The history of Lotus is one filled with plenty of twists and turns and even some curveballs. The company’s lineup was once a very compelling trio, with the Elise, Exige, and the Evora all throwing their hats into the sports car ranks. But the winds of change are even starting to blow at Lotus, and the company has retired all three to make room for its newest sports car entry, the 2022 Emira.
Emira Will Be The Final ICE Equipped Lotus
Before we get into some of the Emira’s exterior styling, we might as well tell you that this model will be the last combustion-powered Lotus that will be produced. The British sports car maker is rocketing towards an all-electric future and will be making all of their models with pure electrification in mind. The Emira then is the automotive equivalent of a gradual transition versus a post-Soviet style shock therapy option. The exterior styling looks far more modern than all three of the models that it’s replacing.
The front fascia is very sleek and modern, with LED headlights that are supposed to harken back to the all-electric Evjia hypercar. The rear-wheel-drive coupe has a very athletic profile, but it thankfully retains some of the simplicity and the organic themes that have often defined Lotus offerings of the past. The rear features LED taillights, two massive rear intakes, and a trick rear diffuser with dual exhaust tips. This part of the car is where a lot of the old Elise/Exige DNA sticks out, and we like how the designers have seamlessly integrated it into the broader design. Size-wise, the Emira is bigger than all three of its axed predecessors, with the platform being slightly bigger than the Evora and a noticeable upgrade over the cramped Elise and Exige.
Technology And Flair Dominate Interior
The biggest changes, though, are found in the interior of the Emira. Lotus interiors of the past focused on cutting as much weight as possible. As a result, often sacrificed many modern creature comforts to deliver maximum weight savings. The Emira’s cabin still focuses on sport, but it does a much better job balancing comfort and livability. The instrument cluster features a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster and a smaller 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system with Android Auto and Apple CarPlay.
The sheer amount of creature comforts on hand is impressive, and it even has some items that were once unheard of in a Lotus product. They include adaptive cruise control, curtain airbags, and even rear parking sensors. Easily the most feature-packed Lotus ever offered, the Emira is keen on taking on rivals that offer similar amounts of equipment, including the Porsche 718 Cayman, Aston Martin Vantage, and The Alpine A110.
AMG Makes Surprise Appearance In Emira Engine Bay
When it comes to the engine lineup in the Emira, there’s actually a surprise with higher grade Emira’s being powered by an AMG sourced four-cylinder engine. Lotus is the second brand we have seen to ask AMG for help in this arena, but unlike Aston martin, the company chose to forgo the 4.0 liter V8. Instead, it’s the same boosted 2.0-liter four-cylinder that we typically see in 45 badged AMG models. This engine can make up to 416 hp in range-topping 45 S guise, but with Lotus not releasing formal horsepower numbers yet (the company claims the Emira will produce between 360 to 400 hp), we get to wait a bit to see the outcome of that. Like other applications, no manual will come with this engine, and it will be mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic.
For purists, the other engine here is the aging albeit familiar Toyota sourced supercharged 3.5 liter V6. Last seen in the Exige and Evora, this engine is the only way to equip a manual to the Emira with a separate automatic also available. Lotus claims that properly equipped Emiras can make the sprint to 62 mph in the 4-second range with a final top speed of 180 mph. Lotus claims that the Emira was designed to be a true global model, but it’ll be interesting to see if the Emira can indeed achieve this by going on sale in the U.S. OThe Evora serviced our side of the pond until it was axed, and for the moment, Lotus does not sell any models whatsoever here. The addition of the Emira would be welcome for some customers and could perhaps allow Lotus to rebuild its U.S. presence too.
When Can I Buy A 2022 Lotus Emira?
The 2022 Lotus Emira will go on sale in the summer of 2022. Base models will have a base price of £60,000 in the UK market, with other markets having a base sticker of €72,000. As mentioned, Lotus did not reveal whether this model will appear in the U.S., but the company did confirm that a “First Edition” version will serve as the flagship model with that model featuring the Toyota V6.
Carl Malek has been an automotive journalist for over 10 years. First starting out as a freelance photographer before making the transition to writing during college, his work has appeared on numerous automotive forums as well as websites such as Autoshopper.com.
Carl is also a big fan of British vehicles with the bulk of his devotion going to the Morgan Motor Company as well as offerings from Lotus, MG, and Caterham. When he is not writing about automobiles, Carl enjoys spending time with his family and friends in the Metro Detroit area, as well as spending time with his adorable pets.