Lotus Emira 2023, the last Lotus with a combustion engine
Lotus writes a new chapter in its history since the takeover by the Chinese giant Geely. After the Evija, it is now the turn of the Emira to show up for 2023.
Lotus is living a pivotal period in its history. Following its takeover by the Chinese manufacturer Geely, Lotus is cleaning up and redirecting its future towards electrification. All models existing for several years, Elise, Exige and Evora, will disappear from the manufacturer’s range. Only the new electric exotic Evija will remain in the catalog. And then again, at over $ 2.7 million, it is certainly not the most affordable model, especially since only 130 copies will be produced.
Lotus therefore had to broaden its horizons. While that’s the short-term goal, electrification may be coming a bit too early for the automaker. In order to retain customers, Lotus offers the Emira, a distant derivative of the Evora.
Design wise, the Emira is a happy blend of Evora and Evija. One immediately recognizes the proportions specific to Lotus because of the rear position of the engine. The cutout of the hood makes a direct reference to the Evija, while the front fascia seems to come directly from the Exige Sport 380. In profile, the rims are the focus of attention as are the other air intakes for the car. power to the motor. As for the rear, the stylists seem to have turned to Italy since the configuration of the lights resembles that of the new Maserati MC20.
In the cabin, Lotus is finally going modern with a more user-friendly presentation tinged with comfort. There are two screens, the first for the instrumentation, and the second, at 10.25 inches, for the multimedia system. The seats now offer more adjustments. The equipment will also be considerably more generous with Apple CarPlay, Android Auto, rain detection as well as a variety of driving aids. On the trunk side, we have 151 liters, and behind the passengers, we get an additional 208 liters. As always, you have to travel light in a Lotus.
Technically, the aluminum platform is similar to that of the Evora. In fact, the wheelbase is exactly the same at 2,575 millimeters, while the overall length is only 20 millimeters longer. Under the bezel, Lotus offers two mechanical options. We first discover the 2.0-liter turbocharged 4-cylinder of the 35 series on the AMG side. Lotus isn’t officially revealing horsepower yet, but considering the announced changes to the air supply and exhaust, there’s a good chance that the original 302 horsepower will be exceeded. This engine is coupled to the 7-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, also of AMG design. Lotus estimates the 0 to 100 km / hour at 4.5 seconds.
As a second choice, Lotus will still offer the Toyota OEM 3.5-liter supercharged V6. Lotus advances a cavalry of 395 horsepower and a torque of 317 lb-ft. These figures are surprising since the Evora GT410 was drawing more power from the same powertrain. For driving purists, this mechanic should be remembered. Two gearboxes will be available: an automatic and a 6-speed manual. As for 0 to 100 km / hour, it will be a matter of 4.2 seconds.
The Emira will be marketed in North America at the end of 2022 as a 2023 model. Price estimates are below $ 90,000 for basic versions. Beyond the beauty of the car and its performance, the takeaway from the Emira is that it will be the last Lotus car with a combustion engine. Everything that follows will be all electric.
