Sixty years ago, at the 1962 British Motor Show, Colin and Hazel Chapman presented their new Lotus model – a small sportscar called the Elan which was ultra modern, lightweight and promised to be fun to drive. It was a contrast to other sportscars that had come out around the same time, like the Jaguar E-Type, AC Cobra and Ferrari GTO.
What drew the media to Lotus – which had been only in business for just 10 years – was the fact that its racing team had already won eight F1 races and several times at Le Mans. And just as the Mini was attracting celebrities, so too did the new Elan. Culturally, it was an icon as the Swinging Sixties embraced cool new design.
In March last year, Lotus unveiled its Eletre Hyper-SUV to the world, providing a preview of its future in the electrified era that would see it going from a British sportscar company to a global performance car business and brand. At that time, the Eletre was still under development so details were few – but that didn’t stop thousands of customers around the world from ordering one (or more).
Today, the company has released details of the car which has pricing ranging from £89,500 to £120,000 (about RM487,000 – RM653,000) in the UK, with three versions available: Eletre, Eletre S and Eletre R. There will be a choice of two fully electric powertrains – 450 kW (603 ps) single-speed version with a claimed maximum range of 600 kms, and a 675 kW/905 ps dual-speed system with a maximum range of 490 kms. Torque figures are 710 and 985 Nm, respectively, delivering a 0 – 100 km/h) performance said to be either 4.5 or 2.95 seconds. The 112-kWh battery pack that is installed in both versions has a charging time (10% – 80%) of just 20 minutes using a rapid charger.
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).
Lotus has finally joined the SUV crowd with its new Eletre (pronounced ‘El-etra’ and means ‘Coming to Life’ in some Eastern European languages) which is not only its first SUV but also the world’s first fully electric hyper SUV. Officially launched tonight at the BBC Television Centre in London, the model brings with it a significant number of firsts for the British brand – the first 5-door production model, the first model outside sportscar segments; the first lifestyle EV; and the most ‘connected’ Lotus ever.
As would be expected, advanced technologies are found throughout the car, including the most advanced active aerodynamics package claimed for any production SUV. There are also intelligent driving technologies such as the world’s first deployable Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) system in a production car.
The Eletre is built on Lotus’ all-new Electric Premium Architecture (EPA). The low-to-the-ground design endows it with outstanding handling, and the EPA can easily adapt to accommodate C+ to E+ vehicle class battery sizes, motors, component layouts and intelligent driving technologies. The platform will be the basis for an all-new range of premium lifestyle performance electric vehicles from Lotus.
The Eletre has a 4WD drivetrain with 2 electric motors that provide up to 600 bhp, and uses 800V dedicated electric vehicle architecture with integrated, high-voltage power distribution system. The high-density battery pack has a capacity that’s over 100 kWh and a full charge is expected to last for up to 600 kms. A 350 kW charger will provide 400 kms of range in just 20 minutes, and it also comes with the ability as standard to accept 22 kW AC charging (if available). The hyper SUV credentials come from claimed performance numbers of less than 3 seconds for 0 to 100 km/h and a top speed of 260 km/h.
The international design team was guided by Peter Horbury, who became Senior Vice President, Executive Advisor, Design, of Group Lotus last August. Horbury was the man who ‘threw the box out’ at Volvo when he designed the C70 and prior to moving to Lotus, he provided guidance for various brands in the Geely group which Lotus is part of.
The designers created a daring and dramatic new model with a cab-forward stance, long wheelbase and very short overhangs front and rear. They had newfound creative freedom with the absence of a combustion engine under the bonnet, while the short bonnet echoes the styling cues of Lotus’ iconic mid-engined layout.
A signature element of the 5103 mm long bodywork’s design is its ‘porosity’ – the aerodynamic principle of air flowing through the car as well as under, over and around it. Porosity was at the heart of the Evija’s design, is integral to the Emira, and has provided clear inspiration for the Eletre. It is most obvious where air is channelled under the leading edge of the car, emerging through two exit vents in the bonnet above.
