The Lotus Emira has been improved for the 2026 model year, with changes being made to the car’s cooling system. According to the carmaker, routing for the coolant lines has been optimised to provide better flow to both the transmission oil cooler as well as the main cooling radiator.
This results in more cooling and a lower vehicle weight, with Lotus adding that the air-conditioning system has been recalibrated to provide a more stable interior climate at high temperatures. The Emira’s engine thermostat also has a revised opening temperature of 65 degrees Celsius (previously 75 degrees), improving heating and performance under severe conditions.
Meanwhile, the eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox has been recalibrated for faster shift times and improved shift quality. The 8DCT is paired with a 2.0 litre turbocharged inline-four petrol engine that serves up either 366 PS (361 hp or 269 kW) and 430 Nm of torque in the regular Turbo, or 400 PS (394 hp or 294 kW) and 470 Nm in the Turbo SE.
A 3.5 litre supercharged V6 is also available, making 405 PS (400 hp or 298 kW) and either 420 Nm with a six-speed manual transmission (includes a limited-slip differential), or 430 Nm with a six-speed automatic.
The MY2026 update also sees the introduction of a new Emira V6 SE variant, which joins the existing range that already includes the Turbo SE. As its name implies, the latest in the range is powered by the aforementioned supercharged V6 and there are two transmissions to choose from.
Go with the manual version and you’ll get a new compression mount for the gearbox, which Lotus claims results in more precise gear changes. The V6 SE is offered with a choice of Tour or Sports chassis setups, and it is finished in Zinc Grey as standard.
Other aesthetic touches include an extended Black Pack, 20-inch forged alloy wheels, red brake callipers and an interior featuring Alcantara and sport pedals. For personalisation, there are 15 exterior colours, seven interior themes, eight wheel designs and four brake calliper finishes to choose from.
The Emira catalogue has also been expanded to include two new colours called EOS Green and Purple Haze. Customers can also option the Racing Line design package – also offered for the SE variants – that adds a subtle, lower pinstripe in yellow, red or silver to match the colour of the brake callipers.
Whatever hue is chosen is also applied to the mirror caps, with other additions being Racing Line badging, high-gloss black wheels and exterior logo finished in either black or silver. The colour-matching exercise extends to the interior that gets stitching in the chosen accent colour and a special badge.
Finally, Lotus provides the option of an Extended Co-Driver Pack that adds more ADAS on top of what’s already included as standard (AEB, lane departure warning, blind spot monitoring, traffic sign recognition, fatigue detection). With the paid extra, you get adaptive cruise control (only for automatic transmission), rear cross traffic alert, door opening warning and high beam assist.
The Lotus Emira is a significant car in the history of the British carmaker. First revealed back in July 2021, the Emira is the company’s last internal combustion engine model and serves as a last hurrah as more electric vehicles (EVs) populate its line-up.
In one fell swoop, the Emira effectively replaces the Elise, Exige and Evora, all of which are nameplates with fans worldwide. As such, the Emira has a lot to live up to; not only must it serve as a culmination of 25 years of Lotus sports cars, it must also appeal to the current audience while also drawing in new customers to put green in the books.
We’ve already had a go in the Emira and had plenty of good things to say about it. However, the example we drove at the time was a V6 First Edition variant, which is one of two on sale here, the other being the more recently-introduced i4 First Edition.
The latter costs less at RM1.095 million on-the-road without insurance (RM998,800 for units manufactured in 2023) compared to the V6 First Edition that goes for RM1.289 million. The smaller price tag reflects the Emira i4’s position as the entry-level variant, but is it any good? That’s what we attempted to find out in the United Kingdom.
Lotus Cars Malaysia has announced the start of order taking for the new Lotus Emira i4 First Edition, which is being offered at a special introductory price of RM998,800 on-the-road without insurance, inclusive of taxes and a three-year, unlimited mileage manufacturer’s warranty.
Keep in mind that this price is only applicable for cars manufactured in 2023, after which the sports car will retail for RM1.095 million in Peninsular Malaysia and RM509,000 in duty-free Langkawi. The company says the first customer cars are expected to arrive in November this year.
Visually, the Emira i4 is nearly identical to the V6-powered variant that arrived earlier, so if you want a preview of what the former looks like, you can check out the Emira V6 currently on display at Lotus Cars Malaysia’s showroom in Pavilion KL.
