBMW
That’s also the case with drive-by-wire and brake-by-wire. The former no longer relies on a set of cables linked to the engine throttle, while the latter is no longer connected by hydraulic lines. What your foot perceives as brake feel now becomes a simulation. Again, when all of these are tuned nicely, like in many BMW M cars these days, they can work well, but it still begs the question as to whether the driving feel is still authentic.
Lotus Emira: The Sports Car That Solved The Digital Numbness Problem
Front 3/4 view of 2024 green Lotus Emira.Garret Donahue | TopSpeed
This now leads us to the 2026 Lotus Emira—one of the most analog performance cars you can buy today. But wait, the Emira looks properly modern; how come it’s also considered analog?
Highly-Tactile Hydraulic Steering
Overall view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
Did you know that Lotus was one of the last automakers to still offer modern cars without any form of power steering? Yes, models like the third-generation Lotus Exige from 2012-2021 didn’t come with power-assisted steering. Imagine driving a vintage car, but with modern sculpted lines and a fuel-injected, mid-engined 3.5-liter V-6, and you pretty much get the gist of driving an Exige. With this information in mind, it’s likely unsurprising for you to find out that Lotus is doing the same with the Emira by being one of the last cars with hydraulic power steering.
The wonderful thing about hydraulic steering is that it’s a middle ground in terms of delivering a tactile steering feel while still being light enough for daily use. Electric power steering has been favored in recent years since its lightness makes modern cars easy to handle, but for a sports car, it also somewhat numbs the tactile feel. Its electric nature also improves fuel economy numbers. Furthermore, if you want your car to have lane-keeping assist or any steering intervention for advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), electric power steering is the only way.
Modern To Look At, Old-School To Drive
Side view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
This now leads us to how the Emira drives, which, thankfully, our team was able to review this sports car. Don’t go thinking that the Emira’s modern and sleek looks, as well as the premium and high-tech interior, have made this sports car too refined, because it’s absolutely not. The hydraulic power steering is as tactile as you could imagine, and it is matched to a very slick six-speed manual. The grip levels are high, and the vehicle simply flows beautifully through the corners, so you’ll easily enter a flow state as you increase your pace.
Yet you don’t necessarily have to drive this car at illegal speeds to enjoy it. That’s because the Emira feels singular. It doesn’t have millions of possible suspension, throttle, or steering settings. That’s simply not possible with only passive suspension and hydraulic steering. As a result, the Emira’s driving personality always feels focused. The Emira looks refined, but it’s nowhere near as refined to drive as its looks may suggest.
Rear view of 2024 green Lotus EmiraGarret Donahue / TopSpeed
At low speeds, the steering can feel heavier (though never cumbersome) than electric power steering, while the firm suspension is great through corners—it never disguises the fact that this is a focused sports car in terms of ride quality. The Emira reminds you that greatness doesn’t necessarily mean being able to do everything in one car. All it has to do is focus on a specific goal instead of offering equal measures of everything. Do so, and what you’ll likely get is a car that’s the jack of all trades, but the master of none.
Why The $112,900 V-6 Is The Only Emira Worth Buying For A True Analog Experience
The 2026 Lotus Emira starts at $106,900, but this is only for the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder models. The model you’ll have to get for the most analog and visceral experience is at least the V-6 SE for $112,900.
Want An Analog Experience? Get The V-6
Lotus Emira Turbo SE Racing Line front cabinLotus
That’s because the V6 SE and the V6 SE Racing Line variants are the only models you can get with the six-speed manual. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with the eight-speed AMG Speedshift DCT as your only transmission choice. Besides, the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 is the superior engine anyway. We’re also confident of the engine’s reliability, because it’s the Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V-6, but with a supercharger. Based on our team’s review, it’s a firecracker of an engine, and one that shares durability traits with the Camry and other V-6-powered Toyotas.