The active front grille is formed from a network of interconnecting triangular petals that dominate the central section. Intricately designed, they remain closed when the car is at rest or when there’s a need to reduce drag during driving. They open in a distinctive pattern to feed air into the radiator, allowing the Eletre to ‘breathe’ when cooling of the electric motors, battery pack and front brakes is required. All the black components are finished in carbonfibre while the body panels are aluminium.
The rear is dominated by the unique cantilevered carbonfibre ‘floating’ split roof spoiler, a motorsport-inspired design feature that evokes race car winglets. With the central section removed, weight is saved – a very Lotus concept – and allows the LiDAR sensor to be integrated at the top of the glass. Optimised for exceptional aerodynamics, the roof spoiler channels airflow down the glass and into the active tailgate spoiler which is deployed automatically at speed. It has three distinct deployment angles, depending on the drive mode selected.
The interior has a performance-oriented and technical design which is ‘visually lightweight’ and as former F1 driver Jenson Button (who drove the car in for its debut) said, it has ultra-premium materials to offer a level of luxury that is new to Lotus. Sustainability has also been a core focus of the design team with the hard materials of carbonfibre that give a premium marble-like finish.
The cabin has four individual seats as standard, with customers also offered the more traditional 5-seat layout under a fixed panoramic glass sunroof. The cockpit and high centre console are inspired by the Emira and Evija with the triangular theme seen externally on the grille being replicated in multiple locations around the cabin.
The Lotus philosophy of light-weighting – removing material if it’s not needed – is clearly illustrated in the instrument panel. The floating wing’s central section has been taken out, echoing the design of the rear spoiler. Below the instrument panel a blade of light runs across the cabin, sitting in a ribbed channel that widens at each end to create the air vents. While it appears to be floating, the light is more than decorative and forms part of the human machine interface (HMI). It changes colour to communicate with occupants, for example, if a phonecall is received; if the cabin temperature is changed; or to reflect the vehicle’s battery charge status. Information can also be displayed to the driver via a head-up display featuring augmented reality (AR) technology.
The infotainment experience is said to set new standards in the automotive world, with pioneering and innovative use of intelligent technologies. It is a collaboration between the design team in England and the Lotus team in China, who have huge experience in the fields of User Interface (UI) and User Experience (UX). At the core of the Eletre’s UI/UX is the Lotus attribute of simplicity, which is realised through three pillars: lightweight (for both system components and the experience); intelligence (system versatility); and immersive (for interactions that excite and engage occupants). This includes the on-screen 3-dimensional world in which the car is viewed, showcasing the Eletre as the hero and adopting user experiences from the worlds of gaming and mobile technology.
While every element of the Eletre can be controlled digitally, certain key controls are duplicated with analogue switches – evidence of the simplicity for which Lotus is famed. The technical look, compact size and premium feel of the steering wheel is intended to deliver maximum comfort, performance and usability. Visually lightweight, it houses switchgear for the adaptive cruise control and infotainment system.
The standard audio system on the car comes from KEF and is composed of a 1,380W 15-speaker set-up with Uni-QTM and surround sound technology. Uni-Q dispenses with separated tweeter and mid-range speakers, instead combining both into an acoustically idealised single unit. It covers the entire mid and high-frequency sound spectrum from a single point in space, delivering a more coherent, hyper-realistic sound experience.
Technology is used for much more than infotainment on the Eletre. It is also at the heart of the car’s comprehensive suite of intelligent Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), many of which are designed to be futureproof so new features can be enabled via Over The Air (OTA) updates. Several utilise the LiDAR system which supports end-to-end autonomous driving technology and is future-proofed for further development, achievable because of the hardware that’s already integrated. Further capability can be added via OTA software updates, as and when it is allowed by local market regulations.
Incidentally, each door mirror is replaced by an Electric Reverse Mirror Display (ERMD), which houses 3 different cameras – one for the rearview mirror, a second to help create a 360-degree view of the car from above to aid parking, and a third that’s part of the intelligent driving technologies which work in tandem with the LIDAR system.
