First Edition Archives

Lotus Emira GT4 by Lotus Advanced Performance

Lotus has had a long presence in the motorsports world which began with a racing car built by Colin Chapman, who founded the company. That was back in 1948 and from then on, the company produced numerous racing cars and sportscars, and even had a successful period in Formula 1.

Earlier this year, the company added a new division – Lotus Advanced Performance – as part of its ongoing transformation from a British sportscar company to a global performance car business and brand.

The portfolio of services that Lotus Advanced Performance will offer includes halo projects, limited editions, bespoke, experiential, the Lotus Driving Academy, motorsport, options and accessories. The first product developed by the division (in collaboration with the RML Group) is the all-new Emira GT4 racing car which was unveiled earlier this week.

This GT version of the Emira road car marks the start of a new era in performance GT racing for Lotus. Like all modern Lotus road cars which have had race-ready siblings, the Emira is no exception. Each Emira GT4 customer will receive a homologated performance machine, hand-built with lightweight motorsport components and equipment to meet the latest safety regulations.

“We knew we had an excellent starting point for the Emira GT4 because of all the work done to make the road car such a great performer. Showing off the GT4’s dynamic capabilities on the Hethel test track – which has shaped countless race cars and their drivers since Lotus moved to the site in 1966 – is a very special moment for me and all the team involved,” said Gavan Kershaw, Director of Vehicle Attributes.

The advanced composite bodywork makes the car exceptionally light, and it is powered by Toyota’s race-proven 400 bhp 3.5-litre V6 engine. While the Emira’s advanced exterior design is also highly aerodynamic, further optimization has come from GT4 aerodynamics.

Many hundreds of hours of validation work have taken place on the test track. Over the winter, the Emira GT4 was also run at Portimao in Portugal for a week. In addition to the better weather, it’s one of the most challenging circuits in Europe, making it the perfect destination to validate aero performance and component reliability.

“Lotus’ commitment to motorsport is world-renowned and is one of the key elements of enhanced customer engagement within this recently launched division of the business. We have exciting plans for Lotus Advanced Performance – there is much more to come,” said Simon Lane, Director, Lotus Advanced Performance.

Following last September’s announcement that Lotus would create a GT version of the Emira, orders started to come in and the first year’s production has all been taken up by customers. Lotus aims to fulfil customer orders for the Emira GT4 during 2022, increasing production for 2023 in line with global demand. Ex-factory pricing is from £165,000 (about RM890,000).

2023 Lotus Emira First Edition V6 and 4-cylinder AMG M139 versions

2023 Lotus Emira First Edition V6 and 4-cylinder AMG M139 versions

Lotus will enter the electric era on March 29, 2022 when its Type 132 debuts. There will be no more combustion-engined sportscars from the company and the last one is the Emira which has been seeing increased interest following overwhelmingly positive global coverage of prototype ‘first drives’.

First Editions with V6 or 4-cylinder engines
The company has confirmed full details on the price and spec of the Emira First Edition which will be fully loaded with ‘desirable’ technology, infotainment and comfort features, plus unique badging. There will be a V6 version as well as an entry-level 4-cylinder version.

The 4-cylinder Emira is powered by AMG’s M139 direct injection engine, manufactured specifically for the car with hardware changes to suit mid-mounted placement and new software to give it a true Lotus character.

World’s most powerful 4-cylinder engine
First introduced in 2019, the M139 is still the world’s most powerful 4-cylinder engine homologated for road use (up to 208 bhp/litre) and is used in the Mercedes-AMG A45, along with the CLA45 and GLA45. Its twin-scroll turbocharger with roller bearings is optimized for fast spool-up and minimum lag, while the exhaust system has been designed by Lotus exclusively for the Emira.

*The Mercedes-AMG M139 4-cylinder engine supplied to Lotus for the Emira.*

The engine is coupled to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) with paddle-shifter – a first for Lotus. “It’s a bespoke rear-wheel drive variant of the transmission developed by Lotus in collaboration with AMG. On top of that, the gearshift strategy has been defined by the Lotus team as part of the car’s performance attributes. It is unique to the Emira and optimized for the best blend of outstanding driving engagement and performance, fuel consumption and emissions,” revealed Gavan Kershaw, Director, Vehicle Attributes at Lotus.

The 360 bhp engine comes with a unique engine bay cover and C-pillar badging. As with the Emira V6 First Edition, this version offers a high level of standard equipment and is available with a variety of ‘no-cost’ optional finishes and materials to enable customers to personalize the car to their own style.

The car rides on 20-inch ultra-lightweight V-spoke forged alloy wheels, diamond-cut to create a premium 2-tone finish. Two-piece brake discs – with branded calipers in either red, black, yellow or silver – are part of the First Edition spec, plus a Tyre Pressure Monitoring System so the driver doesn’t have to make physical checks.

Additional features
Exterior details include LED lights all round, a titanium exhaust finisher, heated power-fold door mirrors and rear parking sensors. The Lower Black Pack is fitted as standard, which means the front bumper air blades, front splitter, side sills and rear diffuser are all in finished in gloss black.

The Emira First Edition with the 4-cylinder engine costs £59,995 (about RM330,000), while the First Edition with the V6 costs £71,995 (about RM396,000). Deliveries of the V6 start towards the end of this year but the entry-level 4-cylinder version will only be available in 2023.

