Photo: Lotus / edited
In production since 2022, the Lotus Emira is the British automaker's final combustion-engined car. Rather than embracing hybrid assistance for a while, Lotus preferred to jump head-first into the world of EVs with the likes of the Evija hypercar and Eletre sport utility vehicle.
Hethel's favorite son couldn't have done it without a whole lotta money and EV know-how from Geely, the Chinese multinational that further owns the likes of Volvo, Polestar, London EV Company Limited, and Benelli. Originally available with a supercharged V6 sourced from Japanese automaker Toyota, the Emira can be finally configured with a hand-built I4 engine of AMG origin.
The powerplant in question is a 2.0-liter turbo paired with an eight-speed transmission. Hardly surprising, the dual-clutch gearbox in question is the AMG Speedshift 8G from the 45 series of compact AMGs.
By comparison, the 3.5-liter Toyota sixer is connected to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic from Aisin. Codenamed M139, the high-output engine combines direct and port fuel injection. It's the most powerful four-cylinder lump in production today, with S versions of the 45 series topping 415 horsepower. The M139L – L standing for longitudinal applications – belts out 470 horsepower at 6,725 rpm and 402 pound-feet (545 Nm) of torque at 5,250 to 5,500 spinnies.
As for the Lotus Emira, well, 360 horsepower and 317 pound-feet (430 Nm) will have to suffice. In other words, the CLA 45 Coupe for America is more powerful (382 hp) and torquier (354 lb-ft) as well. Quite a bummer, but then again, we're nitpicking here a bit. Remember the ultra-rate Lotus Esprit Sport 350? Despite boasting a twin-turbo V8, it's not on par with the hand-assembled AMG four-pot in the Emira. The truth is, you don't need huge power and torque to have fun behind the wheel of a mid-engine sports car.
You do need money, though, namely £81,495 in the United Kingdom. That's how much the four-cylinder Emira stickers for back home, whereas the recommended starting price for the German market is €95,995 at press time. Converted at current exchange rates, that is $105,855 to $106,840, respectively.
Over in the United States, the build & price tool for the Evora's heir apparent lists $99,000 - sans taxes - and $105,400 for the supercharged V6. Those prices are pretty hard to swallow, especially considering the mid-engine sports car's Evora-derived chassis. Even for a Lotus enthusiast, 100 big ones for a sixer or a four-pot engine is too much compared to the small-block and flat-plane crankshaft V8 engines of the Corvette.
But on the other hand, the C8 is a different breed. Heavier and not as exotic, the Corvette appeals to a different audience that doesn't even consider the Emira as an alternative to the Stingray or Z06. The Porsche 718 Cayman is more like it, with prices for the six-cylinder GTS 4.0 kicking off at $95,200.
More pricing information and technical specs on the 2.0L Emira are available in the release below.
The powerplant in question is a 2.0-liter turbo paired with an eight-speed transmission. Hardly surprising, the dual-clutch gearbox in question is the AMG Speedshift 8G from the 45 series of compact AMGs.
By comparison, the 3.5-liter Toyota sixer is connected to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic from Aisin. Codenamed M139, the high-output engine combines direct and port fuel injection. It's the most powerful four-cylinder lump in production today, with S versions of the 45 series topping 415 horsepower. The M139L – L standing for longitudinal applications – belts out 470 horsepower at 6,725 rpm and 402 pound-feet (545 Nm) of torque at 5,250 to 5,500 spinnies.
As for the Lotus Emira, well, 360 horsepower and 317 pound-feet (430 Nm) will have to suffice. In other words, the CLA 45 Coupe for America is more powerful (382 hp) and torquier (354 lb-ft) as well. Quite a bummer, but then again, we're nitpicking here a bit. Remember the ultra-rate Lotus Esprit Sport 350? Despite boasting a twin-turbo V8, it's not on par with the hand-assembled AMG four-pot in the Emira. The truth is, you don't need huge power and torque to have fun behind the wheel of a mid-engine sports car.
You do need money, though, namely £81,495 in the United Kingdom. That's how much the four-cylinder Emira stickers for back home, whereas the recommended starting price for the German market is €95,995 at press time. Converted at current exchange rates, that is $105,855 to $106,840, respectively.
Over in the United States, the build & price tool for the Evora's heir apparent lists $99,000 - sans taxes - and $105,400 for the supercharged V6. Those prices are pretty hard to swallow, especially considering the mid-engine sports car's Evora-derived chassis. Even for a Lotus enthusiast, 100 big ones for a sixer or a four-pot engine is too much compared to the small-block and flat-plane crankshaft V8 engines of the Corvette.
But on the other hand, the C8 is a different breed. Heavier and not as exotic, the Corvette appeals to a different audience that doesn't even consider the Emira as an alternative to the Stingray or Z06. The Porsche 718 Cayman is more like it, with prices for the six-cylinder GTS 4.0 kicking off at $95,200.
More pricing information and technical specs on the 2.0L Emira are available in the release below.
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