“The Eletre is a bold and revolutionary new car, delivering on our commitment to move Lotus into completely new automotive segments as we widen our global appeal and accessibility. This is a momentous point in our history and a clear signal of our ongoing desire to transform our business. It is a true Lotus, and we’re confident it will delight performance car customers and offer a distinct alternative to the segment’s established players. The Eletre has the soul of a Lotus and the usability of an SUV. Alongside the Emira sportscar, this is the perfect two-car garage from Lotus,” said Matt Windle, Managing Director of Lotus Cars.
Pricing is not announced at this time and the Eletre will be built at a new factory in Wuhan, China. First deliveries start in 2023 with the early production going to customers in China, the UK, and Europe.
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.
Even before the Emira is ready for delivery to customers, Lotus has been developing the model as an all-new competition-spec GT4 challenger. While it will be the last model from the British carmaker that will use a combustion engine, it also marks the start of a new era in performance GT racing for Lotus.
The race-ready concept follows the July launch of the Emira and its dynamic debut at Goodwood Festival of Speed and is developed in collaboration with project partner RML Group. Like almost all modern Lotus road cars, each customer car will be a homologated performance machine, hand-built with lightweight motorsport components and equipment to meet the latest safety regulations.
The development team has focused on precision engineering to deliver outstanding dynamics and high-speed stability. The advanced composite bodywork makes the car exceptionally lightweight and, coupled with Toyota’s race-proven engine and optimized GT4 aerodynamics derived from the road-going Emira’s advanced exterior design.
Limited number for 2022 season
The Emira GT4 will be officially launched later this year and only a limited number will be built in time for the 2022 season. Additional cars will be built for 2023 in line with global demand.
“The all-new Emira GT4 is an exciting next step following the hugely successful launch of the Emira road car. We have worked hard with the team at RML Group to ensure this next-generation of Lotus GT car will deliver race-winning performance,” said Richard Selwin, Race Programme Manager at Lotus.
Lotus Sports Car Architecture
The Emira has been developed on a new lightweight bonded aluminium chassis, technology pioneered by Lotus, and which remains part of the company’s sportscar DNA. Known as Lotus Sports Car Architecture, it debuted with the Elise. However, for the Emira, every dimension is different to any previous Lotus chassis and it is fabricated in an all-new facility as well.
While the GT4 car will use only familiar Toyota-source, Lotus-engineered supercharged 3.5-litre V6, customers who buy the 72,000 euro (about RM354,000) production model will also have a second option of a Mercedes-AMG 2-litre turbocharged unit, the M139. This is currently the world’s most powerful production 4-cylinder unit. Depending on the state of tune done by Lotus engineers, the German engine could provide up to 416 bhp and will come with AMG’s 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
The production Emira for sale in 2022.
Jenson Button, former F1 World Champion, has driven the Emira and had this to say: “You always expect a Lotus to have good mechanical grip through the low-speed corners but there was plenty of downforce in the high-speed corners too. That means the feeling of great balance is the same no matter how you’re driving it. It’s exceptional and I’m a big fan. I’m still in shock at the price. Starting at under £60,000, it’s fantastic and means so many people are going to have the opportunity to experience it first-hand. It’s being called a ‘junior supercar’ but it would give a lot of supercars a run for their money… and it’s more comfortable than most of them!”
The JBXE team electric SUV in action in Senegal during the Extreme E event.
The return to world motorsport is a key pillar of the company’s transformation. Earlier this year Lotus Engineering, the consultancy division of the business, became technical partner to JBXE, the Extreme E race team led by Button.
Group Lotus, once owned by Proton and now owned by its shareholder, Zhejiang Geely Holding Group, has big plans for the rest of the decade, with a product plan for the next 5 years that will see at least 5 new models. The ongoing strategic plan, known as Vision80, outlines the transformation of the company ahead of its 80th birthday in 2028.
