The Lotus Emira is a brand-new mid-engined luxury sports vehicle that perfectly represents the company’s and brand’s continuous evolution. It boasts all of the characteristics that the automotive industry has come to expect from a Lotus – stunning design, exciting dynamic performance providing best-in-class ride and handling, superb aerodynamics, and an unrivaled, driver-oriented experience.

Emira is the first Lotus powered by an AMG engine

The Emira is an incredible step forward for Lotus, following in the footsteps of the Elise, Exige, and Evora. A revolutionary leap in levels of practicality, comfort, usefulness, and technology has been coupled with those immediately identifiable brand characteristics and fundamental principles.

Matt Windle, Managing Director, Lotus Cars commented: “The Emira is a game-changer for Lotus. It stands as a beacon of everything we have achieved to date in the transformation of the business, the embodiment of our progress. It is a highly significant milestone on our path to becoming a truly global performance car brand.”

The Emira is built on a new lightweight bonded aluminum chassis, a Lotus-developed technology that is still ingrained in the company’s sports car DNA. The strong and sculptural design, which takes inspiration from the Evija, wraps around the revolutionary vehicle architecture. The Lotus Emira has a length of 4,412mm, a width of 1,895mm, a height of 1,225mm, and a wheelbase of 2,575mm.

From next spring, the first customer vehicles will be shipped all over the globe. The Emira will be powered by one of two petrol engines, both of which are well-known for their performance. The first vehicles will be offered as limited-production ‘Originally Edition’ versions at launch, driven by the much-loved and Lotus-honed 3.5-liter V6 that first saw action in the Exige and Evora.

The Emira powered by AMG will arrive in summer 2022, marking the first new Lotus sports car engine in more than a decade. The AMG unit is a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder ‘i4′ from Mercedes Benz‘s performance division, which is new to Lotus.

AMG has joined Lotus as a technical partner on the Emira project for the first time, with some fundamental modifications to the in-line four-cylinder setup for its Lotus premiere. The unit has been upgraded with a new air intake system and new exhaust to fit the character of the Emira. It is transversely mounted and delivers rear-wheel drive.

The second engine, the 3.5-liter supercharged Toyota V6 beloved by Exige and Evora owners, is more familiar. A manual, automatic, and Dual Clutch Transmission (DCT) will be offered.

Power output will vary between 360 and 400bhp throughout the Lotus Emira range at launch, with 0-62mph (0-100km/h) acceleration in less than 4.5 seconds and maximum speeds of up to 180mph (290km/h). The maximum torque will be 430Nm, and CO2 emissions will start at less than 180 grams per kilometer. In its lightest version, the vehicle should weigh 1,405 kg.

The design details accentuate the Lotus Emira’s supercar status

The Lotus Evija’s impact may be seen in the flowing surfaces and sharp feature lines of the Emira. The prominent leading edge of the bonnet, the shrink-wrapped interior that tapers to the back, and the sculpted doors and vents carved into the strong rear haunches all highlight the lineage. The Evija also inspired the first-in-class exit vents, which are incorporated into the bonnet to direct airflow over the vehicle and improve aerodynamics.

All models come equipped with vertical all-LED headlights, which have a wing-inspired dual blade design similar to the Lotus hypercar. The latest version of the famous Lotus roundel, which makes its first appearance on a new Lotus sports car and is significantly bigger than prior models, is housed on the bonnet.

When you look at the Emira from the side, the sculpted portion carved into the door directs airflow to the intake front of the rear tire. This performs a dual function by both supplying air and cooling to the engine. The Emira name tag is incorporated into the C-pillar and visible from the side.

All of the wheels are 20 inches in diameter and come standard with a Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tire, with a Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tire available as a cost option when purchased with the Lotus Drivers Pack. Both tires were designed specifically for the Emira.

The Lotus wordmark dominates the integrated bumper in the back, over a body-colored plate that is obviously inspired by the Evija’s rear. There is an air exit vent at either end for air from the wheel arch. A flat C-shaped LED light cluster in each corner is connected by a slimline high-level brake light. Below the number plate is a black area with twin exhaust pipes on each side and an air diffuser below to help with downforce.