Lotus to offer competition-spec GT4 version of Emira

First Edition of latest Bentley Bentayga V8 available to Malaysian buyers

For those who want a rare collectible version of the new Bentley Bentayga V8, the First Edition is now available in Malaysia. With a selection of Bentley options included, the First Edition is priced from RM935,000 (excluding taxes and insurance), a difference of RM191,900 from the base price of the standard price of the latest Bentayga.

Top specs for limited run
The First Edition is a limited run so only a certain number will be available to each market. Each SUV comes with Bentley Dynamic Ride (and active roll control system), Touring Specification as well as Mulliner Driving Specification. This specification includes 22-inch black-painted and directional alloy wheels and sports pedals.

With the new Bentayga, the interior has undergone revisions that include a new centre fascia and steering wheels, door trims and seats (which are also now available with ventilation at the rear of the 5-seat option). There’s also up to 100 mm more legroom for rear occupants, depending on the configuration.

First Edition buyers can choose from a wide range of leather upholstery and wood veneers, allowing the unique contrasted stitching on the diamond quality areas to stand out. There’s First Edition badging around the vehicle and customers can also ask for the words or the Bentley wings to be embroidered on the seats.

Revised exclusive interior
The latest hardware and software includes Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, alongside the existing wired system, for connectivity flexibility. Rear seat occupants can enjoy journeys with a large touchscreen remote control tablet, similar to that introduced in the latest Flying Spur.

The exclusive nature of the First Edition is complemented by the best audio system available from Bentley – Naim for Bentley. This 1,780W system specially customized for the Bentayga comes with 20 speakers and 8 listening modes, ranging from Digital Media to Classic.

The First Edition doesn’t come with a more powerful engine but the standard V8 performance should satisfy even the most demanding driver. The 4-litre 32-valve twin scroll turbocharged engine produces up to 550 ps/770 Nm that gives a claimed 0 to 100 km/h capability of 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 290 km/h. This output is intelligently distributed to all four wheels through an 8-speed automatic transmission.

Click here for other news and articles about Bentley.

Only 15 units of MINI Electric First Edition available for Malaysian market

Following the launch of the MINI Electric last month, MINI Malaysia now offers the First Edition and only 15 people in Malaysia will be able to own one. First Edition models are usually produced in limited runs and come with exclusive or unique features.

In the case of the MINI Electric First Edition, priced from RM238,380.78, there are bespoke side scuttles and door sills which identify each unit as ‘ONE OF FIFTEEN’. An all-new exterior colour, Yours Enigmatic Black, almost makes it debut with this special edition. 17-inch Power Spoke two-tone wheels come with run flat tyres.

MINI Yours appointments
The interior has MINI Yours Walknappa Leather Lounge Upholstery and Walknappa Leather-wrapped steering wheel. At night, the MINI Yours Illuminated Interior Surface lights up from a choice of 12 ambient light colours. Additionally, the Panorama Glass Roof enhances the sense of openness day or night.

ELECTRIC-specific features
The Electric version has its own specific features such as the Electric Cockpit Fascia, Electric Start/Stop button in Yellow, Electric velour floor mats, an electronic selector lever with Electric design, as well as the brake energy recuperation toggle. The driver can refer to the Head-Up Display or the Digital Instrument Cluster which displays key information like speed, range, state of charge of the battery.

The body colour features its front blade and aero-optimised mirror caps in Energetic Yellow. Alternatively, the First Edition is also available in the popular White Silver with Energetic Yellow accents. The roof for both exterior body colours will be available in black. It is equipped with the Lights Package which includes the Matrix LED headlights and LED rear lights featuring the iconic Union Jack design to remind of its British heritage.

In place of an internal combustion engine is a synchronous electric motor developed by the BMW Group. The front-axle electric motor generates 135 kw/184 hp, drawing energy from a 12-module T-shaped battery pack with a net capacity of 28.9 kWh. Peak torque is 270 Nm which is available from the moment the car moves off, providing zippy performance with a claimed 0 to 100 km/h time of 7.3 seconds.

Up to 270 kms of range
With a single-speed transmission and integrated differential, the MINI Electric First Edition can reach a claimed maximum speed of 150 km/h and depending on driving conditions and style, travel for up to 270 kms on a fully-charged battery pack.

Recharging a fully empty battery pack requires approximately 36 minutes to reach 80% capacity when recharging at a DC charging station. Similarly, the MINI Wallbox Plus provides an 80% charge in just two and half hours. At home, recharging can be done in 12 hours using a household power supply. Of course, most owners would not run the battery till it’s completely empty so the actual time required may not be as long.

All-electric MINI makes its debut in Malaysia, priced from RM218,380

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First Edition

Lotus Emira GT4 by Lotus Advanced Performance

2023 Lotus Emira First Edition V6 and 4-cylinder AMG M139 versions

First Edition of latest Bentley Bentayga V8 available to Malaysian buyers

Only 15 units of MINI Electric First Edition available for Malaysian market

Lotus Emira GT4 by Lotus Advanced Performance

2023 Lotus Emira First Edition V6 and 4-cylinder AMG M139 versions

First Edition of latest Bentley Bentayga V8 available to Malaysian buyers

Only 15 units of MINI Electric First Edition available for Malaysian market

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