Also of significance to the journey of global expansion is the establishment of Lotus Technology. This is a new division of Group Lotus, a global ‘intelligent technology’ subsidiary which augments the brand’s DNA and technology accumulated over the 73 years that Lotus has been in business. Its role is to accelerate innovation in the fields of batteries and energy management, electric motors, electronic control systems, intelligent driving, intelligent manufacturing and more.
Expanding the global footprint
Working hand in hand, China-based Lotus Technology and the UK-based Lotus team are at the core of Group Lotus’ future development strategy. Lotus in the UK will be responsible for the development and production of sportscars, as well as coordinating global sales for the Lotus brand. Lotus Technology in China will be responsible for integrating a new generation of lifestyle products, bringing together China’s EV and manufacturing specialisms, UK’s design and advanced performance centres and Germany-based R&D resources (at the Lotus Technology Innovation Centre in Raunheim), as well as the global development and production of premium intelligent drive technologies.
“Transforming Lotus from a UK sportscar company to a truly global performance car company has always been at the core of Vision80. The launch of Lotus Technology is a major milestone on the road to making that a reality, while adhering to the unwavering Lotus principles of pure performance, efficiency, motorsport success and, above all, being ‘For the Drivers’,” said Matt Windle, Managing Director of Lotus Cars.
New factory for Lotus EVs in China
The new Lotus Technology headquarters will be completed in 2024, while an all-new Lotus factory, to manufacture Lotus electric vehicles for global markets, will open later this year. The new plant, located in Wuhan has an investment of over £900 million (about RM5.17 billion). It will complement existing UK sportscar manufacturing and performance facilities in England. It is being built with the world’s most advanced manufacturing technologies to become a global centre of excellence for Lotus’ premium lifestyle models.
Covering an area of over 1 million square metres, the new factory in China plant will have has a capacity of up to production of 150,000 vehicles a year. with an investment of over £900 million (about RM5.17 billion)
The new plant is the first in the world with an integrated intelligent test track. It features an advanced system whereby vehicles can be transported into workshops using autonomous driving technology without any human intervention. It is designed to accommodate vehicles driving at speeds up to 230 km/h) through 16 corners.
In the field of intelligent drive, Lotus has also unveiled the concept of ‘track-level intelligent drive’ as a 10-year technological development target. The new technology’s aim is to assist drivers to perform as well as an F1 driver on track, while increasing driver safety and improving performance on the road through advanced software and hardware. The result is a more rewarding and reassuring experience in any environment.
Emira will be the last petrol-powered sportscar from Lotus.
5 new models in 5 years
As for the new models, which are in addition to the Evija all-electric hypercar and the Emira (the last petrol-powered sportscar from Lotus), the first one will be an E-segment SUV codenamed ‘Type 132’ which will be launched next year. It will be followed in 2023 by an E-segment 4-door coupe (Type 133), and in 2025 by the Type 134, a new D-segment SUV. This trio will be joined in 2026 by the Type 135, an all-new electric sportscar.
The development of the brand’s new premium lifestyle vehicles will take place on the Lotus Premium architecture, one of the four new vehicle platforms announced at the Driving Tomorrow global strategy conference in April. The Premium architecture supports a wheelbase range from 2889 mm -3100 mm and could be further expanded in the future. It supports the development of all types of passenger vehicles from C+ to E segments. Using 92 – 120 kWh batteries, it is compatible with the industry’s most advanced 800V high-speed EV charging system. Products developed on this platform will be capable of 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 3 seconds.
Since being founded by Colin Chapman in 1948, Lotus has been among the industry leaders in innovation with its commitment to pure driving, outstanding ride and handling, lightweight technologies and aerodynamic engineering. Today, with the backing and global resources of Geely Holding Group, the company benefits from new capabilities in R&D, manufacturing and supply chain management.
With the Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora ending production this year, a single model takes over their places – the new Emira. Apart from being an truly all-new model in over a decade, the Emira also marks the end of an era – that of Lotus sportscars with internal combustion engines. The British carmaker has confirmed that moving forward, the next models appearing later in the decade will be powered only by electricity.
