The famous Lotus name is undergoing something of a change at the moment. We are already seeing iconic cars such as the Elise enter their final production run, and the latest car from the brand, the Emira, will be their last internal combustion engine car ever. It really does mark the end of an era for the British company and shows us the way the world is going right now as we tackle the issue of climate change head-on. But Lotus is making sure that the ICE doesn’t go out on a whimper.
The Lotus Emira was unveiled earlier in 2021 to mark the end of the Lotus internal combustion engine. But to ensure that the car goes out with a bang, the company has revealed an all-new, racing-spec edition of the Emira. Specifically, this is the Lotus Emira GT4 race car. A hand-built GT4 racer that has been developed in partnership with RML Group, and a car which the company says is another milestone in the ongoing transformation of Lotus. It's particularly fitting, too, given the Lotus name is steeped in motorsport history. Particularly in Formula 1. This is everything you need to know about this new car.
The Basics Of The Emira GT4
Lotus has, thankfully, given us lots of details on the new car and what powers it, and other juicy bits of information. The GT4 is powered by the race-proven Toyota 3.5-liter V6 engine, which in total is expected to produce around 400 hp subject to any balance of performance. Specifically, it is the Toyota V6 2GR-FE engine. Which can be found in various models such as the Lotus Evora and was seen in the Toyota Camry as recently as 2017. The Emira GT4 will therefore have excellent reliability. It is also the same engine found in the standard Emira.
To turn the Emira from a road car into a race car, Lotus has gone to town on the weight saving. Thanks to lightweight bodywork, the weight of the Emira GT4 has been reduced by 145 kg to 1,260 kg. That lighter bodywork has meant Lotus has been able to fit a large rear spoiler for increased downforce as part of a major revision to the car's aerodynamic package. Lotus does indeed state that the car is race-ready, and will be instrumental in bringing the brand back into motorsport, the last bespoke racer that Lotus built being the Evora GT4.
Racing Details For The GT4
In terms of where the Emira GT4 will race, the name does kind of give it away. The car will be eligible for pretty much all GT4 championships. This will include the GT4 America Series, GT4 European Series, British GT, ADAC GT, and the DTM Trophy. So there will be plenty of opportunities for Lotus to go racing or sell the car to customers who want to run one in their teams. Lotus though has not gone it alone with this project and has teamed up with legendary engineering firm RML Group.
RML Group has some fantastic pedigree when it comes to motorsport. Their most famous achievements are when they won the British Touring Car Championship with Vauxhall in 1995, Nissan in 1999, and Chevrolet in 2010. The Emira GT4 does also follow a long tradition of Lotus road cars having their own race-ready cousin, and the Emira GT4 will be welcomed by racing fans all around the world, thanks to the iconic name that adorns it. It is also a highly fitting way for Lotus to say farewell to the internal combustion engine, with cars such as the Evija set to be the future of the brand.
Getting Ready For The 2022 Season
Lotus says that a limited number of models should be ready for the 2022 racing season. The Emira GT4 will be launched officially later in 2021, at a special event taking place at the company’s iconic 2.2-mile Hethel test track. This track has been home of the development of many iconic racing cars. Lotus aims to increase production of the car for 2023 and this will be in line with global demand for the Emira GT4. The car will have a 96-liter fuel tank approved by the FIA, and also sports an FIA-compliant roll cage, six-point harness, and fire extinguisher.
A Welcome Return To The Race Track
The Lotus name is undoubtedly one of the most iconic in all motorsport, and the news that the brand is back in the racing game will excite many fans around the world. While GT4 championships won’t get as much coverage as major series, it is still going to be a welcome sight to see Emira GT4’s pounding around racetracks throughout Europe and across the rest of the world. Lotus hopes that its return to motorsport is going to be a key pillar to the transformation of the company, as it, like many others, looks towards an electric feature.
Source: Lotus