2022 Lotus Emira: The Final Petrol Lotus Comes with an AMG Engine

Lotus, which has faced challenges for a long time, has consistently demonstrated its engineering expertise – even if it lacked the financial resources or brand recognition to compete head-to-head with Porsche. Now supported by the well-capitalized Geely of China, Lotus finally seems to have the necessary resources to challenge Stuttgart. The 2022 Lotus Emira marks the arrival of their first new road car that is within reach for many since the third-generation Exige. This new model could potentially succeed where the Alfa Romeo 4C and Alpine A110 fell short.

Named after an Arabic term denoting royalty – typically referring to a prince or princess – Lotus’s latest lightweight mid-engined sports car is built on the new Lotus Sports Car Architecture, an evolution of the proven bonded, extruded aluminum chassis design seen in the remarkable Elise. When compared to its rival, the Porsche Cayman S (982), the Emira is slightly longer by 1.3 inches, wider by 3.7 inches, and lower by 2.8 inches, giving it a much more exotic appearance than the 911’s counterpart.

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Similar to the Cayman, the Emira is powered by a combination of four-and six-cylinder engines, with the base model featuring a potent AMG 2.0-liter turbo engine paired with a dual-clutch gearbox. (Transmission specifications are yet to be confirmed.) The initial batch of First Edition cars (and possibly more) will be equipped with the Evora’s 3.5-liter supercharged V6, available with a manual gearbox with partially exposed linkages.

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Featuring a power output ranging from 360 to 400 horsepower, the Emira is capable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in under 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 180 mph. Prior to reaching those speeds, the driver will experience the effects of its functional aerodynamics, which ensure optimal grip from its standard Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tires – or, with the optional Lotus Drivers Pack, Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires. This package also enhances the suspension and introduces a Sport mode that enhances feedback through the Emira’s traditional hydraulic power steering.

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Despite being a Lotus, the Emira’s interior features neither extreme simplicity nor a 2+2 setup like the Evora. Behind the twin seats of the Emira lies 7.3 cubic feet of cargo space, with an additional 5.3 in the rear trunk, accommodating a set of golf clubs. The seats are electronically adjustable in four ways, with an option to upgrade to 12-way adjustment. These seats are designed to provide easy ingress and egress, with Lotus claiming the best headroom and accessibility in its class, despite being almost three inches lower than the Cayman.

Being a product of the current decade, the Emira is equipped with a variety of technologies that some may view as a departure from Colin Chapman’s ethos. A 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster is flanked by a 10.25-inch central infotainment screen featuring standard Apple and Android integration, with an optional 10-channel KEF premium audio system. The car also includes two cupholders, a USB port, a phone holder, as well as features like cruise control, keyless start, rain-sensing wipers, folding and dimming mirrors, parking sensors, and advanced driver assistance systems. Despite the abundance of technology, Lotus promises that the Emira maintains a low weight, with a target weight of under 3,100 pounds in its lightest configuration.

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The 2022 Lotus Emira will display its capabilities this weekend at the Goodwood Festival of Speed before deliveries commence in Spring 2022, with four-cylinder models arriving in the Summer. It carries a bit more weight than a Cayman S and starts below $82,750, priced slightly higher, but offering more power and undeniably sporting a more luxurious look.

If it handles akin to the Evora, a model that retained its status as one of the finest sports cars worldwide even a decade after its introduction, the Emira could potentially emerge as the budget-friendly supercar that Porsche will never allow the Cayman to be.