New Lotus Emira flagship promises dynamic handling and improved comfort
Updates to the Lotus Emira sports car include tweaked suspension and improved gearboxes – which should add up to more driving fun...
On sale Now Price from £79,500
Paul Hollywood is the only member of the original Great British Bake Off cast to still be part of the show, and in a similar way, the Lotus Emira sports car is the only model in the British firm’s lineup to still be powered by good old-fashioned combustion fuel. But much like the rest of the Bake Off cast, that setup has just undergone some updates to help boost its appeal.
As part of an update to the whole range, the existing V6 Emira model has been replaced by the new V6 SE. At its core, it remains unchanged with the same 400bhp six-cylinder 3.5-litre engine, which can either be partnered with a six-speed manual gearbox or an optional six-speed automatic one. That setup has gone under some refinements to smoothen gear changes, which should be an improvement on the old gearbox, which we found to be rather clunky.
In addition to its gearbox updates, the Emira V6 SE benefits from retuned suspension and adjustments to wheel alignment, which should make for a more comfortable ride and agile handling.
A more lavish standard spec includes faux suede Alcantara trim and sports pedals inside, as well as 20in alloy wheels, red brake callipers and black exterior styling.
The V6 isn’t the only Emira model to have been reworked. The lineup’s entry-level point, the Emira Turbo, has also undergone some updates. Like the V6 SE, it retains the same engine as the outgoing model – the same four-cylinder petrol used in the Mercedes-AMG A45 hot hatch – but it also gets a tweaked eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox for quicker and smoother gear changes.
All models in the range get an improved cooling system with rerouted lines, which is said to reduce temperatures and shed some weight, but no official figures have been revealed.
Both the Turbo and V6 SE also get the option of a Racing Line trim, which adds a sporty pinstripe to the exterior in the same colour as the brake callipers, unique ‘Racing Line’ badging, high-gloss black wheels and a black and silver logo.
The Lotus Emira Turbo kicks off the range at £79,500, while the V6 SE tops it out at £96,500 – but that’s without any added extras. That entry point is much more than what you’d pay for an Alpine A110 and a Porsche 718 Cayman.
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