Lotus Emira
{{Short description|British sports car}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=July 2022}}
{{Infobox automobile
| name = Lotus Emira
| image = File:2022 Lotus Emira.jpg
| alt = A two-door car with alloy wheels and large vents in the bonnet.
| caption = 2022 Lotus Emira
| manufacturer = Lotus Cars
| aka = Lotus NYO Emira (China, 2022–2025){{Cite web |last=Feijter |first=Tycho de |date=2023-02-20 |title=Lotus Opens Two New Experience Stores In China |url=https://carnewschina.com/2023/02/20/lotus-opens-two-new-experience-stores-in-china/ |access-date=2025-01-02 |website=CarNewsChina.com |language=en-US}}
| production = 2022–present
| assembly = United Kingdom: Hethel, Norfolk, England
| designer = Daniel Durrant under Russell Carr (exterior){{cite web|url=https://media.lotuscars.com/en/news-articles/lotus-emira-delivering-exotic-supercar-appeal-in-the-sports-car-segment.html|title=LOTUS EMIRA: DELIVERING EXOTIC SUPERCAR APPEAL IN THE SPORTS CAR SEGMENT|website=Lotus Cars|date=2021-07-06|access-date=2022-08-27}}
Jon Statham (interior)
| class = Sports car (S)
| body_style = 2-door coupé
| doors =
| platform = Elemental{{Cite web |title=2021 December - AutoTechInsight |url=https://autotechinsight.ihsmarkit.com/car-cutaways/8/2021-december |access-date=2022-03-30 |website=autotechinsight.ihsmarkit.com}}
| related =
| layout = Transverse mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
| engine = {{Ubl
| 2.0 L AMG M139 turbocharged I4{{cite web | url = https://www.motor1.com/news/518417/lotus-emira-specs-photos-details/| title = Lotus Emira Mid-Engined Sports Car Debuts With AMG And Toyota Power | access-date=6 July 2021 | work=motor1.com}}
| 3.5 L Toyota 2GR-FE supercharged V6
}}
| transmission = {{Ubl
| 6-speed Aisin AI manual (3.5 L)
| 6-speed Aisin AI IPS automatic (3.5 L)
| 8-speed AMG Speedshift 8G DCT (2.0 L)
}}
| wheelbase = {{Convert|101.3|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}{{cite web | url = https://www.motorauthority.com/news/1132819_preview-lotus-emira-is-automaker-s-farewell-to-internal-combustion| title = Preview : Lotus Emira is automaker's farewell to internal combustion | access-date=6 July 2021 | work=motorauthority.com}}
| length = {{Convert|173.7|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| width = {{Convert|74.6|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| height = {{Convert|48.2|in|mm|0|abbr=on}}
| weight = {{Convert|3279|lb|kg|0|abbr=on}}{{Cite news |last=Smith |first=Sam |date=2023-11-30 |title=Tested: 2024 Lotus Emira Is Both a First and a Last |url=https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a45779706/2024-lotus-emira-test/ |work=Car and Driver |language=en-US}}
| sp = uk
| predecessor = {{Ubl
}}
}}
The Lotus Emira (codenamed "Type 131"){{cite press release |author= |title=DRIVING TOMORROW: LOTUS TYPE 131 – THE ALL-NEW SPORTS CAR IS NAMED EMIRA |url=https://media.lotuscars.com/en/news-articles/driving-tomorrow-lotus-type-131-%E2%80%93-the-all-new-sports-car-is-named-emira.html |location=Hethel, UK |publisher=Lotus Cars |date=2021-04-27 |access-date=2024-08-06}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.autoplus.fr/lotus/lotus-emija-2021-510558.html#item=1 | title=Lotus Emira (2021) : La dernière Lotus thermique arrive le 6 juillet | publisher=Auto Plus| date=27 April 2021| author=Mathieu Demeule| language=fr}}
History
