Emira I4
The I4 is the most powerful four cylinder Lotus sports car EVER.
The I4 is the most powerful four cylinder Lotus sports car EVER.
You can buy a Lotus Emira I4 sports car in Australia, the last vehicle manufactured by Lotus that will feature a four cylinder internal combustion engine.
Pronounced ‘E-meer-a’, the word features in numerous ancient languages and often translates as ‘commander’ or ‘leader’. It’s an appropriate name considering the step change it represents for the brand & clearly signals the intent for the future of Lotus.
It turns conventional thinking on its head, with its exotic supercar looks, everyday usability, enhanced comfort, powered by a new four cylinder engine combined with class leading Lotus driving dynamics.
"It’s the most accomplished Lotus for generations – the perfectly packaged, powered and formed sports car. Beautifully proportioned, shrink-wrapped, but with comfort, technology and ergonomics built in. With a design inspired by the Evija all-electric hypercar, it’s a game-changing Lotus sports car."
"...what can I say, WOW, every time I drive a Lotus I love that mechanical grip that it gives you, but now you even have that in the high speed corners, they've worked really hard on the aerodynamics on the EMIRA....my takeaways from today, a big step forward for Lotus"
Led by Russell Carr, Design Director, Lotus, the lead exterior and interior designers of the Emira are Daniel Durrant and Jon Statham. Combined, they have close to 40 years of experience in the Hethel design studio and have worked on countless other projects.
Those have been both for Lotus and for clients as part of the consultancy services offered by Lotus Engineering.
Lotus car interiors have always been famed for putting the driver at the very centre of the experience, with pure ergonomic design and instruments carefully placed for the most intuitive use.
The Emira I4 follows these principles to the letter to create a modern cockpit environment with the essential controls to hand and minimum distraction.
What’s new about this next-generation Lotus sports car is immediately obvious – the huge step-change across all aspects of the cabin, from the contemporary design and quality of materials to the increase in storage space, exceptional fit and finish, attention to detail and abundant advanced technology that has been integrated.
It is unlike any other Lotus sports car ever released. A rear wheel drive 2 door sports car.
The Emira I4 has been designed to provide multiple storage locations in the cabin around the driver and passenger seats, behind the front seats and boot space behind the engine.
The spaces have been designed to accomodate mobile phones, suitcases, helmets or even a set of golf clubs.
Lotus has partnered with premium audio brand KEF to design a sound system that delivers crisp sound no matter which seat you use in the vehicle.
You can choose from available options like the 10-channel amplifier with KEF’s Uni-Q system it will reproduce an extremely wide range of mid and high frequencies from a single point for an immersive soundstage.
Powering the Emira I4 is a new-to-Lotus AMG engine which is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder. The all-aluminium, turbocharged 2.0-litre unit is based on the world’s most powerful four-cylinder in series production
Power output will be 360 bhp / 268 kW with a 0-100km/h acceleration time of just 4.4 seconds.
The Emira is the first Lotus sports car to carry the new design language first showcased on the award- winning Evija hypercar. It’s a contemporary look with sculpted surfaces and technical detailing, delivering exotic supercar appeal in the sports car segment.
A new and more premium approach for Lotus in terms of forms and materials, it is also a leap forward in fit and finish.
The influence of the Lotus Evija is plain to see through the fluid surfaces and crisp feature lines. The lineage is even more obvious on the prominent leading edge of the bonnet, shrink-wrapped cabin that’s tapered to the rear, sculpted doors and vents cut into the muscular rear haunches.
The unique-in-class exit vents, integrated into the bonnet to guide airflow over the car and optimise aerodynamics, are also derived from the Evija.
The Emira I4 will continue the Lotus tradition of offering a rear wheel drive sports car with a high performance engine & drivetrain combined with superb handling to suit driving enthusiasts. The Emira I4’s light, stiff, bonded aluminium Lotus Sports Car Architecture gave the vehicle dynamics engineers the perfect platform from which to develop the car’s ride, handling and steering characteristics, all of which set the class benchmark, as every Lotus sports car should.
With a torsional stiffness of 26,300Nm/ degree, the chassis contributes to the immediate, precise responses of every system. The Emira I4 features race-derived, lightweight, forged aluminium double-wishbone suspension all round, which delivers the greatest control of the tyre contact patch throughout the suspension’s full range of travel, contributing to the Emira I4’s exceptional agility and responsiveness.