Since the company’s founding in 1948, efficient aerodynamics has been at the core of the Lotus brand. It’s a mindset that’s intrinsically connected to providing exceptional performance, whether on the road or on the racetrack. The Lotus Emira is all about simplicity; there is no active aerodynamics since smart engineering eliminates the need for them.

It’s the only vehicle in its class that generates passive downforce that’s completely balanced between the front and rear axles at all speeds, thanks to the suspension geometry and weight distribution that’s properly matched to the car’s weight distribution. It implies that the handling qualities stay consistent, accurate, and predictable as downforce rises with speed, providing excellent grip through turns.

Premium driver experience defines the Lotus Emira interior

The dashboard’s wraparound nature, which merges into the door trim, provides a cossetted sensation that helps the driver feel at one with the vehicle. The elevated gear shifter just adds to the feeling. A large variety of soft-trimmed surfaces are present, displaying superior British workmanship and conveying supreme sportiness.

They combine seamlessly with contemporary technological finishing to provide the driver a premium driving experience – ‘technology with soul’ – and there are touches that pay homage to Lotus’ history and racing achievements.

The semi-exposed gear linkage seen at the base of the central console on V6 manual vehicles, such as the Elise and Exige, and the placement of the gearstick on manual cars, which recalls that of the famous Esprit, are two examples. The protective crimson cover over the start/stop button adds to the feeling of theater.

The two seats were designed to provide excellent lateral support for high-speed cornering while also providing complete comfort for extended trips. The basic seat has a four-way electric adjustment, but you may upgrade to a premium sports seat with a 12-way electric adjustment for the driver and passenger.

The Lotus Emira’s chairs are all one-of-a-kind. The car’s striking low stance, reminiscent of a supercar, was accomplished while maintaining best-in-class ingress/egress and headroom.

The flat-bottomed sports steering wheel with metallic spoke detail and integrated buttons are also unique to the Emira. Ambient and wraparound lighting, as well as map lights, adorn the interior.

Keyless entry, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, electric folding door mirrors, rear parking sensors (with front sensors as an option), auto-dimming rearview mirror, curtain airbags, launch control (as part of the optional Lotus Drivers Pack), and a stolen vehicle tracker are just a few of the features available on the Emira.

Adaptive cruise control, anti-collision system, fatigue alert, road sign information, vehicle speed limiter, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, and lane change assist are among the Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) offered on the Emira.

Practical… within reason

Lotus intended the Emira to be an ‘everyday’ sports vehicle from the start, with usefulness and functionality to back it up, as well as levels of comfort and desirability for complete comfort on long-distance driving. As a result, it raises the bar for Lotus and is more accommodating than ever for the tallest and shortest drivers. There is also greater room between the people.

For everyday usage, the glass area has been designed to offer excellent all-around sight. Recognizing that some owners may drive their Emira aggressively, even on a circuit, the vision forward – especially of the haunches – allows for very precise corner placement.

A 10.25-inch centrally placed touch-screen controls the car’s infotainment system, with a 12.3-inch TFT driver’s display behind the steering wheel. An in-house team created and produced all of the material, which is unique to Lotus. Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are built-in as standard.

Lotus is also the only place where you can get a 10-channel premium sound system from KEF, a well-known British company. This is the company’s first-ever automotive collaboration, and it includes Uni-QTM technology, a unique design that eliminates the need for separate tweeter and mid-range drivers, instead of merging them into a single acoustically idealized unit.

Uni-Q delivers a more cohesive, hyper-realistic sound experience by covering the full mid and high-frequency sound spectrum from a single location in space, finished with a unique custom speaker fret design.

In a sports vehicle, storage is crucial, and the Emira’s interior has been meticulously designed. It features two center cup holders, one of which has a phone storage slot, and door bins that can store a 500ml bottle. The glovebox, trinket tray in front of the gearstick, armrest between the seats with USB and 12v outlets, and a console net for drinks or papers add to the practicality.

Luggage or other big things may be stowed in the boot at the back of the engine (208 liters) or behind the two seats (208 liters). A standard-sized flight bag or a set of golf clubs will fit in this area (151 liters).