AMG-Powered Lotus Emira to Stun Goodwood
The Emira is Lotus' swan song for the internal-combustion engine as the brand gears up for an electric future, as previewed by the Evija and, recently, the Eletre hyper-SUV.
But before it bids farewell to the fossil fuel era, it offers two thrilling options for enthusiasts. One is the savage, Toyota-derived 3.5-litre V6 beast, and the other is the sleek, 2.0-litre 4-cylinder M139 rocket that also propels the Mercedes-AMG 45 models. The 45's engine is known as the most powerful 2.0-litre 4-cylinder series production engine ever produced.
Lotus has worked with AMG as a technical partner to give the powerplant a few tweaks, such as the fitment of a new intake and exhaust system. The brand also fine-tuned the engine calibration to synchronise with the transmission's shift mapping to ensure a seamless driving experience.
Unlike the Mercedes-AMG 45 variants, where the M139 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine churns out 310kW and 500Nm, Lotus has detuned the engine to deliver 268kW and 430Nm.
Even with reduced power, it's absolutely bonkers. It boasts a quoted 4.4-second 0-100km/h sprint time and a top speed of 290km/h. This is facilitated by an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that drives the rear wheels.
Compared to the V6 counterpart, the performance difference is marginal, with the manual and automatic versions achieving the same 0-100km/h sprint in 4.3 and 4.2 seconds, respectively.
As for its looks, the Emira maintains the same aggressive stance as its V6 counterpart, courtesy of full-LED headlights, muscular rear haunches and bespoke aerodynamic tweaks.
The interior includes a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen infotainment system, a 10-channel, 560W premium audio system and 12-way power-adjustable heated seats.
The public will get their first glimpse of the AMG-powered Emira, the Eletre and the Evija at the Goodwood Festival of Speed this year.
As the last Lotus model to have an internal combustion engine, the AMG-powered Emira will likely become a sought-after collector's item. After a short stint behind the wheel of the V6-powered model, our team discovered that it's the brand's most polished sportscar in years, set to sway buyers away from the more conventional options.
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