Lotus Emira
A two-door car with alloy wheels and large vents in the bonnet.
2022 Lotus Emira
Overview
ManufacturerLotus Cars
Production2022–present
AssemblyEngland: Hethel, Norfolk
DesignerDaniel Durrant under Russell Carr (exterior)[1]
Jon Statham (interior)
Body and chassis
ClassSports car (S)
Body style2-door coupé
LayoutTransverse mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
PlatformElemental[2]
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission
Dimensions
Wheelbase101.3 in (2,573 mm)[4]
Length173.7 in (4,412 mm)
Width74.6 in (1,895 mm)
Height48.2 in (1,224 mm)
Kerb weight3,097 lb (1,405 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor

The Lotus Emira is a sports car manufactured by the British company Lotus Cars. It is intended to be the firm's final vehicle powered by an internal combustion engine.[3][4][5]

History

Lotus Emira rear view

The Emira was launched at Hethel, England on 6 July 2021 and then presented at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 8 July 2021.[6] It replaces the Evora, Exige and Elise.[3][4][7] Following its debut, the Hethel-based company revealed the GT4 race car equivalent,[8] which made its track debut in 2022, replacing the older Evora GT4. Emira's design bears several similarities to that of Lotus' high-performance car Evija, which was presented in 2019.[9]

Lotus Emira GT4

The new Emira went on sale in March 2022 and came with a 3.5 litre supercharged V6 sourced by Toyota. Power figures are 406 PS (299 kW; 400 hp) and 430 N⋅m (320 lb⋅ft) of torque. Available in either 6-speed manual or a 6-speed automatic. Later on, a smaller 2.0 litre turbocharged engine sourced from Mercedes-AMG with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) was made available for the new Emira, with 365 PS (268 kW; 360 hp).[10]

Pricing was announced on 20 September 2021 for the UK, starting at £59,995 for the base i4 and £75,995 including 20% VAT tax for the V6 First Edition. US pricing was announced on 1 October 2021 starting at $74,900 for the base i4 and $93,900 for the V6 First Edition. The V6 First Edition was expected to have been available by Spring 2022 with the i4 following in Autumn 2022.

In 2022, the Emira made its debut in Malaysia with the First Edition being the variant on offer.[11] It was powered by the 3.5 litre supercharged V6.

Global post-pandemic supply chain issues meant that the factory was unable to get to full production capacity during 2022. The first EU and UK V6 manual variants (including some UK dealer demonstrator V6 cars) were delivered to customers in Q4 2022. Plans for 2023 include the first V6 automatic deliveries for the EU and UK in Q1, and US V6 deliveries starting in Q4. i4 variant production for the UK is now planned to start in Q3.

The competition GT4 version received an update in 2023. With development partner RML Group, who also build the homologated cars, the update brings 455bhp, a new gearbox, and enhanced aerodynamics.[12]

References

  1. ↑ "LOTUS EMIRA: DELIVERING EXOTIC SUPERCAR APPEAL IN THE SPORTS CAR SEGMENT". Lotus Cars. 6 July 2021. Retrieved 27 August 2022.
  2. ↑ "2021 December - AutoTechInsight". autotechinsight.ihsmarkit.com. Retrieved 30 March 2022.
  3. 1 2 3 "Lotus Emira Mid-Engined Sports Car Debuts With AMG And Toyota Power". motor1.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  4. 1 2 3 "Preview : Lotus Emira is automaker's farewell to internal combustion". motorauthority.com. Retrieved 6 July 2021.
  5. ↑ Mathieu Demeule (27 April 2021). "Lotus Emira (2021) : La dernière Lotus thermique arrive le 6 juillet" (in French). Auto Plus.
  6. ↑ Stéphane Capela (27 April 2021). "Lotus Emira : le dernier modèle thermique !" (in French). Turbo.
  7. ↑ Florent Ferrière (27 April 2021). "Lotus annonce l'Emira, sa dernière voiture thermique" (in French). Caradisiac.
  8. ↑ "Lotus Emira GT4 race car revealed - 2022 track debut - paultan.org". 9 September 2021.
  9. ↑ "New Lotus Emira: Mercedes-AMG four-cylinder version to debut at Goodwood". Auto Express. para 18. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
  10. ↑ "Lotus Emira V6 specs confirmed – 400 hp, 430 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds; RM435k for First Edition - paultan.org". 21 September 2021.
  11. ↑ "Lotus Emira previewed in Malaysia - fully-loaded First Edition, 400 hp, RM1.13m Pen Msia, RM457k duty-free - paultan.org". 8 April 2022.
  12. ↑ "First Lotus Emira GT4 Customer Deliveries Imminent | dailysportscar.com". www.dailysportscar.com. Retrieved 11 July 2023.
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