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Lotus kini sedang mempertimbangkan pengenalan varian enjin V8 untuk model Emira sebagai sebahagian daripada strategi baharu bagi memperluas daya tarik model enjin pembakaran terakhir syarikat itu. Langkah ini muncul ketika Lotus—kini di bawah pemilikan Geely—berusaha menangani cabaran peraturan pelepasan serta permintaan pasaran, khususnya di Amerika Syarikat.

Emira ketika ini ditawarkan dalam dua konfigurasi kuasa – enjin V6 supercas yang diperoleh daripada Toyota, serta enjin empat silinder pengecas turbo dari Mercedes-AMG – masing-masing mampu menjana sehingga 400hp. Namun, enjin V6 dijadual dihentikan pengeluaran kerana tidak lagi mematuhi peraturan pelepasan Euro 7 yang bakal dikuatkuasakan.

Sebelum ini, Lotus merancang untuk menggugurkan V6 dan menumpukan kepada enjin AMG empat silinder. Namun, maklum balas pasaran, khususnya dari pelanggan di Amerika Syarikat, telah mendorong syarikat untuk mempertimbangkan semula keputusan tersebut.

Menurut laporan Autocar, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Lotus, Feng Qingfeng, mengesahkan dalam satu taklimat pelabur bahawa syarikat sedang menilai potensi untuk memperkenalkan versi Emira yang lebih berprestasi tinggi dengan enjin V8. Idea ini tercetus selepas seorang pengedar utama di AS mencadangkan varian yang lebih berkuasa, ringan dan setanding dengan Porsche 911 GT3.

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Lotus is actively exploring the introduction of a V8 engine for its Emira sports car as part of a renewed strategy to broaden the appeal of its final combustion-engined model. This move comes as the company, now under the ownership of Geely, seeks to address both regulatory constraints and sustained market demand, particularly in the United States.

The Emira, currently available with a supercharged V6 sourced from Toyota and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine supplied by Mercedes-AMG, delivers up to 400bhp in both variants. However, the V6 is set to be discontinued as it cannot be made compliant with the forthcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations. Although Lotus had previously planned to phase out the V6 in favour of the AMG four-cylinder, consumer preference, especially in the US, has prompted a reassessment.

According to Autocar, Lotus Chief Executive Officer Feng Qingfeng confirmed during a recent investor briefing that the company is considering a higher-performance version of the Emira and is currently assessing the viability of fitting it with a V8. His remarks followed feedback from an American dealer who proposed a lightweight, high-powered alternative capable of rivalling the Porsche 911 GT3.

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Dalam satu usaha yang menyatukan warisan ikonik dan inovasi prestasi tinggi, Lotus telah melancarkan Emira Clark Edition, model edisi terhad sebagai penghormatan kepada legenda sukan permotoran, Jim Clark. Hanya 60 unit akan ditawarkan secara global, menjadikan ia koleksi eksklusif untuk peminat automotif. Model ini turut membuat kemunculan sulungnya sebagai kereta utama di Grand Prix Formula Satu Miami.

Emira Clark Edition dibangunkan dengan kerjasama The Jim Clark Trust, dan dicipta bagi memperingati tahun kegemilangan 1965 — tahun yang menyaksikan Jim Clark menjuarai Kejuaraan Dunia Formula Satu bersama Team Lotus, serta merangkul kemenangan berprestij di Indianapolis 500. Tidak cukup dengan itu, beliau turut menguasai Formula 2, Siri Tasman di Australia dan New Zealand, serta perlumbaan kereta jelajah menggunakan Lotus Cortina, menjadikan pencapaiannya pada tahun tersebut sebagai salah satu yang paling luar biasa dalam sejarah perlumbaan.

Reka bentuk Emira Clark Edition diinspirasikan terus daripada Lotus Type 38, jentera yang digunakan Clark untuk menawan Indianapolis 500. Badan kereta disempurnakan dengan warna eksklusif Clark Racing Green, diserikan dengan bumbung hitam kontras, cermin sisi perak dan jalur lumba kuning terang di bahagian hadapan. Elemen perlumbaan klasik turut diterapkan melalui penutup bahan api aluminium bermesin dengan anod biru, hujung ekzos kuning dan jalur kuning lukisan tangan sepanjang sisi badan. Lambang khas Clark Edition pada pintu meminjam rekabentuk asal kereta lumba Jim Clark.

