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About Emira

The Emira arrived in 2021 carrying a heavy load. It had to replace the Elise, Exige and Evora in one stroke, and it was billed at the time as the last gasoline-powered Lotus before the brand went electric. It looked the part, a mid-engined coupe whose proportions echo the Evija hypercar in miniature, and it brought a level of cabin quality and everyday usability that earlier Lotuses never pretended to offer. It is built at Hethel in Norfolk, on a bonded aluminum chassis in the best Lotus tradition.

Two engines are offered. The supercharged 3.5-liter Toyota V6 carried over from the Evora, available with a six-speed manual, is the purist's pick, while the Mercedes-AMG 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, paired with a dual-clutch automatic, is quicker and has been tuned in recent versions to more than 400 horsepower. Reviewers consistently praise the hydraulically assisted steering and supple ride. The critiques focus on weight, which is higher than old Lotus loyalists would like, and on rivals that are quicker for similar money.

Its natural opponents are the Porsche 718 Cayman, the Alpine A110 and, in America, the Chevrolet Corvette, which offers more power for less money. Sales have been modest, and the car's fortunes have been tied to the wider turmoil at Lotus, from tariffs and restructuring to job cuts at Hethel. The company has since conceded that combustion is not finished after all, with a hybrid V8 Esprit planned to sit above the Emira in the range.

Expect news on special editions, track-focused versions, prices, recalls and long-term reviews, along with comparison tests that keep asking the same pleasant question: is the Emira the last of the great analog Lotuses, or simply a very good modern sports car wearing one of motoring's most storied badges? Either way, for many drivers it is the most accessible way to own a new Lotus built in Norfolk, and quite possibly the last chance to buy one this simple.