The Emira (which means in ‘commander’ or ‘leader’ in some languages) is the first all-new Lotus sportscar to be developed under Vision80, the company’s strategic plan guiding the transformation of Lotus as it moves towards its 80th anniversary in 2028. Acting as a catalyst to further enhance brand awareness globally, it’s spearheading the repositioning and expansion of the Lotus retail network ahead of the arrival of a family of new vehicles.
“The Emira is a game-changer for Lotus. It stands as a beacon of everything we have achieved to date in the transformation of the business, the embodiment of our progress. It is a highly significant milestone on our path to becoming a truly global performance car brand,” said Matt Windle, MD of Lotus Cars.
New design language
Bridging the transition from one era to a new one, the Emira has new design language, some of which has already been seen on the Evija hypercar. Sculpted surfaces and technical detailing, delivering exotic supercar appeal in the sportscar segment, are complemented by a new and more premium approach for Lotus in terms of forms and materials with higher build quality than ever before.
The influence of the Evija is evident in the fluid surfaces and crisp feature lines. The lineage is even more obvious on the prominent leading edge of the bonnet, with unique-in-class exit vents to guide airflow over the car and optimise aerodynamics. The bonnet houses the current version of the iconic Lotus roundel, its first appearance on a new Lotus sportscar and slightly larger than on previous models.
The fully electric Evija hypercar.
Active aerodynamics unnecessary with clever engineering
Aerodynamics have always been at the heart of the Lotus since the company was founded in 1948, with Colin Chapman coming up with many innovations. It is a philosophy inextricably linked to delivering outstanding performance whether a car is on the road or racetrack. And the approaches taken are kept simple – no active aerodynamics as clever engineering means they’re not needed.
The Emira is the only model in its class to create passive downforce that’s precisely balanced between the front and rear axles at all speeds, perfectly tuned to the weight distribution and suspension geometry of the car. It means as downforce increases with speed, generating exceptional grip through corners, the handling characteristics remain constant, precise and predictable.
Lotus Sports Car Architecture
The Emira has been developed on a new lightweight bonded aluminium chassis, technology pioneered by Lotus and which remains part of the company’s sportscar DNA. Known as Lotus Sports Car Architecture, it debuted with the Elise. However, for the Emira, every dimension is different to any previous Lotus chassis and it is fabricated in an all-new facility as well.
The car, which has a target weight of 1,405 kgs, 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. Hydraulic steering provides excellent feedback for the driver.
Two engine options
Customers will have a choice of two engines, with the familiar Toyota-source, Lotus-engineered supercharged 3.5-litre V6 being available initially. This will produce 360 – 400 bhp and 430 Nm, with a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time claimed to be less than 4.5 seconds with a top speed of up to 290 km/h.
Mercedes-AMG M139 engine to be offered with the Emira.
The second option will be a Mercedes-AMG 2-litre turbocharged unit, the M139. This is currently the world’s most powerful production 4-cylinder unit. Depending on the state of tune done by Lotus engineers, the German engine could provide up to 416 bhp and will come with AMG’s 8-speed dual-clutch transmission.
Interior design – a huge leap ahead
Within the 4412 mm long and 1895 mm wide body, the cabin follows traditional Lotus principles of putting the driver at the very centre of the experience. The cockpit environment, with minimum distractions, has essential controls easily reached and efficient ergonomics.
There’s a huge leap forward in all aspects of the cabin, from the contemporary design and quality of materials to the increase in storage space, fit and finish, attention to detail and abundant advanced technology now integrated. The modern technical finishes create a premium experience for the driver – ‘technology with soul’ – and some details added pay tribute to the heritage and sporting success of Lotus.
Examples include the positioning of the gearstick on manual cars, which echoes that of the iconic Esprit, and the semi-exposed gear linkage visible at the base of the centre console on V6 manual cars, as on the Elise and Exige. Adding to the sense of theatre is the protective red cover over the start/stop button.