While both variants appear very similar at first glance, one way to tell them apart is by looking at the engine bay, whereby you’ll notice a larger engine cover in the Emira i4. As its name suggests, the new variant is powered by an inline-four engine, but not just any as it is supplied by Mercedes-AMG.
To be specific, the sports car features the German carmaker’s M139 2.0 litre turbocharged unit that is mated to an eight-speed AMG Speedshift 8G dual-clutch transmission to drive the rear wheels. The mill also sees service in the CLA45, A45 and GLA45, but has been adapted for use in the Emira i4 with new intake and exhaust systems – the gearbox also gets a bespoke calibration to match. The official outputs are 365 PS (360 hp or 268 kW) and 430 Nm of torque.
For context, the Emira V6 that starts from RM1,131,800 uses a Toyota-sourced 2GR-FE 3.5 litre supercharged V6 that puts out 406 PS (400 hp or 299 kW) and 420 Nm. Despite the difference in outputs, the DCT-only Emira i4 takes just 4.4 seconds to get from 0-100 km/h, which is only a tenth off the Emira V6 with a six-speed manual, or two tenths off with a six-speed automatic. The top speed is identical at 290 km/h.
The Emira i4 uses the same bonded aluminium Lotus Sports Car Architecture like the Emira V6, but the introduction of the four-cylinder engine means a new rear subframe is needed. Cast from lightweight aluminium instead of steel like in the V6 model, the component is 12 kg lighter.
Double wishbones continue to be used front and rear, paired with Eibach springs and Bilstein monotube dampers that are available in Tour and Sport configurations. The wheels are 20-inch forged units available in a silver diamond-cut finish or gloss black, paired with either Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport (when the Tour chassis is optioned) or Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (Sport chassis) tyres with profiles of 245/35 at the front and 295/30 at the rear.
AP Racing brakes are started, with discs measuring 370 mm in diameter at the front and 350 mm at the rear. Other driving-related features include an electrohydraulic steering system, a new calibration for the ESC system and an e-Diff function, the last of which carefully modulates brake pressure to the rear wheels in order to maximise traction by transferring torque to the one with the most grip.
In terms of equipment, the Emira i4 comes standard with full-LED headlamps, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster display, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, a six-speaker KEF sound system, 12-way powered front seats, Nappa leather (black, red, ice grey or tan) or Alcantara (black, yellow, red, ice grey) upholstery, white mood lighting, Lotus-branded sill plates and satin chrome trim finishers.
Customers can also option a Nappa leather steering wheel with a 12 o’clock centre band and stitching available in yellow, red or ice grey. Since we’re on the topic of colours, the exterior can be finished in one of 13 options, including Hethel Yellow, Magma Red, Vivid Red, Dark Verdant, Seneca Blue, Atlantis Blue, Meridian Blue, Osmium Silver, Nimbus Grey, Shadow Grey, Zinc Grey, Mist White and Cosmos Black.
Being a First Edition model, the Emira i4 comes with four option packs as standard, with the first being the Lower Black Pack that adds gloss black accents to the roof, cantrails, side mirrors and Lotus script on the rear clamshell, along with satin black exhaust finishers. There’s also the Design Pack that includes privacy glass, sports pedals, a black Alcantara headliner and Emira-branded floor mats.
Meanwhile, the Convenience Pack adds front parking sensors, a rear reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers, auto-dimming mirrors and a rear luggage storage net. Lastly, the Lotus Drivers Pack gives customers the option of the aforementioned Tour or Sports chassis, both with a Track Mode ESP that adds a specific display to the instrument cluster when engaged.
The Emira is the final Lotus model to come with an internal combustion engine, so it’ll likely be a future classic as the carmaker continues on its all-electric journey. What do you think of it? Would you pick the AMG-powered version of the Toyota-powered one?
Our caption asks, is the Emira the most complete Lotus sports car ever? The short answer is yes, but that’s not the full story. Here’s a recap of what the Emira is, why it’s not ‘the usual Lotus’ – even when taking into account Hethel’s previous efforts at a ‘GT’ – and why it is such a different beast from a Porsche Cayman. Lots to answer, so let’s go.
The Emira is mid-engined rear-wheel-drive sports car that replaces all of the Elise, Exige and Evora in Lotus’ line-up. It’s the final Lotus sports car to be powered by an internal combustion engine, and the last one to come with a manual gearbox. Lotus is changing along with the car world, and the Emira is the car that will drive Lotus – as we know it – into the sunset. Final hurrah, last call – this car is all of that.
