FACT spent the day in the new Lotus Emira, a brand-new supercar hailed as the most accomplished Lotus ever created.

T his month, thanks to the team at Adamas Motors, FACT got behind the wheel of Lotus’ all-new, mid-engine sports car, the Emira. As this was to be our very first Lotus test-drive experience, we were intrigued to discover what this iconic British manufacturer is producing in 2023.

Exterior

Instantly demanding our attention were the sculpted surfaces and technical detailing of this exotic-looking supercar. The Emira is the first sports car to carry the new design language originally showcased by the award-winning Lotus Evija hypercar.

The inspiration provided by the Evija is obvious at the front end of the Emira, where the prominent leading edge of the bonnet draws the eye like a magnet to the current iteration of the iconic Lotus roundel – making its first appearance on a new Lotus sports car. The unique-in-class exit vents integrated into the bonnet are further evidence of the Evija’s influence, effortlessly guiding airflow over the body and optimising the aerodynamic nature of the vehicle. The standard wing-inspired vertical LED headlamps are yet another tip of the cap to the brand’s hypercar.

As we moved to the flanks, the influence of the Evija’s striking exterior design became even more apparent. Crisp feature lines and fluid surfaces complement the shrink-wrapped cabin that tapers toward the rear end. The sculpted sections cut into the doors hint at the car’s performance capabilities and lead the airflow towards the intake ahead of the rear wheel. Vents cut into the muscular rear haunches, along with 20-inch wheels – specially developed for the Emira – further highlight its athletic prowess.

At the back end, the integrated bumper is dominated by the Lotus wordmark that sits above an Evija inspired, body-coloured panel. On each side, a flat C-shaped LED light cluster linked by a slimline, high-level brake light adds a further touch of class to an already exceptional exterior design. As a final flourish, Lotus have included a black section housing twin exhaust pipes on either side of the number plate, along with an air diffuser situated underneath to assist downforce.

Interior

Designed to combine exceptional support for high-speed cornering with total comfort for long-distance journeys, we found the car’s two standard four-way electric adjustable seats to be nothing less than sublime.

Due to the dramatic supercar-like low stance of the Emira, you sit mere inches from the road surface. This unique driving position instantly imbues the driver with the feeling of being on the starting grid of a racetrack. This sense of speed and sportiness has been achieved while managing to match the best-in-class ingress/egress and headroom.

Every design detail of the contemporary cockpit environment places the driver at the forefront of the Emira experience. We highly appreciated the pure ergonomic design, perfectly placed instruments and premium materials used throughout.

Further notable interior features include a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel with metallic spoke detail and integrated controls, a wraparound dashboard that blends into the door trim, a raised gear shifter and ambient wraparound interior lighting.

Aside from the surprising number of storage spaces throughout the cabin, luggage can be stored behind the two seats (208 litres), or in the 151-litre capacity boot to the rear of the engine.

Infotainment & Tech

The new Emira’s infotainment system is accessed through a 10.25-inch centrally mounted touchscreen and a 12.3-inch TFT driver’s display behind the steering wheel. We found this responsive display, with its clear images and graphics, to be user-friendly and extremely useful. Additionally, Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are both integrated as standard.

The Emira also marks the first-ever automotive partnership between the highly respected British brand KEF and Lotus. KEF have supplied an exceptional 10-channel premium sound system featuring their signature Uni-Q technology.

Performance & Safety

The Emira has two engine options, a Lotus-engineered 2.0-litre, four-cylinder unit from technical partner AMG and the beloved 3.5-litre V6 of our test model. Originally fitted in the Lotus Exige and Evora, this V6 is calibrated by Lotus. Coupled with a six-speed automatic transmission, it delivered what we can only refer to as a vastly superior driving experience. Producing 400hp and 317Nm of torque, this mechanical monster can surge from 0-100km/h in a mere 4.2 seconds and deliver a top speed of around 290km/h!

Besides the high-performance braking system of the Emira, the car boasts an extensive range of driver assistance and safety features. These include adaptive cruise control, launch control, rear parking sensors, Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), an anti-collision system, fatigue alert, lane departure warning, rear cross-traffic alert, lane change assist, road sign information and a vehicle speed limiter.

Our Verdict

From its striking exterior and interior designs to its powerful on-road performance and high-end tech, it’s simple to see why the Emira is being labelled as the most accomplished Lotus ever created. ✤

GO: CALL ADAMAS MOTORS ON 1667 5007 FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO BOOK A TEST DRIVE.