Refined Design Inside And Out
Lotus Emira V6 SE front seatsLotus
As mentioned, the 2026 Lotus Emira looks refined and modern, but that’s not reflected in the way it drives—and that’s a good thing. Thankfully, if you’re not out on the canyons appreciating how tactile the Emira feels, you’ll be enamored by its seductive proportions. The sleek front end, together with the coke-bottle-like proportions of its wide hips, is pure eye candy. It certainly helps that the exterior is highly customizable, down to the availability of a removable roof panel.
Lotus sports cars have never been known for their premium feel, but the Emira has turned the tide towards the opposite end of the spectrum. The interior is truly premium, with authentic materials and even the choice between Nappa leather or lightweight Alcántara. Even the Emira isn’t immune to modernity: you get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard. You even get a KEF surround sound system if the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 somehow isn’t entertaining enough for you—completely understandable if you opted for the 2.0-liter AMG-sourced four-cylinder.
The Analog Performance Car That Rejects Digital Overload
8 minutes reading
Sunday, 30 Aug 2026 18:00 0 3 autotech
Cars are increasingly getting more digital. Ever since the world decided that Tesla’s “smartphone on wheels” idea was a good thing back in 2012, cars have gone down the digitalization route. Software became the core of a vehicle’s relevance, but while that’s all well and good in a lot of commodity cars, this trend is unfortunately making performance cars feel numb and synthetic.
Thankfully, there are still a few performance car options out there that feel authentically analog. Of course, this doesn’t mean it forgoes modern accouterments like an infotainment system, but thanks to the minimal digitalization of the driving experience, this is a car that’s about as authentic as it gets. Without further ado, here’s the performance car that we think offers one of the most analog and authentic driving experiences in 2026.
Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Tesla Model S Plaid in red being driven on roadTesla
To understand why we chose the performance vehicle we’re about to reveal later in this article, we’ll have to first explain which areas cars have become increasingly digital in.
How Software-Defined Vehicles Are Stripping The Soul From Sports Cars
You’ve probably heard of the term software-defined vehicle, or SDV, and these are the kinds of vehicles in which most of their systems are controlled by a centralized computer rather than by numerous scattered electronic control units (ECUs), as in modern cars from legacy automakers. For instance, your power-adjustable seats would have their own ECU, while in an SDV, this is linked through a single ECU handling all interior vehicle features. This level of centralized integration allows automakers to add new features to vehicles or even address issues and recalls purely electronically via over-the-air (OTA) updates.
An SDV is pretty much the embodiment of the smartphone-on-wheels concept. See the BMWs running on iDrive Operating System 8.5 or newer? Their start-up animations currently feature Spider-Man, due to the brand’s collaboration with Marvel for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. To Spider-Man fans, this is a welcome Easter egg, but for those who couldn’t care less, it’s a level of intrusion they may not be keen on.
When Your Steering Wheel Stops Telling You The Truth
BMW Heart of Joy Computer System Parked GrilleBMW
But an SDV can (and often does) go beyond the vehicle’s infotainment, features, and safety systems. Case in point, BMW’s Neue Klasse electric vehicles (EVs). These EVs have what the brand calls their “Heart of Joy”, a central processing unit that translates software code to how the vehicle enters and exits corners, as well as how power is shuffled across the drive wheels. Does it translate to a dynamically great EV? Reviews seem to point out that it’s one of the most well-sorted EVs to date.
This, however, also means that whatever you’re feeling behind the wheel, as well as what happens when your foot manages the pedals, isn’t necessarily 100 percent your input. And with a multitude of cars having electric power steering these days, what you’re feeling through your hands has been filtered somewhat by the electrical systems in your steering rack. To be fair, a great electric power steering system doesn’t feel numb, but it’s not 100 percent your input anymore.
Rear 3/4 driving photo of a blue 2027 BMW i3 50 xDriveBMW
That’s also the case with drive-by-wire and brake-by-wire. The former no longer relies on a set of cables linked to the engine throttle, while the latter is no longer connected by hydraulic lines. What your foot perceives as brake feel now becomes a simulation. Again, when all of these are tuned nicely, like in many BMW M cars these days, they can work well, but it still begs the question as to whether the driving feel is still authentic.
