The Lotus Emira starts from approximately $93,900 in the United States for the V6 Base variant. The V6 First Edition starts with identical price but is fully equipped. The AMG I4 models start from $99,900. Pricing in the UK starts at approximately, £69,995. The 2025 models are priced from $114,600 upwards.
The Lotus Emira is a two-seat sports coupe with a mid-engine (or middle-engine) and it could be the most significant Lotus ever made. Introduced as a 2024 model, it will be powered by two engines: a supercharged 3.5-litre Toyota-based V6 with 400 hp and a turbocharged 2.0-litre (Mercedes-AMG) inline-four with 360-400 hp.
In the US, the Emira competes with the Porsche 718 Cayman, the BMW Z4, and the Chevrolet Corvette, all of similar price, which begs at around 93,900. The infotainment system is 10.25 inches in size, with wireless Apple CarPlay and wireless Android Auto, leather upholstery, and KEF audio system as a standard feature. Having only two seats, and powered entirely by pure rear-wheel drive, this is Lotus in a nutshell – and the final pure combustion sports car of the brand.
Lotus Emira: Profile
The Emira, constructed by the Lotus factory in Hethel, Norfolk, England, is the next step in the development of the company that will be owned by a Chinese automotive giant, Geely, which bought Lotus in 2017. It is a mid-engine rear-wheel-drive sports coupe aimed at offering a single, classy, modernized vehicle to replace the Elise, Exige, and Evora. It measures 173.7 inches in length, 74.6 inches wide, and only 48.2 inches tall, about the size of a Porsche 718 Cayman, but is much lower and broader. The kerb weight is approximately 3,097 pounds, which is still very competitive considering that it is a car with this amount of premium equipment.
The importance of the Emira is more than a specification. It becomes the last internal-combustion Lotus sports car the next two-seat sportster of the brand (codenamed Type 135) will be fully electric. That will make the Emira a collector-grade car when it comes out of the showroom. The platform is based on the Evora, with the same wheelbase, hydraulically-assisted steering, and V6 engine platform, but the Emira includes a much more modern interior, modern safety features, and a truly aspirational look, inspired by the all-electric Evija hypercar.
Lotus Emira Price, Variants, Engine and Transmission
| Variant | Engine | Transmission | US Price (MSRP) | UK Price |
| V6 Base | 3.5L Supercharged V6 (400 hp) | 6-Speed Manual | $93,900 | ~£69,995 |
| V6 First Edition | 3.5L Supercharged V6 (400 hp) | 6-Speed Manual / Auto | $93,900 | ~£75,000 |
| I4 Base | 2.0L AMG Turbo (360 hp) | 6-Speed Manual / DCT | $99,900 | ~£72,995 |
| I4 First Edition | 2.0L AMG Turbo (360–400 hp) | 6-Speed Manual / DCT | $99,900 | ~£78,000 |
| V6 SE | 3.5L Supercharged V6 (400 hp) | 6-Speed Manual | ~$104,000 | ~£82,000 |
| Turbo SE | 2.0L AMG Turbo (430 hp) | DCT Auto | ~$109,000 | ~£85,995 |
| 2025 Emira (V6) | 3.5L Supercharged V6 (400 hp) | Manual / Auto | From $114,600 | ~£84,000 |
In the US market, the Emira is available in four versions:
- V6 Base 2dr Coupe — from $93,900
- V6 First Edition 2dr Coupe – starting at $93,900 (limited production, fully loaded)
- I4 Base 2dr Coupe — from $99,900
- I4 First Edition 2dr Coupe — from $99,900
The top speed of the V6-manual combination is 180 mph with a 0-60 mph time of 4.2 seconds. The V6 automatic has the top speed of 169 mph with 0-60 time of 4.6 seconds. The I4 model powered by AMG and equipped with a dual-clutch automatic takes 0–60 in an estimated 3.8 seconds. In the UK, the Emira can be priced at an approximate of 69,995 on V6 First Edition.
Lotus Emira On Road Price (Top 5 Countries)
The Lotus Emira is priced considerably differently in different markets because of the import duties, taxes and dealer premiums that are charged at the local dealers. The approximate on-road prices in the five largest markets are below:
- United States – Around $93,900-116,000+ with trim and options.
- United Kingdom – Between about 69,995 and 85,000+ loaded First Edition features.