The I4 Emira will be built in new production facilities at Lotus.
Simply Sports Cars has a very active calendar of driving events that are available throughout the year with activities held in New South Wales, Victoria & Queensland.
Each one can easily accomodate first timers or seasoned performance driving enthusiasts. We can even create a tailor made program which is a mix of competitive motorsport and track day experiences for any Emira I4 owner in Australia.
Designed to put the driver at the very centre of the experience, with pure ergonomic design and instruments carefully placed for the most intuitive use. Modern materials, connected technology and soft touch finishes only enhance the driving experience when you are behind the wheel of an Emira I4 variant.
I4 Turbocharged with Dual Clutch Transmission
The first new Lotus sports car engine for more than a decade makes its debut, with the Emira powered by AMG. The new-to-Lotus AMG unit is a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder ‘i4’ from the performance division of Mercedes-Benz. · Includes twin-scroll turbocharger, combined direct and port fuel injection system and variable valve train to deliver optimum blend of power, responsiveness and efficiency.
The four-cylinder engine features state-of-the-art technologies to deliver incredible performance and remarkable efficiency. Supplied by technical partner Mercedes-AMG, the all-aluminium, turbocharged 2.0-litre unit is based on the world’s most powerful four-cylinder in series production.
Working with Lotus for the first time, AMG has come on board as technical partner on the Emira programme, with some fundamental changes made to the in-line four-cylinder set-up for its Lotus debut. Transverse-mounted and delivering rear-wheel drive, the unit has been modified with a new air intake system and new exhaust to suit the character of the Emira.
Power
2.0 litre | 360 bhp / 268 kw | 316 lbft / 430 Nm
Performance:
290 km/h | 4.4s 0-100 km/h | 208 g/km CO2
Lotus-engineered 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit from technical partner AMG tuned in-house by the hugely experienced Hethel engineers to deliver that distinctive Lotus experience.
It’s also fitting that, as the final mainstream combustion engine Lotus two-seater, the Emira is the most powerful four-cylinder from Lotus in a rich bloodline of iconic models including the Elise, Esprit, Europa, Elan and Elite. And, at 180bhp/litre, it also has the highest specific power output in the Emira range.
Designed solely for high-performance applications, the 1,991cc engine features a cylinder block produced using the advanced chill-casting process: compared to conventional sand-casting methods used in high volume applications, this results in a uniform, fine-grained structure which delivers the high strength and durability needed to withstand the high loads generated. Following motorsport practise, the block is also of closed-deck design for maximum stiffness, and instead of conventional cast iron liners, the cylinder bores use a patented low-friction coating to save weight. For the optimal balance of high strength and low weight, both the steel crankshaft and aluminium pistons are forged.
The cylinder head features four valves per cylinder and a 200bar direct injection system. Intake and exhaust cams feature variable valve timing, while on the exhaust side, the valves can be varied between high and low duration. The piezo injectors deliver fuel into the combustion chamber with very high precision, both in terms of the amount of fuel and the spray pattern, resulting in enhanced combustion with reduced emissions. For maximum power, the piezo injectors are joined by the port fuel injectors, mounted directly on the intake side of the cylinder head to deliver the correct amount of petrol needed at full load.
The turbocharger is a ‘twin-scroll’ design, meaning the turbine housing is split into two separate ducts, matched to corresponding ducts in the exhaust manifold. This minimises exhaust gas pulsation interference, helping to improve the efficient exchange of gases in the cylinders. It also ensures that boost pressure builds up more rapidly, and to further enhance responsiveness, the shaft joining the compressor and turbine wheel runs in ultra-low-friction roller bearings. To manage boost pressure most effectively, the wastegate is electronically controlled.
This combination of advanced technologies, together with intake and exhaust systems developed by Lotus and optimised with a unique in-house calibration, ensure this remarkable engine can deliver an astonishing balance of power, torque and efficiency throughout its full operating range. Generating 430Nm from 3,000-5,500rpm and 360bhp (365PS) at 6,600rpm before reaching a maximum speed of 7,200rpm, it ensures an authentic Lotus sports car driving experience while also being refined in day-to-day use.
What’s new about this next-generation Lotus sports car is immediately obvious – the huge step-change across all aspects of the cabin, from the contemporary design and quality of materials to the increase in storage space, exceptional fit and finish, attention to detail and abundant advanced technology now integrated.