Lotus Emira: The Sports Car That Solved The Digital Numbness Problem
Front 3/4 view of 2024 green Lotus Emira.Garret Donahue | TopSpeed
This now leads us to the 2026 Lotus Emira—one of the most analog performance cars you can buy today. But wait, the Emira looks properly modern; how come it’s also considered analog?
Highly-Tactile Hydraulic Steering
Overall view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
Did you know that Lotus was one of the last automakers to still offer modern cars without any form of power steering? Yes, models like the third-generation Lotus Exige from 2012-2021 didn’t come with power-assisted steering. Imagine driving a vintage car, but with modern sculpted lines and a fuel-injected, mid-engined 3.5-liter V-6, and you pretty much get the gist of driving an Exige. With this information in mind, it’s likely unsurprising for you to find out that Lotus is doing the same with the Emira by being one of the last cars with hydraulic power steering.
The wonderful thing about hydraulic steering is that it’s a middle ground in terms of delivering a tactile steering feel while still being light enough for daily use. Electric power steering has been favored in recent years since its lightness makes modern cars easy to handle, but for a sports car, it also somewhat numbs the tactile feel. Its electric nature also improves fuel economy numbers. Furthermore, if you want your car to have lane-keeping assist or any steering intervention for advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), electric power steering is the only way.
Modern To Look At, Old-School To Drive
Side view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
This now leads us to how the Emira drives, which, thankfully, our team was able to review this sports car. Don’t go thinking that the Emira’s modern and sleek looks, as well as the premium and high-tech interior, have made this sports car too refined, because it’s absolutely not. The hydraulic power steering is as tactile as you could imagine, and it is matched to a very slick six-speed manual. The grip levels are high, and the vehicle simply flows beautifully through the corners, so you’ll easily enter a flow state as you increase your pace.
Yet you don’t necessarily have to drive this car at illegal speeds to enjoy it. That’s because the Emira feels singular. It doesn’t have millions of possible suspension, throttle, or steering settings. That’s simply not possible with only passive suspension and hydraulic steering. As a result, the Emira’s driving personality always feels focused. The Emira looks refined, but it’s nowhere near as refined to drive as its looks may suggest.
Rear view of 2024 green Lotus EmiraGarret Donahue / TopSpeed
At low speeds, the steering can feel heavier (though never cumbersome) than electric power steering, while the firm suspension is great through corners—it never disguises the fact that this is a focused sports car in terms of ride quality. The Emira reminds you that greatness doesn’t necessarily mean being able to do everything in one car. All it has to do is focus on a specific goal instead of offering equal measures of everything. Do so, and what you’ll likely get is a car that’s the jack of all trades, but the master of none.
Why The $112,900 V-6 Is The Only Emira Worth Buying For A True Analog Experience
The 2026 Lotus Emira starts at $106,900, but this is only for the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder models. The model you’ll have to get for the most analog and visceral experience is at least the V-6 SE for $112,900.
Want An Analog Experience? Get The V-6
Lotus Emira Turbo SE Racing Line front cabinLotus
That’s because the V6 SE and the V6 SE Racing Line variants are the only models you can get with the six-speed manual. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with the eight-speed AMG Speedshift DCT as your only transmission choice. Besides, the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 is the superior engine anyway. We’re also confident of the engine’s reliability, because it’s the Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V-6, but with a supercharger. Based on our team’s review, it’s a firecracker of an engine, and one that shares durability traits with the Camry and other V-6-powered Toyotas.
Refined Design Inside And Out
Lotus Emira V6 SE front seatsLotus
As mentioned, the 2026 Lotus Emira looks refined and modern, but that’s not reflected in the way it drives—and that’s a good thing. Thankfully, if you’re not out on the canyons appreciating how tactile the Emira feels, you’ll be enamored by its seductive proportions. The sleek front end, together with the coke-bottle-like proportions of its wide hips, is pure eye candy. It certainly helps that the exterior is highly customizable, down to the availability of a removable roof panel.
