HETHEL – About three years have passed since the debut of the Lotus Emira. A model which, already upon its presentation, attracted attention for having replaced, in one fell swoop, Elise, Exige and Evora. Not only that, according to the English company, founded by the legendary Colin Chapman, the Emira will be the last Lotus powered by an internal combustion engine. Regardless of whether Lotus’s future will only be electric, or whether it will first opt for a hybrid transition, we just have to fully savor the moment.
To do this we headed straight to Norfolk, where the legendary Lotus factory is located, to test the Emira I4 Turbocharged DCT. An acronym which indicates that the English sports car is now also available with a new propulsion. In fact, in addition to the 3.5-litre V6 derived from Toyota, Lotus have decided to add the version powered by the 2.0-litre 4-cylinder turbo with 365 HP and 430 Nm of torque combined with the 8-speed dual-clutch DCT gearbox, both of Mercedes-AMG origin (the same one mounted on the Mercedes A45 AMG) which guarantees a maximum speed of 275 km/h and a sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.4 seconds.
Externally the Emira remains the same as always. 4.41 meters long, 1.89 meters wide and 1.23 meters high, the English sports car already has a strong character at first glance. Its shapes, made of concave and convex surfaces, give it the right dynamism. Every aspect is not left to chance because in addition to being pleasant to look at, the Lotus must guarantee the aerodynamic efficiency of a true sports car. This explains the low front with the splitter, the bonnet with that particular shape but, above all, the muscular sides equipped with a generous slit to convey air towards the engine. No less spectacular is the rear axle with the two exhausts placed on the diffuser.
Like every Lotus self-respecting, the real protagonist is the frame. Made of extruded aluminium, the body is made up of three elements. The two front and rear frames are connected to the central cell, that of the passenger compartment so to speak. The latter, for the version powered by the 4 cylinders, uses an aluminum subframe which, in addition to reducing the weight bringing the Emira to 1,446 kg (12 kg less than the one equipped with the 6 cylinders), allows for greater rigidity throughout advantage of driving pleasure.
A car he still has a marked analogue approach given the overlapping triangle suspensions, both front and rear, as well as the use of Eibach-Bilstein shock absorbers and anti-roll bars. Furthermore, during the purchase phase, it is possible to choose between two configurations depending on your needs. The Tour setup, equipped with Goodyear Eagle F1 tyres, is the softest and ideal for those who want to use it more “quietly”. While the Sport configuration is equipped with a stiffer calibration of the shock absorbers, as well as fitting the Michelin Pilot Sport Cup2. This latest version will be the protagonist in our test both on roads and on track.
Entering the cockpit you can immediately perceive the sporty approach of the Emira. Attention to detail and minimalism, distinctive features of Lotus, can be admired through the dashboard, equipped with a 10.25″ central display to control the car’s infotainment, and a few physical buttons to manage the driving dynamics, including the manettino to operate the three riding modes Tour, Sport and Track. From the steering wheel, equipped with controls on the spokes, it is possible to observe the easily accessible 12.3″ instrument panel equipped with all the information. Worthy of note are the sports seats, enveloping and well padded, which allow a low and comfortable driving position. Furthermore, behind the backrests it is possible to store additional small luggage in addition to the front and rear trunk.
When starting the 4-cylinder AMG resonates, immediately creating the right involvement. From the first kilometres, tackled in Tour mode to familiarize yourself with the English roads of Norfolk, you can appreciate the dynamic qualities of the Emira. But it is by moving into Sport that you begin to fully appreciate the Emira. The 4-cylinder starts to make itself felt between 3,000 and 5,000 rpm where the thrust and whistle of the turbo can be perfectly felt. Driving fun is amplified by the excellent DCT gearbox, which can be used both in automatic mode and by operating the paddles behind the steering wheel.
The role of the protagonist This is done by hydraulically assisted steering. In addition to being precise and sharp like a scalpel, it makes the road feel unfiltered, so much so that it must always be held firmly with both hands. The brakes are also excellent with a pedal which, thanks to the short travel, offers the feedback of a real racing car but, if necessary, can also be very easy to modulate, as well as not tiring the driver even in city use.
Not just on country roads. For this occasion we have the privilege of being able to test the Emira on the very circuit where it was developed. In fact, Lotus have opened the doors to their test track which is located next to the factory. The asphalt, as English tradition dictates, is wet and treacherous but this time we can go wild in complete safety with Track mode. The engine’s response becomes even more instantaneous, but what is surprising is the speed with which it changes direction. Once again, it is the frame that does the magic. The weight distribution, which favors the rear with approximately 60% moved to the rear, in addition to the low center of gravity make the Emira well planted on the ground and responsive to every change of direction.
At the end of the test you get off with a smile on your face, but decidedly sad to have finished this real driving experience. Agile, light and with the right weight-power ratio, the philosophy desired by founder Colin Chapman has been fully respected with the Emira. At Lotus, once again, they have been able to demonstrate how a real sports car is made. A tribute to mechanics and driving pleasure, this is the Emira powered by the 4-cylinder 2.0 turbo, already available for purchase starting from 98,500 Euros.
