Ever since its inception by Colin Chapman in 1948, Lotus has produced a plethora of race cars. What’s noteworthy is that these vehicles, ranging from the diminutive Lotus Eleven to Ayrton Senna’s Formula One machines and the recently unveiled Emira GT4, all had one common feature—they were all equipped with internal combustion engines, a trait that may soon become a thing of the past.
This is why the Emira GT4 is worth celebrating; it serves as a direct successor to the acclaimed Evora GT4 that has triumphed in endurance races globally. Although it rides on a brand-new platform, it retains the mighty supercharged 3.5-liter Toyota V6 engine, generating up to 400horsepower depending on the specifications of the racing series. Power is channeled to the rear wheels through a six-speed Xtrac sequential gearbox, accompanied by a limited-slip differential. It all sounds rather fitting, doesn’t it?
Lotus
Lotus
Featuring double-wishbone suspension at both ends with Ohlins coilovers, along with Alcon brake discs and calipers, the Emira GT4 comes armed with the standard racing essentials. Similar praise goes to the Bosch Motorsport anti-lock brake system and Motec data-logging. While commendable, these attributes do not necessarily set the Emira apart significantly within the realm of race cars.
In a motorsport category laden with stringent regulations, standing out can be a challenge, yet the Emira GT4 stands distinctly different from a Mustang GT4 on the track. This assertion is reinforced by the unique exhaust note emanating from its dual tailpipes. Despite the V6’s redline being capped at 7,200 rpm, it affords ample opportunity for the supercharger to wail across circuits like Daytona, Silverstone, or Sepang. Here’s a throwback to the exhilarating sound of the Evora GT4 at Goodwood:
The weight of the Emira GT4 will largely hinge on the balance of performance from race to race, with Lotus quoting a figure of 1,260 kilograms or 2,777 pounds. This is approximately 300 pounds less than the road-going Emira, not to mention the additional weight of safety equipment the GT4 variant carries.
In 2022, Lotus intends to produce a limited batch of the Emira GT4, with the possibility of scaling up production in 2023 based on customer interest. The GT4 category is a popular one across various series, such as British GT and Pirelli World Challenge, suggesting a promising sales potential for Lotus provided the car demonstrates early competitiveness.
If you have any questions or tips for the author, you can reach out directly at caleb@thedrive.com
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