Lotus sports cars have never been known for their premium feel, but the Emira has turned the tide towards the opposite end of the spectrum. The interior is truly premium, with authentic materials and even the choice between Nappa leather or lightweight Alcántara. Even the Emira isn’t immune to modernity: you get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard. You even get a KEF surround sound system if the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 somehow isn’t entertaining enough for you—completely understandable if you opted for the 2.0-liter AMG-sourced four-cylinder.
The Analog Performance Car That Rejects Digital Overload
8 minutes reading
Sunday, 30 Aug 2026 18:00 0 3 autotech
Cars are increasingly getting more digital. Ever since the world decided that Tesla’s “smartphone on wheels” idea was a good thing back in 2012, cars have gone down the digitalization route. Software became the core of a vehicle’s relevance, but while that’s all well and good in a lot of commodity cars, this trend is unfortunately making performance cars feel numb and synthetic.
Thankfully, there are still a few performance car options out there that feel authentically analog. Of course, this doesn’t mean it forgoes modern accouterments like an infotainment system, but thanks to the minimal digitalization of the driving experience, this is a car that’s about as authentic as it gets. Without further ado, here’s the performance car that we think offers one of the most analog and authentic driving experiences in 2026.
Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Tesla Model S Plaid in red being driven on roadTesla
To understand why we chose the performance vehicle we’re about to reveal later in this article, we’ll have to first explain which areas cars have become increasingly digital in.
How Software-Defined Vehicles Are Stripping The Soul From Sports Cars
You’ve probably heard of the term software-defined vehicle, or SDV, and these are the kinds of vehicles in which most of their systems are controlled by a centralized computer rather than by numerous scattered electronic control units (ECUs), as in modern cars from legacy automakers. For instance, your power-adjustable seats would have their own ECU, while in an SDV, this is linked through a single ECU handling all interior vehicle features. This level of centralized integration allows automakers to add new features to vehicles or even address issues and recalls purely electronically via over-the-air (OTA) updates.
An SDV is pretty much the embodiment of the smartphone-on-wheels concept. See the BMWs running on iDrive Operating System 8.5 or newer? Their start-up animations currently feature Spider-Man, due to the brand’s collaboration with Marvel for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. To Spider-Man fans, this is a welcome Easter egg, but for those who couldn’t care less, it’s a level of intrusion they may not be keen on.
When Your Steering Wheel Stops Telling You The Truth
BMW Heart of Joy Computer System Parked GrilleBMW
But an SDV can (and often does) go beyond the vehicle’s infotainment, features, and safety systems. Case in point, BMW’s Neue Klasse electric vehicles (EVs). These EVs have what the brand calls their “Heart of Joy”, a central processing unit that translates software code to how the vehicle enters and exits corners, as well as how power is shuffled across the drive wheels. Does it translate to a dynamically great EV? Reviews seem to point out that it’s one of the most well-sorted EVs to date.
This, however, also means that whatever you’re feeling behind the wheel, as well as what happens when your foot manages the pedals, isn’t necessarily 100 percent your input. And with a multitude of cars having electric power steering these days, what you’re feeling through your hands has been filtered somewhat by the electrical systems in your steering rack. To be fair, a great electric power steering system doesn’t feel numb, but it’s not 100 percent your input anymore.
Rear 3/4 driving photo of a blue 2027 BMW i3 50 xDriveBMW
That’s also the case with drive-by-wire and brake-by-wire. The former no longer relies on a set of cables linked to the engine throttle, while the latter is no longer connected by hydraulic lines. What your foot perceives as brake feel now becomes a simulation. Again, when all of these are tuned nicely, like in many BMW M cars these days, they can work well, but it still begs the question as to whether the driving feel is still authentic.
Lotus Emira: The Sports Car That Solved The Digital Numbness Problem
Front 3/4 view of 2024 green Lotus Emira.Garret Donahue | TopSpeed
This now leads us to the 2026 Lotus Emira—one of the most analog performance cars you can buy today. But wait, the Emira looks properly modern; how come it’s also considered analog?