The Emira is special not just because it’s the ‘last Lotus’, but because it’s made different. We’ve heard the ‘comfortable, usable, more luxurious’ trope before with the Europa S and Evora, but unlike Hethel’s previous efforts at a ‘GT’, the Emira is significantly more comfortable, usable and luxurious than its predecessors. As you’ll find out from Hafriz Shah in the video above, the Emira can be easily daily driven.
He’s not a hardcore guy and neither am I, but we can say, hand on heart, that the Emira is ‘dailiable’. Contributing to that verdict is much easier entry and exit, good ergonomics, a throughly modern and well-trimmed cockpit, the nature of the power delivery, and ride comfort that’s simply astonishing. All is explained in the video.
Can daily, if you can manual. Behind the Emira’s cabin is a 3.5 litre V6 engine with an Edelbrock 1740 supercharger. The Toyota 2GR-FE is a motor that Hethel is very familiar with, and here, it makes 405 PS (400 hp) and 420 Nm with a six-speed manual gearbox, as specified here. There’s a six-speed torque converter automatic option with an extra 10 Nm, but you won’t want that, right? Right? Insert Anakin-Padme meme.
Both Aisin transmissions will take the Emira to 290 km/h, but the auto is a tenth quicker in the 0-100 km/h sprint (4.2 seconds) than the DIY gearbox (4.3 seconds). The auto comes with shift paddles, and the manual comes with Lotus’ exposed gearshift mechanism, although it’s covered with mesh grilles here and is therefore nowhere as spectacular as the original idea. Eventually, there will be a 2.0L AMG turbo-four with a DCT, but it won’t come so soon.
With the Emira, Lotus promises a ‘paradigm shift in levels of practicality, comfort, functionality and technology’ and that shift is immediately apparent in the cabin and equipment list – this Lotus is kitted like a premium exec. On the outside, front and rear LED lights, automatic lights with LED daytime running lights and welcome home lighting are standard, along with titanium exhaust finishers, heated power-fold door mirrors and rear parking sensors.
The First Edition is fully loaded with four option packs, and one of it is the Lower Black Pack, which means the front bumper air blades, front splitter, side sills and rear diffuser are all in gloss black.
The Emira’s cockpit is still minimalist in design, but is far from spartan. Ahead of the flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel (smooth leather or Alcantara, your choice) is a 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster, and to its left is a 10.25-inch central touchscreen. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s Bluetooth and USB/12V sockets for charging.
The 10-channel 340W sound system was developed with respected British audio brand KEF, and the speakers are the latter’s signature Uni-Q units.
The seats are 12-way electric adjustable, with four-way lumbar and two memory presets for the driver that are linked to the door mirrors, which are auto dimming (rear view mirror too). Look around and you’ll also find auto climate control, cruise control, keyless start (under a red hood for some Lambo-style drama) and selectable drive modes. Ambient lighting in white, too.
Buyers can choose from seven interior colours at no extra cost – Nappa leather in red, black, grey or tan; or black Alcantara with red, yellow or grey stitching. Satin chrome trim finishers and Lotus-branded sill kick plates complete the look, which is rather posh for a Lotus.
By the way, Lotus is now owned by Geely, and there are some interior parts that Proton X50 owners might be familiar with – look for the screen, AC controls and light/wiper stalks in the gallery below.
As mentioned, the First Edition comes with all option packs, and the Design Pack adds on privacy glass, sports pedals, black Alcantara headlining and colour options for the brake calipers (black, red, silver or this car’s yellow). Lotus-branded footwell mats are also included. The Convenience Pack adds front parking sensors, reverse camera, auto wipers with aero blades, auto-dimming mirrors and a rear luggage storage net. There’s First Edition badging on the outside and on the dash too, of course.
Last but definitely not least for a Lotus is the Drivers Pack, which gives customers the choice of Tour or Sport. The more comfortable Tour suspension is paired with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, while the Sport suspension is matched with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. Our Seneca Blue tester sits on Tour suspension, which is more than capable enough for road driving, while providing ride comfort that beats most ‘normal’ European cars.
There’s more. Remember the paradigm shift claim? The Emira is a Lotus with ADAS, and the driver assist suite includes 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.