The wraparound nature of the dashboard as it blends into the door trim creates a cossetted feeling that makes the driver feel at one with the car. The raised gear shifter only enhances that emotion. There are a high number of soft-trimmed surfaces, showcasing premium British craftsmanship that conveys ultimate sportiness. They blend perfectly with modern technical finishes to create a premium experience for the driver – ‘technology with soul’ – and there are details added in tribute to the heritage and sporting success of Lotus.
Some of the features available as standard or optional fitment on an Emira may include some of the following items;
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) available on the Emira include adaptive cruise control, anti-collision system, fatigue alert, road sign information, vehicle speed limiter, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, lane change assist.
From the very first discussions Lotus wanted the Emira to be an ‘every day’ sports car, delivering a usability and practicality to support that with levels of comfort and desirability for total comfort over long- distance cruising. To that end, it sets new standards for Lotus and is better than ever for the tallest and shortest drivers. There is more space between the occupants as well.
The glass area has been designed to provide good all-round visibility for daily use. Acknowledging that some owners will drive their Emira in a spirited way, and even on a circuit, the view forward – particularly of the haunches – supports highly accurate placement of the car through corners.
Access to the car’s infotainment system is via a 10.25-inch centrally mounted touch-screen, with an additional 12.3-inch TFT driver’s display behind the steering wheel. All content is exclusive to Lotus and has been designed and developed by an in-house team. Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are integrated as standard.
Luggage or other large items can be stored behind the two seats (208 litres) or in the boot to the rear of the engine. This space (151 litres) will take a standard-sized flight case or a set of golf clubs.
The Emira is built on the recently announced new Lotus Sports Car Architecture. The Lotus Emira does not use the Evora or Exige chassis. It does use the same pioneering Lotus bonded extruded aluminium chassis technology which debuted on the Elise.
However, for the Emira, every dimension is different to any previous Lotus chassis and it is fabricated in an all-new facility – Lotus Advanced Structures – in Norwich, just a few miles from Hethel
The Emira has a wider track than any recent Lotus road car, enhancing stability, delivering exceptional road-holding and the sensation of a very low centre of gravity. It is a true Lotus sports car that builds on the legacy of the Elise, Exige and Evora
The car has two defined chassis and suspension settings;
The Eibach springs and Bilstein high-pressure monotube dampers are meticulously tuned to suit the Emira, and offered with different settings depending on whether the customer chooses the Tour or Sport chassis settings. Tour is optimised for road use, offering softer springs and dampers, while Sport is track-focused with stiffer springs and dampers, together with increased camber and toe angles to maximise grip. The anti-roll bar stiffnesses are also bespoke to Emira, and the component on the front axle is now lighter too.
Efficient aerodynamics have been at the heart of every Lotus since the very beginning and so much was learnt on the race track. Emira is no exception. Intelligent engineering means it is the only sports car in its class to generate significant downforce, generating outstanding performance and exceptional grip at all speeds.
The Emira dimensions will be;
So it will be similar proportions to the Lotus Evora with a wider footprint. The Lotus Emira will have lots of cabin and boot storage that has been exceptionally well thought out. Luggage or other large items can be stored behind the two seats (208 litres) or in the boot to the rear of the engine. This space (151 litres) will take a standard-sized flight case or a set of golf clubs.
It has twin central cup holders with a phone storage slot between them, and door bins that can accommodate a 500ml bottle.
Practicality also comes from the glovebox, trinket tray ahead of the gearstick, armrest between the seats with USB and 12v ports, plus a console net for bottles or documents.
The Emira will be sold in Australia with the following launch colours available;
Simply Sports Cars is the official Lotus dealership in Sydney and Melbourne that will have the Lotus Emira I4 sports car for sale.
We are taking orders for the Lotus Emira I4. A $5,000 deposit is required from people wishing to secure an Emira I4 build slot.
Deposits are fully refundable until such time that a factory build order is submitted, based on the customer specified vehicle and options.
The Lotus Emira will replace the current vehicle line up that Lotus produces. The Exige & Elise are available in 2021 as ‘Final Editions’ before production will cease.
The Lotus Elise ‘Final Edition’ stock has sold out in Australia.
The Emira I4 is the four-cylinder turbocharged engine option in the Emira range
No, the Emira is a completely new vehicle & not an updated Evora. The two models share some dimensions but that is where the similarities end.