Highly-Tactile Hydraulic Steering
Overall view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
Did you know that Lotus was one of the last automakers to still offer modern cars without any form of power steering? Yes, models like the third-generation Lotus Exige from 2012-2021 didn’t come with power-assisted steering. Imagine driving a vintage car, but with modern sculpted lines and a fuel-injected, mid-engined 3.5-liter V-6, and you pretty much get the gist of driving an Exige. With this information in mind, it’s likely unsurprising for you to find out that Lotus is doing the same with the Emira by being one of the last cars with hydraulic power steering.
The wonderful thing about hydraulic steering is that it’s a middle ground in terms of delivering a tactile steering feel while still being light enough for daily use. Electric power steering has been favored in recent years since its lightness makes modern cars easy to handle, but for a sports car, it also somewhat numbs the tactile feel. Its electric nature also improves fuel economy numbers. Furthermore, if you want your car to have lane-keeping assist or any steering intervention for advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), electric power steering is the only way.
Modern To Look At, Old-School To Drive
Side view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
This now leads us to how the Emira drives, which, thankfully, our team was able to review this sports car. Don’t go thinking that the Emira’s modern and sleek looks, as well as the premium and high-tech interior, have made this sports car too refined, because it’s absolutely not. The hydraulic power steering is as tactile as you could imagine, and it is matched to a very slick six-speed manual. The grip levels are high, and the vehicle simply flows beautifully through the corners, so you’ll easily enter a flow state as you increase your pace.
Yet you don’t necessarily have to drive this car at illegal speeds to enjoy it. That’s because the Emira feels singular. It doesn’t have millions of possible suspension, throttle, or steering settings. That’s simply not possible with only passive suspension and hydraulic steering. As a result, the Emira’s driving personality always feels focused. The Emira looks refined, but it’s nowhere near as refined to drive as its looks may suggest.
Rear view of 2024 green Lotus EmiraGarret Donahue / TopSpeed
At low speeds, the steering can feel heavier (though never cumbersome) than electric power steering, while the firm suspension is great through corners—it never disguises the fact that this is a focused sports car in terms of ride quality. The Emira reminds you that greatness doesn’t necessarily mean being able to do everything in one car. All it has to do is focus on a specific goal instead of offering equal measures of everything. Do so, and what you’ll likely get is a car that’s the jack of all trades, but the master of none.
Why The $112,900 V-6 Is The Only Emira Worth Buying For A True Analog Experience
The 2026 Lotus Emira starts at $106,900, but this is only for the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder models. The model you’ll have to get for the most analog and visceral experience is at least the V-6 SE for $112,900.
Want An Analog Experience? Get The V-6
Lotus Emira Turbo SE Racing Line front cabinLotus
That’s because the V6 SE and the V6 SE Racing Line variants are the only models you can get with the six-speed manual. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with the eight-speed AMG Speedshift DCT as your only transmission choice. Besides, the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 is the superior engine anyway. We’re also confident of the engine’s reliability, because it’s the Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V-6, but with a supercharger. Based on our team’s review, it’s a firecracker of an engine, and one that shares durability traits with the Camry and other V-6-powered Toyotas.
Refined Design Inside And Out
Lotus Emira V6 SE front seatsLotus
As mentioned, the 2026 Lotus Emira looks refined and modern, but that’s not reflected in the way it drives—and that’s a good thing. Thankfully, if you’re not out on the canyons appreciating how tactile the Emira feels, you’ll be enamored by its seductive proportions. The sleek front end, together with the coke-bottle-like proportions of its wide hips, is pure eye candy. It certainly helps that the exterior is highly customizable, down to the availability of a removable roof panel.
Lotus sports cars have never been known for their premium feel, but the Emira has turned the tide towards the opposite end of the spectrum. The interior is truly premium, with authentic materials and even the choice between Nappa leather or lightweight Alcántara. Even the Emira isn’t immune to modernity: you get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard. You even get a KEF surround sound system if the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 somehow isn’t entertaining enough for you—completely understandable if you opted for the 2.0-liter AMG-sourced four-cylinder.
