car news car tests

Lotus Emira V6 and Emira with four-cylinder

This is not the first time we have driven the Lotus Emira. In 2022, we first drove the Lotus Emira V6 First Edition. Then it quickly became clear that Lotus still has a knack for building a true driver’s car. Even though some things have changed since the demise of the Elise, Exige and Evora. You have to think of the Lotus Emira as a GT sports car, as a successor to the Lotus Evora rather than as a lightweight crawler.

Weight

To name the weight right off the bat, this Lotus Emira Turbo weighs about 1,450 kilograms. In Lotus-speak, that’s twice an Elise S1. Then you have a picture. For the die-hard Lotus enthusiast, that may take some swallowing. But on the other hand, you may not compare the Lotus of today with the Lotus models of yesteryear.

LOTUS EMIRA with MERCEDES-AMG power! – REVIEW – AutoRAI TV

Accent on luxury and top handling

Today’s Lotus puts much more emphasis on luxury combined with top handling, where focus on weight was the most important thing in the past. By the way, the Lotus Emira is 4,413 mm long, 2,092 mm wide and 1,226 mm high. The wheelbase comes out to 2,575 mm. The Lotus Evora – the Emira’s predecessor – had a length of 4.35 meters and an empty weight of 1,415 kilograms.

Weight not perceptible

There is one thing Lotus has not lost: and that is to make a car feel particularly nimble. This Emira manages to mask its kilograms very well. The car is lively, steers with a lot of feeling and encourages you to feel the pace in corners. Those who dare, let the ass break out quickly to then elicit a delicious power slide. Well, the helmsman definitely comes into his own in this four-cylinder Lotus.

Hydraulic steering

Remarkably, this Lotus still has hydraulic steering, which gives you as a driver excellent feedback on all inputs and information from the road surface. The car does not have a mechanical limited slip differential, as the V6 does. However, the four-cylinder does have a system that simulates muscle action with braking on the inner rear wheel. Weighing 1,446 kilograms, this four-cylinder Emira is 36 kilograms lighter than an Emira V6 with manual transmission. Like the Emira V6, the new 2.0-liter Emira is built at the Chapman Production Center (CPC) in Hethel. Speaking of that four-cylinder, let’s take a look at the specs.

Lotus Emira Turbo: technical specifications

• Engine: 1,991 cc four-in-line turbocharged gasoline engine, four valves per cylinder, variable valve timing, single twin-scroll turbo; 200 bar piezo direct fuel injection
• Transmission: eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission 8DCT
• Power: 364 hp (269 kW)
• Torque: 430 Nm
• Top speed: 275 km/h
• 0-100 km/h: 4.4 seconds
• CO2 emissions: 208 g/km
• Front suspension: double wishbones
• Rear suspension: double wishbones
• Steering: electro-hydraulic
• Brakes for: 370 x 32 mm
• Rear brakes: 350 x 32 mm
• Calipers: AP Racing 4 pistons
• Front tires: 245/35/R20
• Rear tires: 295/30/R20
• Length: 4,413 mm
• Width: 1,895 mm (excluding side mirrors)
• Height: 1,226 mm
• Wheelbase: 2,575 mm
• Front track width: 1,626 mm
• Rear track width: 1,608 mm
• Weight: 1,446 kilograms
• Rear luggage compartment: 151 liters
• Combined luggage space: 208 liters
• Fuel tank: 52.5 liters

Plenty of plans at Lotus

Quite a bit of power, then, but above all, the torque is even more convincing. Consumption of 1:20 on the highway? No, you won’t. But at a speed of about 105 km/h, a mere 5.5 l per 100 km is quite possible. Quite economical, this four-pitter!

More Lotus gasoline models on the way!

By the way, Lotus has backtracked on its announcement that the Lotus Emira would be the last combustion-engine Lotus. The plan was to launch only battery-electric models after the Emira. But that is now being modified because the demand for gasoline models is even greater than expected. Therefore, the brand is coming up with hybrid power. And Lotus has several plans for this Emira as well. For example, in addition to this Emira Turbo with thick 360 hp, there will be an Emira Turbo SE with about 400 hp. Lotus is also working on an Emira V6 SE with 430 hp. And then there should also be a “Cup” version with a more racy design and a stripped-down interior with bucket seats.

Seat position

The seating position in the Lotus Emira is acceptable only I can well imagine that if you are a bit taller – for example, 1.95 m that sitting in this Lotus is a bit cramped. The cockpit can simply be called cozy. In my opinion, the seat could be placed even lower in the car. After all, you do not sit nearly as low as in an Elise or Exige. The Emira is really more GT than sports car. That higher seating position has not only caught our eye, but also current Emira drivers. That is why Lotus is already offering “bucket seats” with a lower seating position so you feel even lower to the ground.

Points of interest

And while we are in the interior of the car, we immediately name some other points of interest. The infotainment system in this car could be better. For example, we had poor reception for the radio and navigation commands were also not found. Fortunately, there is a simple solution: use Apple CarPlay or Android auto. That does work well otherwise, even if here the responsiveness of the system could be a bit better. You start the car with a push button, hidden under a red tab. Lotus copied that from Lamborghini. Nice feature.

Good parking camera

The passage for the wireless phone charger is a bit narrow so you often press a button you would rather not have pressed. By the way, a nice detail: one of the buttons features a driver wearing a racing helmet. The parking camera even has night vision and is razor sharp, as long as the lens is nice and clean. Because of the shape of the car, an Emira does get dirty quickly. Fortunately, washing the car by hand is a great joy. After all, you get to touch all forms of this automobile beauty.

Luggage space

The Lotus Emira also has a practical luggage space of 151 liters in the rear, but here a small note. You are not allowed to put more than 50 kilograms in this luggage space. Behind the seats is also some storage space (208 liters). From driving assistance systems you have little trouble. They leave you well alone.

Colors

The Emira can be specified in a range of 13 colors, namely Hethel Yellow, Magma Red, Vivid Red, Dark Verdant, Seneca Blue, Atlantis Blue, Meridian Blue, Osmium Silver, Nimbus Gray, Shadow Gray, Zinc Gray, Fog White and Cosmos Black. The optional Black Pack includes a contemporary gloss black finish on the roof, mirror caps and the Lotus wordmark on the rear clamshell. The exhaust tailpipes are satin black. The 20-inch, ultra-light forged wheels feature a diamond-cut finish as standard, while silver or gloss black are available as options.

Price Lotus Emira four-cylinder

The starting price in the Netherlands starts at 135,553 euros. That price is hefty, but you are buying a unique GT with a particularly fine powertrain. Because the AMG four-cylinder feels completely at home in this Emira, especially in combination with an eight-speed automatic transmission. Driving this car is a pleasure, as long as you realize that you are not buying the driving characteristics of an Elise or Exige, but a comfy GT.