Lotus Cars have long been associated with race tracks and as such, it was never considered a thing of comfort nor luxury. Try getting around the countryside in one of the older models and you’d receive a sore back. And climbing off the floor isn’t fun either.
![2022 Lotus Emira First Edition Sports Car](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2022-Lotus-Emira-First-Edition-Sports-Car-image-1-1024x683.jpg)
But that was in the past. The new Lotus Emira is not just for tracks; it is a premium, luxury sports car too. Borrowing design cues from the brand’s all-electric hypercar, Evija, the Emira sure has the look that qualifies as a premium, luxury sports car.
Carrying on the tradition of Lotus Cars, the Emira is a mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive exotic supercar developed on Lotus’ new Sports Car Architecture.
Two engines are offered, including the new-to-Lotus 2.0L 4-cylinder turbocharged motor ‘i4’ developed in partnership with AMG, and a 3.5L supercharged Toyota 2GR-FE V6 that produces 400 horsepower and developed 420 Nm (or 430 Nm in the auto variant) of torque.
![2022 Lotus Emira First Edition Sports Car](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2022-Lotus-Emira-First-Edition-Sports-Car-image-2.jpg)
And so, yeah, as expected of an automaker born out of racing, the new Lotus Emira is available with a six-speed stick shift or the optional six-speed auto with paddle shifters. The car has an incredible drag coefficient too, coming in a mere 0.349.
The smooth, flowing lines, paired to the Toyota 2GR-FE afford it with a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) spring in 4.3 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).
Meanwhile, the 2.0L engine is touted as the world’s most powerful production 4-cylinder engine, rated at 360 horses. Torque and other numbers are not explicitly disclosed for the 2.0L engine, though.
![2022 Lotus Emira First Edition Sports Car](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2022-Lotus-Emira-First-Edition-Sports-Car-image-3-1024x683.jpg)
Lotus Cars only said that the engine range has a max torque of 430 Nm and it makes the century sprint in under 4.5 seconds and has a top speed of “up to 180 mph”. The i4 motor will be mated to AMG’s DCT with paddle shifters.
Other notables include extruded aluminum chassis technology, 20-inch forged wheels, vertical LED headlamps, rear air diffuser with twin exhaust pipes, 395 liters of combined luggage space, USB and 12v ports, KEF audio with Uni-Q technology, 10.25-inch centrally mounted touchscreen, additional 12.3-inch TFT instrument panel, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay support, and a multi-function flat-bottomed sports steering wheel.
![2022 Lotus Emira First Edition Sports Car](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2022-Lotus-Emira-First-Edition-Sports-Car-image-4-1024x683.jpg)
The Lotus Emira First Edition with the V6 Supercharged engine will be available starting in Spring 2022, priced from US$93,900.
The First Edition I4 Turbocharged variant will be available in Autumn 2022 with the base edition (from $74,900) to follow in 2023.
The Lotus Emira First Edition with the V6 Supercharged engine is available to configure now in the U.S.
![2022 Lotus Emira First Edition Sports Car](https://d2cdo4blch85n8.cloudfront.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/2022-Lotus-Emira-First-Edition-Sports-Car-image-5-1024x683.jpg)
All images courtesy of Lotus Cars.