The Analog Performance Car That Rejects Digital Overload
8 minutes reading
Sunday, 30 Aug 2026 18:00 0 3 autotech
Cars are increasingly getting more digital. Ever since the world decided that Tesla’s “smartphone on wheels” idea was a good thing back in 2012, cars have gone down the digitalization route. Software became the core of a vehicle’s relevance, but while that’s all well and good in a lot of commodity cars, this trend is unfortunately making performance cars feel numb and synthetic.
Thankfully, there are still a few performance car options out there that feel authentically analog. Of course, this doesn’t mean it forgoes modern accouterments like an infotainment system, but thanks to the minimal digitalization of the driving experience, this is a car that’s about as authentic as it gets. Without further ado, here’s the performance car that we think offers one of the most analog and authentic driving experiences in 2026.
Front 3/4 action shot of 2026 Tesla Model S Plaid in red being driven on roadTesla
To understand why we chose the performance vehicle we’re about to reveal later in this article, we’ll have to first explain which areas cars have become increasingly digital in.
How Software-Defined Vehicles Are Stripping The Soul From Sports Cars
You’ve probably heard of the term software-defined vehicle, or SDV, and these are the kinds of vehicles in which most of their systems are controlled by a centralized computer rather than by numerous scattered electronic control units (ECUs), as in modern cars from legacy automakers. For instance, your power-adjustable seats would have their own ECU, while in an SDV, this is linked through a single ECU handling all interior vehicle features. This level of centralized integration allows automakers to add new features to vehicles or even address issues and recalls purely electronically via over-the-air (OTA) updates.
An SDV is pretty much the embodiment of the smartphone-on-wheels concept. See the BMWs running on iDrive Operating System 8.5 or newer? Their start-up animations currently feature Spider-Man, due to the brand’s collaboration with Marvel for Spider-Man: Brand New Day. To Spider-Man fans, this is a welcome Easter egg, but for those who couldn’t care less, it’s a level of intrusion they may not be keen on.
When Your Steering Wheel Stops Telling You The Truth
BMW Heart of Joy Computer System Parked GrilleBMW
But an SDV can (and often does) go beyond the vehicle’s infotainment, features, and safety systems. Case in point, BMW’s Neue Klasse electric vehicles (EVs). These EVs have what the brand calls their “Heart of Joy”, a central processing unit that translates software code to how the vehicle enters and exits corners, as well as how power is shuffled across the drive wheels. Does it translate to a dynamically great EV? Reviews seem to point out that it’s one of the most well-sorted EVs to date.
This, however, also means that whatever you’re feeling behind the wheel, as well as what happens when your foot manages the pedals, isn’t necessarily 100 percent your input. And with a multitude of cars having electric power steering these days, what you’re feeling through your hands has been filtered somewhat by the electrical systems in your steering rack. To be fair, a great electric power steering system doesn’t feel numb, but it’s not 100 percent your input anymore.
Rear 3/4 driving photo of a blue 2027 BMW i3 50 xDriveBMW
That’s also the case with drive-by-wire and brake-by-wire. The former no longer relies on a set of cables linked to the engine throttle, while the latter is no longer connected by hydraulic lines. What your foot perceives as brake feel now becomes a simulation. Again, when all of these are tuned nicely, like in many BMW M cars these days, they can work well, but it still begs the question as to whether the driving feel is still authentic.
Lotus Emira: The Sports Car That Solved The Digital Numbness Problem
Front 3/4 view of 2024 green Lotus Emira.Garret Donahue | TopSpeed
This now leads us to the 2026 Lotus Emira—one of the most analog performance cars you can buy today. But wait, the Emira looks properly modern; how come it’s also considered analog?