- Germany – About 90,000 to 110,000, both VAT inclusive and importation expenses.
- Australia – There is a rough range of between AUD180,000 and AUD220,000 of on-road price.
- Japan – Approximately JPY 13,000,000 to JPY 16,000,000 are the estimated prices of available variants.
These are approximate values which are liable to changes depending on specification, dealer fees and current exchange rates. It is recommended that the buyers should verify the prices with their local authorised Lotus retailer.
Specifications
V6 Variant
- Engine: 3.5-litre (supercharged) V6 (edited Toyota, Edelbrock supercharger)
- Power: 400 hp / 310–317 lb-ft torque
- Transmission: 6-speed manual or 6-speed automatics.
- Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
- 0–60 mph: 4.2 sec (manual) / 4.6 sec (auto)
- Top Speed: 180 mph (manual) / 169 mph (auto)
- Fuel Economy 16 mpg city/24 mpg highway (According to the US EPA)
- Length: 173.7 in | Width: 74.6 in | Height: 48.2 in | Wheelbase: 101.4 in
- Kerb Weight: ~3,097 lbs
- Cargo Space: 5.3 cubic feet
- Ground Clearance: 5.5 inches
I4 Variant (AMG-sourced)
- Engine: 2-litre turbocharged inline-four (Mercedes-AMG)
- Power: 360–400 hp / 317–354 lb-ft torque
- Transmission: 6-speed manual or two-clutch automatic.
- 0–60 mph: Est. 3.8 seconds
- Drivetrain: Rear-wheel drive
Lotus Emira Colours Availability
Lotus Emira comes in 13 exterior finishes:
- Dark Verdant Green
- Magma Red, Cosmos Black
- Nimbus Grey, Atlantic Blue
- Hethel Yellow, Osmium Silver
- Shadow Grey, Zinc grey
- Meridian blue
- Vivid red
- Seneca blue and Mist white
- The Turbo SE is the only model that has Zinc Grey.
It also has 4 interior choices including –
- Classic Tan Leather
- Versatile Black Leather and loud Red and Black Nappa Leather that are only applied on the Turbo SE Racing Line.
- The Black Pack also comes in gloss black trim, four options of brake caliper and Race Line pinstripes in either Vivid Red, Acute Yellow or Mercury Silver to further personalise the purchaser.
Interior Features
The cabin of the Emira is a great contrast to the bare-aluminum of the austerity that had characterized Lotus interiors over the years. All surfaces are adorned with leather or synthetic suede, and the dashboard design is modern, instead of having been fashioned out of bins in supplier rooms.
- The tiered design puts the 10.25-inch size infotainment touchscreen in an eminent position at the top with a separate 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster that gives clear information about the speed and rev.
- The steering wheel is a little bit lower than usual, but fits perfectly in hand and, more to the point, does not block the most important driving indicators.
- Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are wireless and the infotainment system is voice recognition and navigation-capable.
- The technology is supplemented by KEF-branded audio. The two-seat cockpit is remarkably comfortable – a 6-foot 4-inch passenger said he was comfortable on a multi-hour flight.
- The use of soft leather upholstery, brushed aluminium detailing, and a high-grade of plastics throughout are a sign that Lotus has taken a serious step towards competing with the likes of Porsche in regards to interior quality.
- There is a relatively limited cargo space, 5.3 cubic feet, but that is what you would expect of a dedicated sports car.
Exterior Features
The exterior design of the Emira is perhaps its most successful element, a truly exotic-appearing sports car for a price far less than that of a hypercar.
- Broad proportions, sunken air inlets and flowing body lines are directly influenced by the all-electric Lotus Evija.
- The aggressive lines on the feature lines make the car appear aggressive considering its relatively small size.
- The engine is behind the cockpit under a glass cover so that it is beautifully seen outside as well- a feature that will be valued by the enthusiasts and by onlookers.
Lotus provides a spacious colour palette and the customer can customise extensively through the Black Pack that gives the air blades, front splitter, side sills, rear diffuser, roof panel, tailpipes and rear badge a gloss black treatment.
- The First Edition is available in four colour options of the brake caliper.
- The Emira is approximately two inches lower than a Porsche 718 Cayman and 3.7 inches broader, which provides it with a purposeful stance that conveys performance without any aftermarket antics.
