The Emira Marks the End of an Era For Lotus

The Emira, formerly codenamed "Type 131,” will be the last combustion-powered sports car that Lotus will ever produce. As a reminder, Elise, Exige, and Evora will all be laid to rest soon. It comes as no surprise that the Emira will look similar to its well-known stablemate, the all-electric 2000 horsepower Evija hypercar.

The Emira will be equipped with a variety of gasoline engines, including one that is "extremely efficient" and "tuned to offer that special Lotus feel."

Rumors say the engine of choice though has to be a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder. Toyota’s tried-and-true 3.5-liter supercharged V-6 might also be on offer. Following a teaser at the end of April, the Norfolk-based sports car manufacturer recently gave another peek of its very last combustion engine. The Emira will be available with an automatic transmission. Lotus further claims that the new Emira is built on an all-new and flexible lightweight aluminum basis known internally as "Elemental."

The teaser also depicts the interior with the Alcantara-wrapped upper half of the steering wheel. The same has seams and a yellow 12 o’clock marker. The slightly modified Lotus insignia, which debuted on the Evija for the first time, is flanked by several buttons, but the paddles behind it are unquestionably more interesting. The car will also come with an all-digital instrument panel. One of the screens features a G-meter. There will be two driving modes to choose from; ‘Tour’ and ‘Sport’.

Lotus will also collaborate with French automaker, Alpine to create another electric sports car. It makes sense as both these manufacturers are renowned for making light weight sports cars. That has the potential to be exciting. The platform for this is known as “E-Sports”

Matt Windle, the company’s new CEO, anticipates that with the Emira, production numbers for the brand will soar, from 1,500 to 5,000 or more units annually. Then there’s the "Evolution" platform, which will be found in a new line of "Lifestyle" vehicles. "These vehicles will usher Lotus into a new era of higher sales and significant profits. Is a Lotus crossover a possibility? Time will tell.

Final Thoughts

There’s a lot going on at Lotus. The Emira, together with the Elise/Exige and Evora, replaces three classic Lotus cars. As this marks the end of an era for the British marquee, the Emira certainly carries a big burden on its shoulder to carry for sure. The latest teaser is accompanied by the announcement that pre-series production of the Emira has begun at the main factory in Hethel with the Emira’s formal reveal date set for July 6th, 2021.