Highly-Tactile Hydraulic Steering
Overall view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
Did you know that Lotus was one of the last automakers to still offer modern cars without any form of power steering? Yes, models like the third-generation Lotus Exige from 2012-2021 didn’t come with power-assisted steering. Imagine driving a vintage car, but with modern sculpted lines and a fuel-injected, mid-engined 3.5-liter V-6, and you pretty much get the gist of driving an Exige. With this information in mind, it’s likely unsurprising for you to find out that Lotus is doing the same with the Emira by being one of the last cars with hydraulic power steering.
The wonderful thing about hydraulic steering is that it’s a middle ground in terms of delivering a tactile steering feel while still being light enough for daily use. Electric power steering has been favored in recent years since its lightness makes modern cars easy to handle, but for a sports car, it also somewhat numbs the tactile feel. Its electric nature also improves fuel economy numbers. Furthermore, if you want your car to have lane-keeping assist or any steering intervention for advanced driver-assist systems (ADAS), electric power steering is the only way.
Modern To Look At, Old-School To Drive
Side view of 2024 Lotus Emira interior.Lotus
This now leads us to how the Emira drives, which, thankfully, our team was able to review this sports car. Don’t go thinking that the Emira’s modern and sleek looks, as well as the premium and high-tech interior, have made this sports car too refined, because it’s absolutely not. The hydraulic power steering is as tactile as you could imagine, and it is matched to a very slick six-speed manual. The grip levels are high, and the vehicle simply flows beautifully through the corners, so you’ll easily enter a flow state as you increase your pace.
Yet you don’t necessarily have to drive this car at illegal speeds to enjoy it. That’s because the Emira feels singular. It doesn’t have millions of possible suspension, throttle, or steering settings. That’s simply not possible with only passive suspension and hydraulic steering. As a result, the Emira’s driving personality always feels focused. The Emira looks refined, but it’s nowhere near as refined to drive as its looks may suggest.
Rear view of 2024 green Lotus EmiraGarret Donahue / TopSpeed
At low speeds, the steering can feel heavier (though never cumbersome) than electric power steering, while the firm suspension is great through corners—it never disguises the fact that this is a focused sports car in terms of ride quality. The Emira reminds you that greatness doesn’t necessarily mean being able to do everything in one car. All it has to do is focus on a specific goal instead of offering equal measures of everything. Do so, and what you’ll likely get is a car that’s the jack of all trades, but the master of none.
Why The $112,900 V-6 Is The Only Emira Worth Buying For A True Analog Experience
The 2026 Lotus Emira starts at $106,900, but this is only for the 2.0-liter turbo four-cylinder models. The model you’ll have to get for the most analog and visceral experience is at least the V-6 SE for $112,900.
Want An Analog Experience? Get The V-6
Lotus Emira Turbo SE Racing Line front cabinLotus
That’s because the V6 SE and the V6 SE Racing Line variants are the only models you can get with the six-speed manual. Otherwise, you’ll be stuck with the eight-speed AMG Speedshift DCT as your only transmission choice. Besides, the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 is the superior engine anyway. We’re also confident of the engine’s reliability, because it’s the Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5-liter V-6, but with a supercharger. Based on our team’s review, it’s a firecracker of an engine, and one that shares durability traits with the Camry and other V-6-powered Toyotas.
Refined Design Inside And Out
Lotus Emira V6 SE front seatsLotus
As mentioned, the 2026 Lotus Emira looks refined and modern, but that’s not reflected in the way it drives—and that’s a good thing. Thankfully, if you’re not out on the canyons appreciating how tactile the Emira feels, you’ll be enamored by its seductive proportions. The sleek front end, together with the coke-bottle-like proportions of its wide hips, is pure eye candy. It certainly helps that the exterior is highly customizable, down to the availability of a removable roof panel.
Lotus sports cars have never been known for their premium feel, but the Emira has turned the tide towards the opposite end of the spectrum. The interior is truly premium, with authentic materials and even the choice between Nappa leather or lightweight Alcántara. Even the Emira isn’t immune to modernity: you get a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster and a 10.25-inch infotainment touchscreen as standard. You even get a KEF surround sound system if the 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 somehow isn’t entertaining enough for you—completely understandable if you opted for the 2.0-liter AMG-sourced four-cylinder.
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