The Emira is built on the recently announced new Lotus Sports Car Architecture. The Lotus Emira does not use the Evora or Exige chassis. It does use the same pioneering Lotus bonded extruded aluminium chassis technology which debuted on the Elise.
However, for the Emira, every dimension is different to any previous Lotus chassis and it is fabricated in an all-new facility – Lotus Advanced Structures – in Norwich, just a few miles from Hethel
The Emira has a wider track than any recent Lotus road car, enhancing stability, delivering exceptional road-holding and the sensation of a very low centre of gravity. It is a true Lotus sports car that builds on the legacy of the Elise, Exige and Evora
The car has two defined chassis and suspension settings;
All wheels & tyres will be 20 inches in diameter front and rear.
As standard they will be fitted with a Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyre, while a Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 is a cost option available in conjunction with the Lotus Drivers Pack.
Both tyres have been specially developed for the Emira by their manufacturer.
The Lotus Emira has been designed to be very simple to get in and out of, either passenger or driver side. Compared to an Elise, Exige or even the Evora – you can easily open the door and sit inside an Emira sports car. The door opening between the side sill & roof is larger which makes it really easy to get in and out as needed, even if you are six foot tall.
Hydraulic steering provides excellent feedback for the driver. The car has two defined chassis and suspension settings. Tour is tuned for everyday road use, delivering the optimum blend of Lotus dynamic performance and handling with a more comfortable ride. Sports is available with the optional Lotus Drivers Pack and provides a slightly stiffer suspension set-up for enhanced dynamic capability and feel.
No – the Emira has been designed to be a sports car that can be used regularly for daily driving or spirited driving equally. It is a sports car that will deliver new levels of refinement and usability for Lotus.
No – the Emira has been designed to be a sports car that can be used regularly for daily driving or spirited driving equally. It is a sports car that will deliver new levels of refinement and usability for Lotus.
It will share the engine from the outgoing Exige and Evora but that is where the similarities end. The Emira will be a completely different driving experience.
The Lotus Emira will be on sale in Australia as a two door high performance sports car from Simply Sports Cars in Melbourne and Sydney.
The Lotus Emira will be available from Lotus Dealerships in Adelaide, Perth, Melbourne and, Brisbane.
https://www.lotuscars.com/retailer/lotus-queensland
https://www.lotuscars.com/retailer/lotus-adelaide-sports-car-dealership/
Two petrol engines are available, a Lotus-engineered 2.0-litre four-cylinder unit from technical partner AMG, and the much-loved and characterful 3.5-litre V6 from the Exige and Evora. Each is calibrated by Lotus to provide a unique and distinctive character for maximum driver engagement.
Gavan Kershaw, Director of Vehicle Attributes, Lotus, commented: “The 2.0-litre is the world’s most powerful production in-line four-cylinder unit mated to AMG’s acclaimed DCT with paddleshifts and driving modes. It’s high-performance, hugely efficient thanks to cutting-edge technology, and delivers low emissions and linear performance. On top of all that, it’s been tuned in-house by the hugely experienced Hethel engineers to deliver that distinctive Lotus experience.”
The power output will be from 360 to 400 hp which will make the Lotus Emira one of the fastest sports cars available for sale in Australia with
• 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in less than 4.5 seconds
• Top speed of up to 180mph (290km/h)
Yes the Simply Sports Cars Lotus dealership in Sydney (or Melbourne) will be selling the Lotus Emira.
Key dimensions of the Emira are;
The Emira I4 0-100 acceleration time is 4.4 seconds
The Emira I4 0-100 acceleration target will be 4.4 seconds depending on the air temperature, the type of surface, tyre age & skill of the driver.
There will be six different colours to choose from for a new Lotus Emira I4 that include;
There will be seven different interior colour & fabric combinations to choose from for a new Lotus Emira that include;
There are five wheel choices for the new Lotus Emira I4 sports car including;
There will be four brake caliper colours including black, red, yellow and silver
Lotus sports cars have been built at Hethel since 1966. Following more than £100 million of UK investment by Lotus, production of the Emira will take place in all-new state-of-the-art factory.
The Emira will remain ‘Handmade in Hethel’ in the United Kingdom, supported by new processes and technologies that will enhance efficiency and build quality – a genuine ‘best of both worlds’ solution.