There isn’t much left to option, but First Edition buyers can add on the automatic gearbox (RM15k), a Black Pack (RM8k to black out the roof, cantrails, mirror caps, rear Lotus badge and exhaust finishers – as seen here) and a Scorpion vehicle tracker system for RM5,800. The Emira First Edition has a RM1,205,800 sticker price, which might shock a few, but bear in mind that this is no toy car; instead it’s a fully-loaded rival to the Porsche Cayman GT4, which starts from RM1.06 million.
A big chunk of the RRP is taxes, as the duty-free price is just RM478,800 (UK price of £77,795 translates to RM458k with our current weak ringgit). One way around the tax hurdle is to keep the Emira in Langkawi for a year or two (notice our tester’s KV plates?), and then bring it home for a substantially lower price than the Peninsular Malaysia price. The process is detailed here, and if you want to know more about logistics and storage in Langkawi, just ask Lotus Cars Malaysia.
Wait a minute, how about the drive? The Emira may be comfortable and usable, but it’s still a raw piece of sashimi bursting with natural flavour next to Porsche’s aburi – you hear a lot of supercharger noises from the engine behind your head, and then there’s the DIY gearbox. Also, effort is needed to squeeze out the performance from the V6 – some hot hatches feel faster, to be honest. Not the most effortless then, but ‘For The Drivers’, that’s a good thing. Full explanation in the video.
If the drive experience feels different from virtually everything on sale today, the Emira also looks like nothing else on the road. The drama – with all those scoops and vents – and proportions are of a scaled-down supercar, and this Lotus demands attention everywhere it goes. Viewed from above, the pinched waist is sexy, and the sight of those rear haunches in the wing mirrors adds to the sense of occasion. Meanwhile, the Cayman looks like a Porsche.
The Emira is a high point and a landmark, for both Lotus and those who like to drive.
Arriving in Malaysia for its official preview last week, the Lotus Emira come to our market as a proper, production-specification unit; the earlier unit that was in Malaysia last April was a pre-production car pressed into world tour duty.
Here in First Edition guise packing the familiar Toyota 2GR-FE 3.5 litre supercharged petrol V6 engine, producing 405 PS and 420 Nm of torque which are sent to the rear wheels via a good old-fashioned six-speed manual gearbox. Opt for the six-speed torque converter automatic, and that will offer its driver an extra 10 Nm (430 Nm peak).
Forced induction for this Japanese V6 comes courtesy of an Edelbrock 1740 supercharger. Thus equipped as in these images, the manual transmission Emira does the 0-100 kmh acceleration benchmark sprint in 4.3 seconds, while the six-speed automatic is marginally quicker at 4.2 seconds.
Despite the overhauled exterior and styling, the bones of the Emira continues to be of a bonded aluminium construction, although Lotus now promises a “paradigm shift in levels of practicality, comfort, functionality and technology” with the new-generation car that succeeds the Evora.
Standard equipment in the Emira includes LED lighting at its front and rear, the former set including automatic and welcome-home functionality and LED DRLs, while the rear end gets a set of titanium exhaust finishers along with heated power-folding side mirrors and rear parking sensors.
A range of option packs are available for the Emira, and this First Edition guise gets the lot – four option packs is its tally, and among these is the Lower Black Pack which, as its name suggests, brings gloss black trim for its lower bodywork parts such as the front bumper air blades, front splitter, side sills and rear diffuser.
No-cost options can also be specified on the Emira, such as deletion of privacy glass for the tailgate and three-quarter window panels. These also include chassis specifications, which is offered as a Tour or Sport chassis with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, or as a Sport chassis with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
The Emira cabin brings a step up in ambience over the Evora it replaces, where its multi-function flat-bottomed steering wheel – which can be specified in Nappa leather or Alcantara – is joined by a 12.3-inch TFT instrumentation display, while the centre of the dashboard gets a 10.25-inch touchscreen.
Here, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are supported, while further connectivity include Bluetooth and 12-volt and USB ports for device charging. Its sound system, in case you tire of the forced-induction V6 soundtrack, comes courtesy of a 10-channel, 340-watt setup by hi-fi marque KEF, which brings its signature Uni-Q speaker units.
Further conveniences include 12-way electrically adjustable seats with four-way lumbar adjustment and two memory presets for the driver that integrates door mirror positions. Also on are auto climate control, cruise control, keyless start and multiple drive modes.
The Lotus Emira in this First Edition form is priced from RM1,131,800, and is available from the first quarter of this year, according to the company. This will be joined by the 360 PS/430 Nm 2.0 litre turbocharged four-cylinder Emira First Edition in Q3 2023, along with the Base Edition that will arrive in the fourth quarter of this year.