The Emira was launched at Hethel, England on 6 July 2021 and then presented at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 8 July 2021.{{cite web|url=https://www.turbo.fr/actualite-automobile/lotus-emira-le-dernier-modele-thermique-177945 | title=Lotus Emira : le dernier modèle thermique ! | publisher=Turbo| date=27 April 2021| author=Stéphane Capela| language=fr}} It replaces the Evora, Exige and Elise.{{cite web|url=https://www.caradisiac.com/lotus-annonce-l-emira-sa-derniere-voiture-thermique-189648.htm | title=Lotus annonce l'Emira, sa dernière voiture thermique | publisher=Caradisiac| date=27 April 2021| author=Florent Ferrière| language=fr}} The Emira's design bears several similarities to that of Lotus' high-performance car Evija, which was presented in 2019.{{Cite web |title=New Lotus Emira: Mercedes-AMG four-cylinder version to debut at Goodwood |url=https://www.autoexpress.co.uk/lotus/emira/106611/new-lotus-emira-mercedes-amg-four-cylinder-version-debut-goodwood |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=Auto Express |at=para 18 |language=en}}
The new Emira went on sale in March 2022{{Where|date=February 2025}} and came with a 3.5 litre supercharged V6 sourced by Toyota. Power figures are {{convert|406|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} and {{convert|430|Nm|lbft|abbr=on}} 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) will be made available for the new Emira, with {{convert|365|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}}.{{Cite web|url=https://paultan.org/2021/09/21/lotus-emira-v6-specs-confirmed-400-hp-430-nm-0-100-km-h-in-4-2-seconds-rm435k-for-first-edition/|title=Lotus Emira V6 specs confirmed – 400 hp, 430 Nm, 0-100 km/h in 4.2 seconds; RM435k for First Edition - paultan.org|date=21 September 2021}}
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.{{Cite web|url=https://paultan.org/2022/04/08/lotus-emira-previewed-in-malaysia-fully-loaded-first-edition-400-hp-rm1-13m-pen-msia-rm457k-duty-free/|title=Lotus Emira previewed in Malaysia - fully-loaded First Edition, 400 hp, RM1.13m Pen Msia, RM457k duty-free - paultan.org|date=8 April 2022}} It was powered by the 3.5 litre supercharged V6.{{fact|date=June 2023}}
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.{{fact|date=June 2023}}
GT4
In 2022, Lotus revealed that they would be making the Lotus Emira GT4, for GT4 competition{{Cite web |date=9 September 2021 |title=Lotus Emira GT4 race car revealed - 2022 track debut - paultan.org |url=https://paultan.org/2021/09/09/lotus-emira-gt4-race-car-revealed-2022-track-debut/}} Following a few updates, the car was first released to customers in autumn 2023.{{Cite web |title=First Lotus Emira GT4 Customer Deliveries Imminent {{!}} dailysportscar.com |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/06/14/first-lotus-emira-gt4-customer-deliveries-imminent.html |access-date=2023-07-11 |website=www.dailysportscar.com|date=14 June 2023 }} The car made its racing debut in the 2023 GT Cup Championship,{{Cite web |date=2023-09-15 |title=REVVED AND READY TO GO! |url=https://www.jamaicaobserver.com/2023/09/15/revved-and-ready-to-go/ |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=www.jamaicaobserver.com |language=en-US}} followed by its global racing debut at the Great Bay GT Cup in November 2023, where it managed to score a 1-2 finish.{{Cite web |title=Lotus Emira GT4 Scores 1-2 Finish On Global Race Debut |url=https://www.dailysportscar.com/2023/11/16/lotus-emira-gt4-scores-1-2-finish-on-global-race-debut.html |access-date=2024-01-25 |website=www.dailysportscar.com|date=16 November 2023 }}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
{{commonscat|Lotus Emira}}
- [https://www.lotuscars.com/emira/ Lotus Emira official web site]
{{Lotus road car timeline, 1980s–present}}
Category:Cars introduced in 2021