Ruang dalaman pula direka untuk membangkitkan semangat perlumbaan era 1960-an. Tempat duduk pemandu dibalut kulit merah dan Alcantara, manakala tempat duduk penumpang menggunakan kulit hitam – satu penghormatan kepada konfigurasi kabin Clark pada tahun 1965. Tombol gear kayu gaya retro dan lencana Jim Clark dengan corak tartan keluarga dari Lochcarron, Scotland, memberikan sentuhan sentimental yang mendalam. Tandatangan Clark turut tertera pada papan pemuka, dan lambang Team Lotus dijahit pada bahagian belakang tempat duduk, menyerlahkan warisan perlumbaan kereta ini.

Setiap unit Emira Clark Edition akan diberi nombor pengeluaran tersendiri pada plat gentian karbon, dan disertakan beg kulit buatan tangan eksklusif dengan hiasan Clark sebagai pelengkap istimewa bagi pemiliknya.

Dari sudut prestasi, edisi istimewa ini mengekalkan enjin supercharged V6 3.5 liter Lotus Emira yang menjana 400hp. Kuasa disalurkan menerusi transmisi manual enam kelajuan bersama limited-slip differential. Antara ciri prestasi lain termasuk stereng hidraulik untuk rasa pemanduan tulen, nota ekzos baharu, Track Mode, dan pakej penggantungan sukan yang ditawarkan melalui Lotus Drivers Pack.

Emira Clark Edition bukan sekadar sebuah kereta — ia adalah penghormatan moden kepada warisan Jim Clark dan bukti pengaruhnya yang kekal dalam dunia perlumbaan serta falsafah kejuruteraan Lotus. Model ini ditawarkan pada harga £115,000 (kira-kira RM646,274) di United Kingdom, manakala di Jerman ia disenaraikan pada €140,000 (sekitar RM666,176).

In a gesture that blends heritage with high-performance innovation, Lotus has unveiled the limited-run Emira Clark Edition, a tribute to the legendary Jim Clark. Developed in collaboration with the Jim Clark Trust, this special model is restricted to just 60 units and will make its global premiere as the lead car at the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix.

The Emira Clark Edition commemorates one of motorsport’s most revered figures, whose extraordinary achievements in 1965 continue to resonate across generations. That historic year saw Clark claim the Formula 1 World Championship title with Team Lotus, while also capturing victory at the Indianapolis 500 — a feat that remains unequalled. Beyond that, Clark also dominated in Formula 2, the Tasman Series in Australia and New Zealand, and achieved success in touring car races with the Lotus Cortina.

This historic campaign forms the foundation for the Emira Clark Edition’s design and ethos, celebrating Clark’s unmatched versatility and dominance across various racing formats. It stands as a modern homage to a driver whose legacy continues to influence the sport and the marque.

The car’s distinctive appearance draws direct inspiration from Clark’s 1965 Indianapolis-winning Lotus Type 38. It is painted in a bespoke Clark Racing Green finish, accented by a contrasting black roof, silver mirrors, and a striking yellow racing stripe across the nose. A machined aluminium fuel cap with a blue anodised centre, vivid yellow exhaust tips, and a hand-painted yellow pinstripe along the swage line reinforce its racing credentials. The doors are adorned with a Clark Edition emblem derived from insignia used on Clark’s original racing cars.

Inside, the Emira Clark Edition evokes an atmosphere steeped in motorsport nostalgia. The seats are asymmetrically upholstered — the driver’s seat wrapped in red leather and Alcantara to mirror Clark’s 1965 racing cockpit, while the passenger seat features black leather and Alcantara. A retro-style wooden gear knob enhances the period aesthetic, accompanied by commemorative Jim Clark badges which incorporate his unique family tartan from Lochcarron, Scotland. Additional design flourishes include Clark’s signature on the dashboard and Team Lotus motifs stitched into the seatbacks.

Each car will be individually numbered with carbon fibre treadplates indicating its limited production run. Buyers will also receive an exclusive hand-crafted leather holdall tailored with Clark Edition detailing, underscoring the bespoke nature of the vehicle.

Underneath its historically inspired design lies the power of the Lotus Emira V6. The special edition retains the 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine, delivering 400hp through a six-speed manual gearbox with a limited-slip differential. Performance enhancements include unfiltered hydraulic steering, a revised exhaust note, Track Mode, and a sports suspension package courtesy of the Lotus Driver’s Pack.