The Lotus Emira is now in Malaysia. This is not yet the official launch, but Lotus Cars Malaysia has secured a unit for previews, which will happen this weekend (April 9-10) at its showroom in Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam. If you want to see the car in the metal and try it for size before putting your name down in the pre-order book, here’s the chance.
The price list handed out today has the same figures we reported in November 2021 – the Lotus Emira V6 First Edition goes for RM1,131,800 in Peninsular Malaysia on-the-road fully-taxed, and RM456,900 in duty-free Langkawi. Yes, the nearly RM700k difference in the two prices are pure tax. RM457k is actually much lower than the A$184,900 (RM585,551) Australians are paying for the First Edition, so there…
A RM1 million Lotus might sound strange, but here’s some context. The Emira is not a “toy car” like the Elise and Exige; instead, this is a well-equipped everyday sportscar to rival the Porsche Cayman. The final ICE-powered Lotus (before the world, and Hethel, goes electric) has 405 PS (400 hp) and 420 Nm of torque – that’s comparable to the Cayman GT4 with 420 PS/420 Nm, and the Porsche has a base price from RM999k.
Behind the Emira’s cabin is a 3.5 litre V6 engine with an Edelbrock 1740 supercharger. This Toyota 2GR-FE is something that Hethel is very familiar with, and here, it makes 405 PS (400 hp) and 420 Nm with a six-speed manual gearbox. Choose the six-speed torque converter automatic – a RM15k option – and you’ll get 430 Nm.
Both Aisin transmission will take your Emira to 290 km/h, but the auto is a tenth quicker in the 0-100 km/h sprint (4.2 seconds) than the DIY gearbox (4.3 seconds). The auto comes with shift paddles, and the manual comes with Lotus’ lovely exposed gearshift mechanism, although it’s covered with mesh grilles here. The 2.0L AMG turbo-four with DCT version will come later.
Hethel says that the Emira – “the most accomplished Lotus ever made” – is a quantum leap from the now discontinued Elise, Exige and Evora. It’s still a Lotus, still “For The Drivers” and it’s still built on a lightweight bonded aluminium chassis, but the Emira includes a “paradigm shift in levels of practicality, comfort, functionality and technology”. A multi-talented Lotus that’s non one-dimensional? We’ve heard it before with the Evora, but surely the Emira is better at playing the daily/GT game – it has to.
Anyway, if your idea of Lotus is the Elise, you’re in for a shock here. The Emira looks every inch a supercar, just in smaller scale. It rides on 20-inch V-spoke forged alloys (diamond cut two-tone, silver or gloss black versions are available as a no-cost option), and the two-piece brake discs with branded calipers you see here are part of the First Edition spec, plus a tyre pressure monitoring system. Hydraulic power-assisted steering is standard. Yes, that needs a special mention, because Lotus.
On the outside, front and rear LED lights, automatic lights with LED daytime running lights and welcome home lighting are standard, along with a titanium exhaust finisher, heated power-fold door mirrors and rear parking sensors. The First Edition is fully loaded with four option packs, and one of it is the Lower Black Pack, which means the front bumper air blades, front splitter, side sills and rear diffuser are all in gloss black.
The Emira’s modern cabin is still minimalist in design, but is far from spartan. Ahead of the flat-bottom multi-function steering wheel (smooth leather or Alcantara, your choice) is a 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster, and to its left is a 10.25-inch central touchscreen. It supports Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and there’s Bluetooth and USB/12V sockets for charging.
The 10-channel 340W sound system was developed with respected British audio brand KEF, and the speakers are the latter’s signature Uni-Q units.
The seats are 12-way electric adjustable, with four-way lumbar and two memory presets for the driver that are linked to the door mirrors, which are auto dimming (rear view mirror too). Look around and you’ll also find auto climate control, cruise control, keyless start (under a red hood for some Lambo-style drama) and selectable drive modes. Ambient lighting in white, too.
A six-speed manual is standard; torque converter 6AT is available as a RM15k option
Buyers can choose from seven interior colours at no extra cost – Nappa leather in red, black, grey or tan; or black Alcantara with red, yellow or grey stitching. Satin chrome trim finishers and Lotus-branded sill kick plates complete the look, which is rather posh for a Lotus.
