The Lotus Emira: Anticipate an Enhanced Interior and Volvo-Inspired Column Stalks

Lotus, the British manufacturer of sports cars, has undergone significant evolution since its inception over 70 years ago by Colin Chapman. Despite changing ownership multiple times, the brand has steadfastly upheld Chapman’s vision of creating the ultimate race car, albeit with adaptations for road usage and compliance with regulations. This ethos is especially evident in the forthcoming Lotus Emira, which will tap into the resources of its parent company to cater to a broader customer base.

Geely, a Chinese conglomerate with diverse automotive holdings, acquired Lotus in 2017. This acquisition provided Lotus with access to a wide array of components, aiding in the sustainability of the marque and making its products more cost-effective. In an exclusive conversation with The Drive, Matt Windle, the Managing Director of Lotus Cars, disclosed that the development of the all-new Emira heavily relied on this approach, leveraging Geely’s parts “supermarket” to construct the vehicle. The full interview can be found here.

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“We have engaged with Volvo for the licensing of components,” stated Windle. “Certain parts on the Emira, such as column stalks, are sourced from Volvo.”

In addition to Lotus, Geely’s portfolio encompasses brands like Volvo, Polestar, Smart, and more. One advantage of being a part of a conglomerate with multiple brands is the sharing of technological advancements.

“An array of components is readily available, akin to a ‘supermarket’ with various technologies across the group,” explained Windle to The Drive. “Think of it as freely browsing through products on the shelves. If we require certain items, we simply procure them. This involves licensing and sharing technological resources.”

While Lotus predominantly looks to Geely for technology solutions, its scope extends beyond internal sourcing to incorporate external elements for cost-efficiency. An illustration of this cost-effective approach during procurement is exemplified by the Emira’s power source. Lotus recognized the necessity of ensuring the Emira bid farewell to traditional combustion engines appropriately, yet affordably. This envisioned a vehicle that accentuated the brand’s exhilarating driving experience while widening its accessibility due to a lower price threshold.

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As a result, Lotus entered into a partnership with AMG to introduce a 360-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine in the Emira. This option equips buyers with a robust, handcrafted powertrain mated to a dual-clutch transmission, all within a package priced under $80,000. Notably, alternatives such as the reliable supercharged Toyota V6 are also available.

“Although we explored solutions within the group, we concluded that further development would be necessary in order to meet our requirements for an athletic engine,” mentioned Windle. “Concurrently, we explored options from the market. Once AMG expressed their willingness to collaborate, it became a compelling choice. Their engine is truly exceptional.”

The use of the AMG four-cylinder engine underscores the fact that Lotus’ farewell to traditional combustion engines isn’t about creating a high-powered supercar or an electric hypercar. Instead, it leverages corporate synergies to deliver a mainstream, practical, enjoyable, and high-performance vehicle.

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