While the Porsche Cayman might be the more obvious choice, there’s a strong case for the Lotus Emira.

The Lotus Emira may be the new kid on the block, but it's already winning fans left, right, and center. Purists love it because it fulfills many core beliefs that fans of the brand hold dear. Those who've driven it appreciate the engaging chassis and drivetrain. And collectors are sure to hold on to the fact that the Lotus Emira is the last-ever internal-combustion-powered Lotus the world will see. But does it have what it takes to overthrow the stalwart of the category, the Porsche Cayman? After all, when the 718 Cayman was launched, it was hailed by many as the gold standard for mid-engine two-seat sports cars. Here's why the plucky challenger from Hethal, England, may just have a fighting chance against the might of Stuttgart's finest.

Related: Spy Shots: An Early Look At The 2025 Porsche 718 Boxster EV

Dollar for dollar, the entry-level Lotus Emira has a smidge more power on offer than the Porsche does. The base Emira features a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder that outputs 360 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque. Granted, there's not a lot in it on paper, with the similarly-priced Porsche Cayman S just ten horsepower and eight pound-feet falling short. But in the Cayman, the power plant is a turbocharged flat-four. It's an engine that has been widely panned by those who've driven it. Having been one of those with a bee in their bonnet about the aural qualities, it's hard not to equate the German sports car to sounding anything but a souped-up VW Beetle.

RELATED: 2023 Lotus Emira — Performance, Price, and Photos

Granted, it has power and lots of it, which is delivered with nary a whimper. But on the other side of the battle, the four-cylinder from Mercedes-Benz is borrowed from the acclaimed A45 AMG. When introduced, this 2.0-liter lump boasted the title of "the world's most powerful four-cylinder engine in serial production." And, while it has been de-tuned for Lotus duties, there's no denying the pedigree of this hand-built engine.

Willing to spend a bit more cash? Then things get a little trickier. For the Emira, the top-spec engine is a 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 borrowed from Toyota with 400 horsepower. Porsche, on the other hand, has finally decided to plumb in a naturally aspirated flat-six into the Cayman in the form of the 4.0 RS, which is good for 394 horsepower. Both cars are equally matched price-wise and have similar outputs.

While Lotus is a revered name in its own right, stateside, we have a bit of a love-hate relationship with the brand. Many are happy to casually appreciate them from afar, but when it comes to putting money down, I'm going to take an educated guess that 9 out of 10 buyers will plump for the more commercially successful Porsche.

Yes, the Emira has come highly reviewed in all aspects where Lotus of old were lacking. It's more comfortable, more practical, and better built than the Evora before it. But the might of the Porsche brand, the coverage of its dealer network, and the power of its badge means that Emira's sales will likely register as nothing more than a blip on Porsche's radar. However, what this will translate into is a car that is seen less often, and likely more collectible. This also leads us to our next point.

The last few decades have been a tad turbulent for Lotus as the small sports car manufacturer has rarely been given the investment it needed to flourish. However, since it was brought under the wing of Chinese auto giant Geely, the tables have very much turned.

Now Lotus is looking to become a force to be reckoned with, with a new design studio in the UK, and manufacturing capability opening up in Wuhan, China. What that also means is that its new owners want to push the brand to the mainstream, and part of that strategy means killing-off combustion-powered offerings. The Emira is very much the brand's swansong to petrol power. You can tell they've thrown everything at it, with all the hallmarks of the car being a true passion project. While the 718 Cayman and Boxster are also the last ICE offerings in their line, Stuttgart has committed to building ICE-powered models such as the 911 for years to come.

The Emira will undoubtedly become a future classic for this reason alone: holding the mantle of being the last-ever ICE Lotus.

RELATED: 10 Things You Need To Know About The 2023 Lotus Eletre EV

In many respects, the Lotus Emira is a better package than the Cayman. For starters, the Emira features all-round double wishbone suspension — if you want that on a Porsche, you'll have to spend six figures for a 911 GT3.

Something else you'll have to dig deep for in a Porsche? Options. While the Emira comes with a high-end audio system, climate control, electric leather seats, and Apple CarPlay / Android Auto as standard, you'll have to tick several expensive boxes if you want the same in a Cayman. The Emira also offers more functional aero than the standard 718 Cayman, with working vents and grilles channeling the air around the sculpted body. And while the design of the Emira may be subjective, if you'd rather not have the almost cookie-cutter-like traits of the Porsche design language, then the Lotus wins hands down.

Many buyers will gravitate toward the Porsche Cayman; honestly, I don't blame them. The 718 is a brilliant car, and will always be remembered as one. But for Lotus, the Emira carries so much more significance. It could very well be their last car to stick to the founder's philosophy that centers around lightness, while every other aspect signals good things for the brand's future. The Emira is genuinely a modern classic in our midst, and as a true automotive fan, you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't take a second look.

Sam started his career as an amateur motorsport photographer while still in school. With a passion for story telling, he soon became a fully-fledged journalist and editor while also winning runner-up for the Guild Of Motoring Writer's Sir William Lyons Trophy. Now with over a decade of experience reporting on events from all across the globe, and having headed BBC TopGear Sri Lanka as Editor-in-Chief, he lands at TopSpeed.com as Assistant Managing Editor. In his free time, Sam enjoys messing around with classic cars and dabbling in motorsport — both behind the wheel and trackside.