There’s more. As mentioned, the First Edition comes standard with a couple of option packs, and the Design Pack adds on privacy glass, sports pedals, black Alcantara headlining and colour options for the brake calipers (black, red, yellow or silver). Lotus-branded footwell mats are also included. The Convenience Pack adds front parking sensors, reverse camera, auto wipers with aero blades, auto-dimming mirrors and a rear luggage storage net. There’s FE badging too, of course.
Last but definitely not least for a driver’s car is the Drivers Pack, which gives customers the choice of Tour or Sport. The more comfortable Tour suspension is paired with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, while the Sport suspension is matched with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. Essentially, do you want to beat the clock at Sepang or daily the Emira because you already have an Exige to do the hardcore stuff?
All this kit, and there’s more! This is a Lotus that comes with ADAS, and the driver assist suite includes 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. Paradigm shift indeed.
There isn’t much left to option, but First Edition buyers can add on the automatic gearbox (RM15k), the Black Pack (RM8k to black out the roof, cantrails, mirror caps, rear Lotus badge and exhaust finishers) and a Scorpion vehicle tracker system for RM5,800.
That’s finally it for the car. Back to the price. A straightforward Peninsular Malaysia registration will set you back RM1.13 million, which sounds like a lot, but when you consider that the Elise Final Edition is already RM609k fully-taxed…
There’s a way around this, and it’s called Langkawi. Pay the duty-free price of RM457k, keep the Emira in paradise for a year or two, and then bring it home for a substantially lower price than the RM1.13 million Peninsular Malaysia RRP. It’s all detailed here, and if you want to know more about logistics and storage in Langkawi, ask Lotus Cars Malaysia. The first customer cars will arrive in August this year.
Anyway, an updated version of the Emira First Edition configurator is now online, and you can spec your junior supercar on the Lotus official website. This preview unit is available for viewing this weekend – call Lotus Cars Malaysia at 016-6112388 for a slot. They are located at 43, Jalan Astaka U8/84A, Bukit Jelutong, Shah Alam.
Lotus Cars Malaysia has revealed pricing for the all-new Emira, which first made its debut earlier in July this year. For now, there’s just one variant available, the 3.5 V6 First Edition, priced at RM1,131,800 million in Peninsular Malaysia and RM456,900 in Langkawi.
Keep in mind that these prices exclude on-the-road costs, insurance and optional extras (there are a few offered). Additionally, production of the Emira will only start in spring 2022 at Lotus’ upgraded facility in Hethel, so customers can expect their cars to arrive sometime after March next year.
The Emira (codenamed Type 131) serves as a replacement for the existing Elise, Exige and Evora, all of which will cease production by the end of this year. Pronounced as “Eh-meer-ah,” the sports car is Lotus’ last model to be powered by an internal-combustion engine before the company goes all electric.
Built on the Lotus Sports Car Architecture (referred internally as the Elemental) – the brand’s bonded extruded aluminium platform – the Emira comes in one of two chassis settings that customers can choose from at no additional cost. The first is Tour, which packs in touring suspension along with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, while the other option is Sport that comes with sports suspension and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres.
Powering the 3.5 V6 First Edition is a Toyota-sourced 2GR-FE 3.5 litre V6 with an Edelbrock 1740 supercharger that makes 405 PS (400 hp). Peak torque is 420 Nm with a six-speed manual, or 430 Nm with a six-speed automatic, with the latter costing an additional RM15,000.
Both transmissions are made by Aisin and result in the same top speed of 288 km/h+, although the automatic is marginally quicker in a 0-100 km/h sprint, taking 4.2 seconds compared to the manual’s 4.3 seconds.
In terms of standard equipment, the 3.5 V6 First Edition comes with 20-inch forged alloy wheels in a 10-spoke V-design, LED headlamps, LED taillights, front and rear parking sensors, automatic climate control, keyless entry and engine start, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
2022 Lotus Emira specs and pricing, Peninsular (left), Langkawi (right); click to enlarge
The infotainment is paired with a 340-watt KEF sound system, while other items found in the interior include white ambient lighting, an Alcantara headliner, a black leather steering wheel and powered front seats with memory function.
There are also advanced driver assistance systems (ADAS) like 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.
Other cost options aside from the automatic transmission include an Alcantara steering wheel (black, grey, yellow or red contrast stitching) for RM2,800, a Scorpion vehicle tracker system for RM5,800 as well as the Black Pack, which gives the car’s cantrails, side mirror caps, rear Lotus badge and tailpipe finishers a black finish for RM8,000.