The early Lotus cars had the bare minimum of equipment in the cabin. It was the trade-off for the exhilarating drive that could be experienced. However, this singlemindedness gradually changed over the decades and comfort and convenience features found their way into the cabin. In the Emira, the two seats have 4-way electric adjustment, with the option to upgrade to a premium sports seat with 12-way electric adjustment.
Besides the flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, features available include keyless go, cruise control, rain-sensing wipers, electric folding door mirrors, parking sensors, auto-dimming rearview mirror, curtain airbags, launch control, and even a stolen vehicle tracker.
Advanced Driver Assistance Systems are also provided, such as adaptive cruise control, anti-collision system, fatigue alert, road sign information, vehicle speed limiter, lane departure warning, rear cross traffic alert, and lane change assist. Purists may be unhappy about this ‘overload’ of technology but these systems are generally non-intrusive, activating only when needed to prevent an accident.
The first public display of the Emira will be at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in England which starts tomorrow. Orders are now being taken worldwide for the car which has a starting price of 72,000 euros (about RM354,000). The first customers will get their cars from March next year.
Here’s what Jenson Button, former F1 World Champion, says about the Emira: “You always expect a Lotus to have good mechanical grip through the low-speed corners but there was plenty of downforce in the high-speed corners too. That means the feeling of great balance is the same no matter how you’re driving it. It’s exceptional and I’m a big fan. I’m still in shock at the price. Starting at under £60,000, it’s fantastic and means so many people are going to have the opportunity to experience it first-hand. It’s being called a ‘junior supercar’ but it would give a lot of supercars a run for their money… and it’s more comfortable than most of them!”
2021 marks the end of an era for Lotus Cars, with production of the iconic Elise and the genre-creating Exige ending after 25 and 21 years, respectively. In honour of these two legendary models, the British carmaker has announced a range of five Final Edition models with enhanced performance, greater standard specification and – in true Lotus style – light weight.
To be built in limited numbers, these cars are the ultimate versions of the Elise and Exige, the pinnacle of technical development to showcase more than two decades of engineering excellence.
A slice of history with 5 variants
Five new variants – two Elise and three Exige – have been created and Lotus is anticipating high demand from global markets as customers rush to buy a slice of history. They are available with unique paint colours, new exterior decals, new wheel finishes, new trim and Final Edition badging.
The improvements continue under the skin, a fact reflected in new names which reveal higher power outputs on three of the five – the Elise Sport 240, Elise Cup 250, Exige Sport 390, Exige Sport 420 and Exige Cup 430.
Lotus Elise Final Edition
The Elise is a truly iconic Lotus and 2021 would be its 25th year of production. The Final Edition cars retain all the core values and features that have made the Elise such an iconic car – a small, light and agile two-seater powered by a supercharged and chargecooled 1.8-litre, 4-cylinder mid-mounted engine.
Elise Sport 240 Final Edition
As standard, both cars receive the most extensive list of interior and exterior features ever. The biggest change is the all-new TFT digital dashboard with the choice of two screens, one with a conventional set of dials and the other a race car-style with digital speed read-out and an engine speed bar.
The Elise Sport 240 Final Edition gains an extra 23 bhp from a revised calibration and so replaces the Sport 220. Delivering 240 bhp/244 Nm, the engine has been tuned to provide stunning real-world performance and class-leading efficiency.
Elise Sport 240 Final Edition
The car comes with 10-spoke Anthracite lightweight forged alloy wheels as standard (6J x 16 front and 8J x 17 rear). They’re 0.5 kg lighter than the wheels on the Elise Sport 220 and shod with Yokohama V105 tyres.
Further weight savings can be achieved with an extensive range of optional carbonfibre panels, including sill covers and engine cover, lithium-ion battery plus a lightweight polycarbonate rear window. With all the lightweight options chosen, the mass of the Elise Sport 240 reduces further from 922 kgs to 898 kgs.
Key to the Elise Cup 250’s performance are its aerodynamics and downforce linked to its power and light weight. With aerodynamically optimised components such as the front splitter, rear wing, rear diffuser and side floor extension, this Final Edition car produces 66 kgs of downforce at 160 km/h.
