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Lotus has revealed the first four-cylinder version of its newest sports car - the Emira - detailing the performance of the new Mercedes-AMG powered variant of its Jaguar F-Type and Porsche Cayman rival.
Joining the 3.5-litre V6 version of the Emira, the four-cylinder version of the brand’s last ever combustion car uses the same 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbocharged petrol engine as the Mercedes-AMA A 45. In the Lotus, it develops 360bhp, a little down on the output of the A 45. Drive goes to the rear wheels via an eight-speed DCT automatic gearbox with paddle shifters mounted on the steering wheel.
“It’s a bespoke rear-wheel drive variant of the transmission developed by Lotus in collaboration with AMG. On top of that, the gearshift strategy has been defined by the Hethel team as part of the car’s performance attributes. It is unique to the Emira,” explains Gavis Kershaw, director of Attributes & Product Integrity and long-standing chassis guru at Lotus.
Lotus Emira pricing and specs
Both versions of the Emira available to order now are in First Edition specification, with the four-cylinder 360bhp version priced from £71,995, and the 3.5-litre supercharged V6 car, with 395bhp, available from £75,995.
Features such as 20-inch lightweight forged wheels with three colour options, 12-way adjustable heated seats, rear parking sensors, climate control, cruise control, keyless start and selectable drive modes are standard. There is also Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity along with a premium audio system.
First Edition buyers also receive three option packs thrown in, including the Driver’s Pack, which gives customers the choice of two suspension options and tyre choices. Softer Tour suspension comes with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, while the Sport suspension option comes with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
The standard-fit Design Pack adds privacy glass, Alcantara headlining and a choice of brake caliper colour, plus Lotus-branded mats. The Convenience pack adds front parking sensors, a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers and auto-dimming mirrors. Options include the £1200 Black pack which brings lots of black detailing, and an £1,800 six-speed paddleshift automatic gearbox for the V6 model.
Customers are also offered seven no-cost interior colour choices with either Nappa leather or black Alcantara (the latter with different coloured stitching). Six exterior paint colours are available, with more to be added throughout 2022.
The First Edition models will eventually make way for ‘entry-level’ models using both engines. The entry-level four-cylinder model will be revealed in full later in 2022, but Lotus has already confirmed a starting price of £59,995. In 2023, the basic V6 model will be introduced from £64,995.
Lotus Emira engines and performance
The V6 version of the Emira is powered by a supercharged version of Toyota’s 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 engine, which produces 395bhp and 420Nm of torque. That torque figure rises to 430Nm in the automatic version.
Lotus says this is enough for a 0-62mph time of 4.3 seconds, or 4.2 seconds with the automatic model. The top speed is 180mph, while power goes through the rear wheels in all versions.
While Lotus has now confirmed that the four-cylinder AMG powered Emira variant produces 360bhp and sends drive to the rear wheels via a Lotus-AMG developed transmission, performance figures have not been confirmed. However, the four-cylinder model will almost certainly be lighter, certainly so compared with the automatic version of the supercharged V6 car. And its power deficit stands at only 25bhp.
Autoexpress
“It’s a bespoke rear-wheel drive variant of the transmission developed by Lotus in collaboration with AMG. On top of that, the gearshift strategy has been defined by the Hethel team as part of the car’s performance attributes. It is unique to the Emira,” explains Gavis Kershaw, director of Attributes & Product Integrity and long-standing chassis guru at Lotus.
Lotus Emira pricing and specs
Both versions of the Emira available to order now are in First Edition specification, with the four-cylinder 360bhp version priced from £71,995, and the 3.5-litre supercharged V6 car, with 395bhp, available from £75,995.
Features such as 20-inch lightweight forged wheels with three colour options, 12-way adjustable heated seats, rear parking sensors, climate control, cruise control, keyless start and selectable drive modes are standard. There is also Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity along with a premium audio system.
First Edition buyers also receive three option packs thrown in, including the Driver’s Pack, which gives customers the choice of two suspension options and tyre choices. Softer Tour suspension comes with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, while the Sport suspension option comes with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
The standard-fit Design Pack adds privacy glass, Alcantara headlining and a choice of brake caliper colour, plus Lotus-branded mats. The Convenience pack adds front parking sensors, a reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers and auto-dimming mirrors. Options include the £1200 Black pack which brings lots of black detailing, and an £1,800 six-speed paddleshift automatic gearbox for the V6 model.
Customers are also offered seven no-cost interior colour choices with either Nappa leather or black Alcantara (the latter with different coloured stitching). Six exterior paint colours are available, with more to be added throughout 2022.
The First Edition models will eventually make way for ‘entry-level’ models using both engines. The entry-level four-cylinder model will be revealed in full later in 2022, but Lotus has already confirmed a starting price of £59,995. In 2023, the basic V6 model will be introduced from £64,995.
Lotus Emira engines and performance
The V6 version of the Emira is powered by a supercharged version of Toyota’s 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 engine, which produces 395bhp and 420Nm of torque. That torque figure rises to 430Nm in the automatic version.
Lotus says this is enough for a 0-62mph time of 4.3 seconds, or 4.2 seconds with the automatic model. The top speed is 180mph, while power goes through the rear wheels in all versions.
While Lotus has now confirmed that the four-cylinder AMG powered Emira variant produces 360bhp and sends drive to the rear wheels via a Lotus-AMG developed transmission, performance figures have not been confirmed. However, the four-cylinder model will almost certainly be lighter, certainly so compared with the automatic version of the supercharged V6 car. And its power deficit stands at only 25bhp.
Autoexpress