An all-new paint shop features robotic application – a first for Lotus that will improve quality, capacity and process repeatability.
It includes many innovative technologies such as a combined primer and clear coat line.
There is a new semi-automated body assembly system, with robots being used to apply adhesive. Vehicle bodies are transported around the main assembly area on Automated Guided Vehicles (AGVs).
Emira production actually begins at Lotus Advanced Structures (LAS), an all-new facility in nearby Norwich where chassis fabrication and front-end assembly takes place.
You can configure a Lotus Emira online and choose the colour & specifications of the interior and exterior of the vehicle. You can save your configuration or send it to a dealer to get a price on a Lotus Emira.
The Lotus Emira I4 will have lots of cabin and boot storage that has been exceptionally well thought out.
It has twin central cup holders with a phone storage slot between them, and door bins that can accommodate a 500ml bottle.
Practicality also comes from the glovebox, trinket tray ahead of the gearstick, armrest between the seats with USB and 12v ports, plus a console net for bottles or documents.
Luggage or other large items can be stored behind the two seats (208 litres) or in the boot to the rear of the engine.
This space (151 litres) will take a standard-sized flight case or a set of golf clubs.
The Emira i4 pricing will be $192,990 MSRP including GST & Luxury Car Tax (LCT), on the road pricing will vary by state in Australia
The horsepower of the Lotus Emira 4 cylinder will be 360bhp, the appeal of this mid-engined two-seater is further enhanced by the addition of a four-cylinder engine which features state-of-the-art technologies to deliver incredible performance and remarkable efficiency. Supplied by technical partner Mercedes-AMG, the all-aluminium, turbocharged 2.0-litre unit is based on the world’s most powerful four-cylinder in series production.
The Emira I4 will have the turbocharged M139 engine from Mercedes-AMG, the world’s most powerful four-pot and used in the AMG A45, C63 S E Performance and the SL 43, among others.The four-cylinder engine features state-of-the-art technologies to deliver incredible performance and remarkable efficiency. Supplied by technical partner Mercedes-AMG, the all-aluminium, turbocharged 2.0-litre unit is based on the world’s most powerful four-cylinder in series production.
It’s also fitting that, as the final mainstream combustion engine Lotus two-seater, the Emira is the most powerful four-cylinder from Lotus in a rich bloodline of iconic models including the Elise, Esprit, Europa, Elan and Elite. And, at 180bhp/litre, it also has the highest specific power output in the Emira range.
Designed solely for high-performance applications, the 1,991cc engine features a cylinder block produced using the advanced chill-casting process: compared to conventional sand-casting methods used in high volume applications, this results in a uniform, fine-grained structure which delivers the high strength and durability needed to withstand the high loads generated. Following motorsport practise, the block is also of closed-deck design for maximum stiffness, and instead of conventional cast iron liners, the cylinder bores use a patented low-friction coating to save weight. For the optimal balance of high strength and low weight, both the steel crankshaft and aluminium pistons are forged.
The cylinder head features four valves per cylinder and a 200bar direct injection system. Intake and exhaust cams feature variable valve timing, while on the exhaust side, the valves can be varied between high and low duration. The piezo injectors deliver fuel into the combustion chamber with very high precision, both in terms of the amount of fuel and the spray pattern, resulting in enhanced combustion with reduced emissions. For maximum power, the piezo injectors are joined by the port fuel injectors, mounted directly on the intake side of the cylinder head to deliver the correct amount of petrol needed at full load.
The turbocharger is a ‘twin-scroll’ design, meaning the turbine housing is split into two separate ducts, matched to corresponding ducts in the exhaust manifold. This minimises exhaust gas pulsation interference, helping to improve the efficient exchange of gases in the cylinders. It also ensures that boost pressure builds up more rapidly, and to further enhance responsiveness, the shaft joining the compressor and turbine wheel runs in ultra-low-friction roller bearings. To manage boost pressure most effectively, the wastegate is electronically controlled.
This combination of advanced technologies, together with intake and exhaust systems developed by Lotus and optimised with a unique in-house calibration, ensure this remarkable engine can deliver an astonishing balance of power, torque and efficiency throughout its full operating range. Generating 430Nm from 3,000-5,500rpm and 360bhp (365PS) at 6,600rpm before reaching a maximum speed of 7,200rpm, it ensures an authentic Lotus sports car driving experience while also being refined in day-to-day use.