Gorgeous Lotus Emira Unveiled as Final Gas-powered Lotus
The final chapter in the history of conventionally powered Lotus sports cars began on Tuesday with the unveiling of the all-new Emira, a mid-engined coupe and heir to the Elise, Exige and Evora.
“The Emira is a game-changer for Lotus,” said Matt Windle, Managing Director. It is the most accomplished Lotus road car ever to roll through the Hethel factory gates. The Emira is a junior supercar with all the thrills and head-turning characteristics found in the greatest Lotus cars, but at the same time is an everyday sports car that’s high on comfort and functionality, packed with the latest technology demanded by the discerning driver.”
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Measuring 4.41 metres long, 1.9 metres wide and just 1.23 metres tall, with a wheelbase of 2.58 metres identical to the Evora but with wider tracks, the Lotus Emira benefits from a new lightweight bonded aluminium chassis and design language clearly developed from the Evija electric hypercar. It immediately becomes one of the most beautiful sports cars on the planet, standing on 20-inch wheels wrapped in standard Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tires or optional Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.
Inside, the seats, steering wheel and controls are all unique to the Emira and achieve a stark contrast with past Lotus models. There is more passenger and storage space as well as higher-quality materials. Access to the infotainment system is via a 10.25-inch centrally mounted touchscreen, with an additional 12.3-inch TFT driver’s display behind the steering wheel. All content has been designed and developed by an in-house team.
Familiar V6 and AMG Magic
Deliveries of the Lotus Emira are scheduled to begin next spring. The first cars will be available as limited-production ‘First Edition’ models featuring the Toyota-sourced, Lotus-honed supercharged 3.5-litre V6 which we know from the Exige and Evora.
From summer 2022, the first new Lotus sports car engine for more than a decade will make its debut, namely a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder sourced from Mercedes-AMG. The performance division of the German automaker served as a technical partner during the development of the Emira. Of course, the AMG engine has been modified with a new air intake system and new exhaust to suit the character of the Emira.
Units will be available with a manual, automatic or dual-clutch transmission, while output will range from 360-400 horsepower. Add the 317 pound-feet of torque and a target weight of 1,405 kilograms in its lightest form, and you get 0-100 km/h sprints in less than 4.5 seconds with top speeds of 290 km/h.
The Emira is the first all-new Lotus sports car to be delivered under Vision80, the strategic plan which is guiding the transformation of Lotus as it moves towards its 80th anniversary in 2028, aiming to become a truly global performance car brand. After the Emira, all future products will be fully electric.