The Emira Clark Edition not only celebrates a motorsport titan but also offers a pure driving experience in keeping with Lotus’s engineering philosophy. This model stands as both a collector’s gem and a testament to Clark’s enduring influence on the world of racing.

In the United Kingdom, the Emira Clark Edition is priced at £115,000 (RM646,274), while the German market will see it listed at €140,000 (RM666,176).

Sebuah syarikat permulaan automotif yang berpangkalan di Surrey, United Kingdom, Get Lost, telah melancarkan versi baharu yang radikal bagi model ikonik Lotus Elise S1. Dikenali sebagai Project Safari, jentera ini menyimpang jauh daripada identiti asal Elise sebagai kereta sport trek ringan, sebaliknya dibentuk semula sepenuhnya sebagai kenderaan lasak rali luar jalan.

Project Safari direka dengan matlamat jelas untuk mencabar norma dan mengubah persepsi terhadap model klasik berkenaan. Lotus Elise S1, yang mula diperkenalkan pada era 1990-an sebagai kereta berprestasi tinggi dan ringan untuk pemanduan jalan raya serta litar, kini menerima nafas baharu dengan perubahan menyeluruh dari segi estetik dan mekanikal bagi menyesuaikan diri dengan cabaran pemanduan di medan lasak.

Antara pembaharuan utama adalah pada sistem suspensi yang direka bentuk semula sepenuhnya. Suspensi tempahan khas itu meningkatkan ketinggian tunggangan sebanyak 100mm, sekali gus memberikan kelegaan tanah yang jauh lebih tinggi untuk membolehkan kenderaan mengharungi permukaan tidak rata dengan lebih yakin. Bahagian bawah badan (undertray) turut diperkukuh bagi menahan hentakan akibat serpihan dan batu ketika memandu di luar jalan.

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Surrey-based automotive start-up Get Lost has unveiled an audacious reinterpretation of the classic Lotus Elise S1, turning the revered lightweight sports car into a rugged off-road rally-raid machine. Known as Project Safari, the vehicle defies the Elise’s traditional road-hugging persona by embracing a radically altered design aimed at conquering rough terrain.

The Project Safari is intended as a provocative departure from the Elise’s original ethos. The team at Get Lost conceived the concept with the express purpose of challenging expectations. The Elise, first launched in the 1990s as a featherweight, track-focused sports car, has been extensively overhauled both aesthetically and mechanically to meet the demands of serious off-road driving.

Among the most significant engineering changes is the complete redesign of the car’s suspension system. The bespoke setup raises the ride height by 100mm, dramatically increasing ground clearance and enabling the vehicle to tackle uneven surfaces with greater assurance. The undertray has also been reinforced to withstand impacts from debris and rocks that might be encountered off-road.

To accommodate the vehicle’s new all-terrain Nankang tyres, the bodywork has been revised with flared wheel arches. A distinctive roof-mounted air intake, styled in homage to the Elise’s original front grille, now sits above the cabin, giving the vehicle a more aggressive silhouette. In contrast to the Elise’s famously smooth curves, Get Lost has equipped the Project Safari with rectangular LED headlights and a prominent front-end rally lamp pod, heightening the car’s off-road visual language.

While the original Rover-sourced 1.8-litre engine has been retired, Get Lost has not yet disclosed the powertrain chosen for the Project Safari. However, the company has confirmed that the new engine offers both enhanced performance and improved reliability—qualities essential for off-road capability. It is widely speculated that either Honda’s robust K-Series engine or Ford’s dependable Duratec unit has been installed, both of which are known for delivering significantly greater power than the Elise’s original 118bhp output.

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Lotus Cars secara rasmi memperkenalkan barisan model baharu yang dikemas kini untuk dua kenderaan elektrik utamanya — Lotus Eletre SUV hiper elektrik dan Lotus Emeya GT hiper elektrik. Penstrukturan semula ini turut memperkenalkan sistem penamaan baharu yang lebih ringkas serta memperkukuh hubungan model-model tersebut dengan warisan perlumbaan dan kejuruteraan jenama berprestij itu.