The extensive list of standard equipment includes Bilstein sport dampers and adjustable anti-roll bars, to help maximise the aerodynamic downforce available and boost grip whilst maintaining the legendary Elise handling. Also fitted as standard is a lightweight lithium-ion battery and polycarbonate rear window.
Lotus Exige Final Edition
The Exige range is celebrated in its final year of production with three models – the Exige Sport 390, Exige Sport 420 and Exige Cup 430. Like the Elise, new equipment for this final year of production includes unique paint choices, new decals and two new wheel finishes. All versions of the Exige also come with the TFT digital dashboard, Final Edition build plaque, new steering wheel, plus new seat trim and stitch patterns.
All models are powered by a 3.5-litre supercharged V6 with a baffled sump, mounted in a lightweight and rigid chassis that provides thrilling acceleration and instant response. Pure unassisted steering offers exquisite feedback and vivid communication at all speeds.
Exige Sport 390 Final Edition
The Exige benefits from a bespoke version of Lotus’ pioneering bonded aluminium chassis, a unique rear subframe and forged aluminium double wishbone suspension at the rear.
The Exige Sport 420 Final Edition gains an extra 10 bhp, with 420 bhp/427 Nm output. With its light weight of 1,110 kgs, the supercharged and chargecooled V6 engine coupled with a flat torque curve and maximum power available to maximum revs, the Exige is regarded as the most complete driving car of its class.
Exige Sport 420 Final Edition
When production of the Elise, Exige and Evora end later this year, the final combined production total will be in the region of 55,000 cars. Together, they account for more than half of Lotus’ total road car production since the first Lotus in 1948.
It was described as ‘the world’s most advanced sportscar’ when it made its debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show in September 1995. Famously named after a grand-daughter of Romano Artioli, who was then Chairman of Lotus, it was built on a futuristic epoxy-bonded extruded aluminium chassis. This was a world first, as were its extruded aluminium suspension uprights and aluminium metal-matrix brake discs.
Rewrote the lightweight rulebook
Designed and developed in-house at Lotus, it was a genuine innovation that rewrote the rulebook on lightweight automotive engineering which was an obsession for Colin Chapman, the company’s founder. “Adding power makes you faster on the straights; subtracting weight makes you faster everywhere,” he once said.
Power for the 690-kg Elise came from Rover’s 1.8-litre 118-bhp K-Series engine, transversely-mounted behind the two seats. Given the car’s exceptionally light weight, it meant a swift 0 – 100 km/h times of around 5.5 seconds with the 5-speed manual transmission.
Not surprisingly, when journalists and enthusiasts drove it, the reviews were stellar. It heralded a new generation of light, agile and pure performance car that thrilled the enthusiastic driver. The promise of breathtaking performance would cost less than £20,000 (in the UK in 1996).
Up to 190 bhp
Sport Elise versions with outputs of 135, 160 and 190 bhp were launched to support the growing track-day industry, plus the Elise 111S with a Variable Valve Control (VVC) version of the K-Series. Numerous special editions were offered, including some with Lotus motorsport heritage paint colours such as the iconic JPS and Gold Leaf liveries.
The 340R was the final chapter in the S1 story, first seen at the British Motor Show in October 1998 and named after the number that were to be built. On sale 12 months later, it was a more hardcore version of the Elise, minimalist in its execution with no doors or roof and tiny mudguards covering the outboard wheels. Whilst road-legal, Lotus made no secret that it was the ideal track-day car.
Lotus 340R
Made in Malaysia too
Although never officially designated S1 by Lotus, the car’s global fan base defined the 1996-2001 Elise as the S1 when a new Elise entered production. That was designated the S2, again unofficially.
By the time S1 production ended in 2001, around 12,000 had been sold over 5 years. A small number were also made at the Proton factory in Malaysia at one stage as Proton had acquired Lotus in 1996, and owned it till 2017.
