The day has finally come as Lotus hammers the last nail into its fuel-driven coffin as it spreads its wings to explore the great unknown. Okay, maybe I’m being a little dramatic, but Lotus’ final gas-powered car – the one that’s replacing the Exige, Elise, and Evora – has finally been revealed. In a nutshell, it appears to blend cues from the Evija and Evora with a newly designed rear end and a larger footprint than any of its predecessors. As a new competitor aimed at the likes of the Porsche 718 Cayman and the Alpine A110, and the last car from Lotus that won’t be electric, the Emira has a lot of expectations to live up to. Does it have what it takes? Let’s take a deeper look at the finer details.

The Emira’s Power is Derived From the Heart of AMG and Toyota

As you know by now, the Emira comes to replace the trifecta that Lotus milked to death, and it represents the very last Lotus model to be built around an internal combustion engine. As you’d expect, the Emira is a mid-engined vehicle, and it’s power will be derived from either an AMG or a Toyota powerplant, the latter of which should come as no surprise whatsoever. Specific outputs have been kept under wraps, but lotus says power will range from between 360 and 400 horsepower. Maximum torque will come in at 430 Nm or about 317 pound-feet with the quickest version of the Emira being capable of hitting 62 mph (100 km/h) in lest than 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h).

Lotus Emira Specifications

If you watched the live stream, you probably noticed that there was a manual shifter showcased inside the car. If you’re hoping for that, then you’re going to have to opt for the 3.5-liter Toyota engine which is, likely, the least potent of the two available engines. That one will be available with a six-speed manual or an automatic, while any Emira powered by an AMG engine will be forced to sick with an eight-speed DCT – just like those who own an AMG A45 or A45 S.} Power is sent exclusively to the rear wheels, and the Emira’s curb weight comes in at 3,097 pounds, so it should be fairly fun to drive in true Lotus fashion.

As far as how well the Emira will compete, well, things are going to get interesting. The Porsche 718 is available with anything between 300 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque in base form to 394 horsepower and 309 pound-feet in GTS trim or 414 horsepower and 309 pound-feet if you’re looking at the range-topping, six-figure GT4. Depending on the model, the 718 will hit 60 mph in the 4.3-4.9 second range. As for the Alpine A110, well, it’s 1.8-liter four-banger is good for between 249 horsepower and 288 horsepower (in the A110S) and 236 pound-feet of torque. 0-60 mph comes in 4.4-4.5 seconds with top speed limited to 155 mph.

Lotus Emira vs. The Competition

Does the Emira have a chance on the performance front? Well, on paper, sure, but reserve judgment until this baby hits the road, because you never know what will surprise you.

The Emira’s Interior Is Downright Impressive

As far as looks and powertrain options go, there are some commonalities between the Emira and its predecessors, but the interior is 100-percent new and looks like nothing we’ve seen from Lotus before. Every modern feature you can think of is available from cruise control and ambient lighting to 12-way electric seats and automatic wipers, so there’s no shortage of tech happening here. If you opt for the Lotus Driver’s pack, you’ll get a launch control system for obvious reasons along with stiffer suspension and Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires – basically stuff that will make the Emira even more fun to drive. Beyond this, the interior is just simple and gorgeous but a bit complex at the same time.

Notice how the dashboard and door panels are flat on top? Even the lower level of the dash is simple and minimalistic. The center console and the silver trim offset the entire cabin and gives a bit of a futuristic look without being overly gaudy or too aggressive. The door trim panels follow the same example – they are interesting, but not to the point that you’d say Lotus was trying too hard. As you’d expect there’s a flat-bottom steering wheel and supportive seats for the spirited driver in you. In the end, the Emira is packed with more features than any other lotus, save for (maybe) the seven-figure Evija. Other features include:

-* Front parking sensors

-* Rear parking sensors

-* Electric folding mirrors

-* Curtain airbags

-* Keyless go

-* Auto-dimming rearview mirror

-* Stolen vehicle tracker

Exterior Design – The Emira Is a Typical Lotus

I have to admit that I was a little shocked, and not in a good way, when I saw the new Emira for the first time. At a glance, the front end and side profile are quite similar to the Evija (and there’s some Evora hints in there too), so I wasn’t exactly able to say “wow, look at that.” While most of the design cues are very familiar in the front, the rear end is actually quite a bit different while at the same time you can see some inspiration from the Evija here too. Granted, there are only so many ways to make a mid-engined car look different, but some truly new design cues would have been nice to see. Of course, it’s probably important to remember that for the last year, we’ve billed the Emira as a mini Evija

In terms of size, the Emira is actually quite large for a lotus. It measures, 173.7-inches long, 74.6-inches wide, and 48.2-inches tall. These dimensions make it considerably bigger than the Elise and Exige, and even a bit bigger – not by much – than the Evora. That said, it’s not too big to the point that you won’t be able to destroy tracks or any other corner your come across, but if you’re upgrading from one of the Emira’s predecessors, you’re getting a car that’s at least a bit larger. Just for fun, I’ve included two sliders below so you can see how the Emira compares to the Evija.

2022 Lotus Emira dimensions

Vissual Comparison: Evija vs. Emira

Emira Market Launch and Pricing

The Emira is designed to be a global car, and in fact it kind of has to be since it’s the only car in the brands lineup outside of the Evija. We don’t have full market launch or pricing details yet, but Lotus plans to commence sales starting in summer of 2020. Pricing in the U.S. will come sometime down the road, but the Emira will start out at €72,000 across Europe and £60,000 in the U.K. – at current exchange rates, you’re probably looking at a range of $82,794 - $85,117 in the U.S., and that’s assuming there aren’t extra fees added onto the price for U.S. customers and that the same general entry-level price point carries over.