Mulai serta-merta, kedua-dua model akan ditawarkan dalam dua varian utama — ‘600’ dan ‘900’, mewakili dua tahap output kuasa berbeza. Strategi penamaan ini bukan sahaja mencerminkan teknologi elektrifikasi sepenuhnya yang diterapkan, malah menghidupkan semula nama-nama trim bersejarah Lotus seperti GT dan GT SE, digabungkan dengan teknologi moden terkini.

Menurut kenyataan rasmi Lotus, sistem baharu ini diperkenalkan bagi memudahkan pelanggan membuat pemilihan berdasarkan tahap prestasi dan kelengkapan yang diingini dengan lebih jelas.

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Lotus has unveiled a refreshed model range for its all-electric Eletre hyper-SUV and Emeya hyper-GT, introducing a simplified naming structure and updated trim levels that pay homage to the brand’s rich heritage. The restructured line-up aims to provide greater convenience, clarity, and personalisation for customers as they configure their ideal Lotus electric performance car.

Effective immediately, both the Lotus Eletre and Emeya will be available in either ‘600’ or ‘900’ variants, reflecting the two available power output levels. The move not only aligns with the electrified identity of these models but also revives iconic Lotus trim references such as GT and GT SE, blending historical significance with modern engineering.

According to Lotus, the new naming convention is designed to help customers better identify and choose models based on desired performance and equipment. The 600-series models deliver 612hp of power via dual motors and all-wheel drive, while the 900-series steps up to an electrifying 918hp for peak performance.

The Eletre range now consists of six distinct trim levels: the base Eletre 600, followed by the 600 GT, 600 GT SE, and 600 SPORT SE. Topping the line-up are the high-performance 900 SPORT and the flagship 900 SPORT CARBON, which adds lightweight carbon fibre exterior and interior elements. The Emeya follows a similar structure, although the base Emeya 600 is currently only available in the UK, while European markets begin with the Emeya 600 GT.

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Lotus, pembuat kereta sukan ikonik dari Britain yang terkenal dengan kejuruteraan ringan, sedang mengubah haluan strateginya sekali lagi. Di bawah pemilikan Geely, Lotus sebelum ini mengumumkan peralihan ke arah masa depan semua elektrik. Namun, pada Pameran Motor Guangzhou di China baru-baru ini, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Lotus, Feng Qingfeng, mengesahkan perubahan besar: syarikat itu akan menumpukan perhatian pada teknologi hibrid maju, khususnya “Super Hibrids,” yang menawarkan kombinasi prestasi tinggi dan kecekapan luar biasa.

Mengapa Berpindah dari Semua Elektrik?

Keputusan ini berpunca daripada trend dalam kalangan pelanggan mewah yang masih ragu-ragu untuk beralih sepenuhnya ke kenderaan elektrik (EV). Feng menjelaskan bahawa walaupun EV mempunyai kelebihan seperti operasi senyap dan bebas getaran, ciri-ciri ini sudah boleh dicapai dengan enjin pembakaran dalaman (ICE) mewah.

  • Tarikan Tradisional:
    Pelanggan mewah masih menghargai keunikan enjin V8 dan V12 yang menawarkan prestasi mantap serta pengalaman pemanduan yang menarik.
  • Kekurangan EV:
    EV berprestasi tinggi sering kali tidak dapat menandingi emosi dan daya tarikan enjin pembakaran tradisional.

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Lotus, the iconic sports car manufacturer renowned for its dedication to lightweight engineering, has shifted gears yet again. Under Geely’s ownership, the British automaker previously announced an all-electric future, including plans for an electric SUV. However, at the recent Guangzhou Motor Show in China, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng confirmed a dramatic change: the brand is moving away from a fully electric lineup and will instead focus on hybrid technology, specifically “Super Hybrids” that promise exceptional performance and efficiency.

This pivot stems from reluctance among high-end customers to transition entirely to electric vehicles (EVs). According to Feng, while EVs offer distinct benefits, such as quiet cabins and minimal noise or vibration, these advantages are already present in luxury internal combustion engines (ICE). For high-performance and luxury models, the appeal of traditional V8 and V12 engines remains strong, as these powertrains deliver robust performance and an engaging driving experience.

Lotus’s new hybrid strategy aims to address concerns often associated with plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs), including added weight from large batteries, daily charging requirements, and limited power when the battery depletes. The “Super Hybrid” approach integrates a turbocharged combustion engine with ultra-fast charging capabilities, enabling a driving range of up to 680 miles without relying solely on ICE power.

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