When Lotus revealed the Emira in July 2021, they made it clear that the United States is a key market for the new sports car.
Apparently, the British carmaker is pretty serious about its plans.
Emira's Dynamic Drive At Laguna Seca
To demonstrate the dynamic capabilities of the Emira in the eyes of American customers, Lotus tapped Jenson Button to drive the new sports car at Laguna Seca Raceway. It was not the first time for Button – who was in California for the Monterey Car Week – to drive the Emira. Button also drove the Emira for more than 30 laps at Lotus' Hethel test track during the sports car's launch celebrations.
After driving the Emira on the Laguna Seca Raceway, Button remarked that while most road cars "don't work" on tracks, the gasoline-powered sports car from across the Atlantic does.
The Emira, along with the Radford 62-2 is making its American public debut at The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering on August 13. They are being joined by the new Lotus Evija hypercar.
A Sports Car Great For Daily Drivers
At launch, Lotus described the new Emira as a sports car that perfectly embodies its ongoing transformation. It is targeted towards customers including Americans who pilot their sports cars as daily drivers, not just as big toys for the weekend. The Emira is basically a powerful sports car that is also acceptable to daily drivers.
To this end, the Emira has two practical cupholders (between the driver and passenger), camera-supported driving assistance technology as well as electrically adjustable seats. It offers ample cargo space -- 208 liters of room behind the two front seats and another 151 liters in the boot to the rear of the engine.
Two Engines, Three Transmission Choices For Emira
Unlike the Evora – the only other Lotus sold in the US – the Emira is offered with two engine choices: a new AMG-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged ‘i4’ and the Toyota-derived 3.5-liter supercharged V6. Three transmission options are available: manual, automatic, and dual-clutch transmission.
Depending on the specs, the Emira delivers between 360 hp and 400 hp of max output and 317 lb-ft of peak torque. Lotus expects the Emira to sprint from nil to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 4.5 seconds and achieves a top speed of up to 180 mph (290 km/h). An Emira should weigh at least 3,097 lbs (1,405 kg).
Source: Lotus Cars