The Lotus Emira 420 Sport is the lightest and most powerful Emira yet
On a day in which Ferrari shocked the world with its electric Luce, Lotus decided to keep it real with the reveal of its newest Emira iteration. The petrol-powered 420 Sport heads straight to the top of the charts in terms of lightness, power and aerodynamics.
Powertrain
Putting out 414bhp and 500Nm of torque from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine paired with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the 420 Sport can accelerate from 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 186mph. It has been designed for high performance on both the road and on track, with an optional Lightweight Handling Pack leaving it 25kg lighter than the Emira Turbo and generating 25kg of additional downforce. If that wasn’t enough, owners will be able to measure and record their lap times through the dedicated Lotus Track Performance app.
Aerodynamics
Cooling and track performance have also been improved thanks to a series of aerodynamic revisions, which don’t increase drag.
On the exterior, these include a new front splitter, revised front vents, extended side sills, larger air intakes, a lip spoiler and a louvred tailgate. These changes give the Emira 420 Sport a 15% increase in airflow to the outboard radiators, 14% increase to the central radiator, and improve brake cooling by 10%. There’s also 30% increase in exhaust valve airflow, with all the upgrades leading to more consistent performance in challenging conditions, especially on track.
Additional Features
Inside, the driver will sit 5mm lower in ride height compared to previous iterations of Emira. The 12-way adjustable seats, driver-focused layout and new carbon fibre gearshift paddles with updated haptics for added responsiveness and engagement give a greater driving experience on the road and on track.
A new feature seen for the first time on an Emira is a removable tinted glass roof panel inspired by the Esprit. Drivers can switch between coupé and open top driving by easily removing and storing it behind the seats in a protective bag.
Personalisation
Owners can add to their Emira 420 Sport in various ways, one being the previously mentioned Lightweight Handling Pack, with another being the optional exterior carbon fibre pack. This includes the front splitter, side sills, wheel arch vents, side pods, rear spoiler and diffuser surround.
There’s also the choice of nine wheel designs and finishes, including a new 20-inch 15-spoke forged alloy wheel finished in satin dark grey. In terms of colours for the car itself, there are 16 to choose from, with Tangelo Orange being unique to the Emira 420 Sport.
The interior can be given a different feel with the choice of two new optional packs.
The Carbon Fibre Pack changes the driver display surround with unique geometry, as well as the centre spoke on the steering wheel and the logo surround in the seat back, while the Hand Painted Pack uses the Tangelo Orange colour throughout the cabin, including the centre console, steering wheel spoke, gear lever inner and air vent surrounds.
How much is it?
The Lotus Emira 420 Sport is available to order now, with prices in the UK starting at £105,900.
Gavin Kershaw, Director of Attributes at Lotus Cars said: “Emira is globally renowned for its ride and handling – it has been tuned to absorb, settle and communicate, working in harmony with a steering system that remains pure. With the 420 Sport, we've taken that foundation and pushed it further. Adjustable dampers, increased downforce, sharper responses, reduced roll - every detail obsessively engineered to put the driver more in control.”
words: Mike Booth
pictures: Lotus