Lotus Emira Safety Features
The Emira is filled with a full package of passive and active safety equipment befitting a contemporary performance vehicle:
- Dual front airbags
- Front side airbags
- Airbags on the front side curtain.
- Switch of passenger airbag deactivation.
- 4-wheel ABS and electronic brakeforce distribution.
- Hill start assist
- Electronic car parking brake with automatic release.
- Stability control and traction control.
- Rear-view camera (First Edition)
- Electronic stability programme (ESP)
Unusual among low-volume specialist sports cars, Lotus has not sought an NCAP safety rating of the Emira. The emphasis is on dynamic safety by managing balance, hydraulic steering feel and progressive brake response, rather than autonomous intervention.
Reviews and Ratings
The Lotus Emira has been widely received well critically, with reviewers complimenting both the chassis, steering and the overall appearance. Edmunds describes the steering as “alive and communicative” with near-perfect suspension tuning that is “taut enough to provide a sense of what’s happening at each corner, but not so stiff that you couldn’t feasibly drive this car every day.”
Cars.Com grades it at the best and the most comprehensively modern sports car that had ever buzzed out of Hethel. Satisfied customers on CarGurus have posted glossy reviews – one customer who sold his McLaren 650S and another who sold his Porsche Boxster S have both said that they have no regrets.
The main sources of critique revolve around the V6 automatic transmission which critics consider a little agricultural in its shifts relative to modern-dual-clutch competitors and the AMG I4 engine which Edmunds reports experiences a distinct turbo lag relative to the more naturally responsive V6.
The size of the cargo area and excessively high price are also mentioned. Regardless of these issues, the majority of outlets rate the Emira 8/10 or better, and Kelley Blue Book includes it in the list of the best vehicles in the segment of luxury sports coupes.
Lotus Emira Competitors in the Market
The Emira takes up a densely populated portion of the performance sports car market. Its key rivals are:
- Porsche 718 Cayman GTS 4.0 – is the benchmark mid-engine sports car; is a more involving engine note, better infotainment, and is not as visually dramatic.
- Porsche 718 Boxster — Open top, with Porsche construction and dealer network.
- BMW Z4 M40i – Turbocharged roadster that has a straight-line performance that is impressive and a refined cabin.
- Chevrolet Corvette Stingray – It is far more powerful and has more cargo capacity at a comparable or even lower cost, but it is not as exclusive as the Lotus.
- Alpine A110 – Lighter and quicker, but cheaper and not as strong; more popular with purists.
The trump cards the Emira holds against all these competitors are the fact that it is rare, it has amazing exterior design, and it has pure hydraulic steering, a feature that most sports cars in the modern world have lost to electric assistance.
Lotus Emira Price and Availability in India
By 2025, the Lotus Emira is not sold officially in India via a local Lotus dealership network. At the time of writing, Lotus Cars does not have an active authorised retail presence in India. The Emira may, however, be privately imported through the CBU (Completely Built Unit) import route of India through homologation and CMVR compliance procedures.
With a combined import duty and GST burden of about 100110 per cent on the assessed value of imported CBU in India, a grey-market or privately imported Lotus Emira would have an approximate on-road price of about 1.2 crore to 1.8 crore basing on the variation, shipping expenses, and state-based registration fee.
Historically, Indian enthusiast consumers have purchased exotic low volume sports cars via specialist importers in Mumbai, Delhi and Bengaluru. Lotus has already indicated its desire to increase its presence in Asia, in the hands of Geely, so the formal availability of the market in India is possible in the medium term. The potential consumers are encouraged to follow official Lotus Cars messages and refer to the FADA-registered imports of exotic cars to obtain the latest compliance and pricing details.
Conclusion
Lotus Emira is not just a capable sports car, but a turning point. It is the culmination of 70 years of combustion-powered Lotus sports cars, and it does so in a truly stylish manner, with engineering integrity and a driving experience that is worth every penny of its asking price. The hydraulic steering alone is the only thing that makes it different among practically all its competitors in terms of price range. Make this the mid-engine balance, the visual drama that is Evija-inspired, and a truly high-end interior, and you have a vehicle, which Lotus can be proud of.
Whether you need a driver car that is rare, beautiful, and possesses real on-road communication, then the Emira should be in your shortlist. The Porsche 718 can be more refined and the Corvette can be more performance per pound, but none of them will appear to make you feel as special as arriving in a Lotus. Order it now – as when production ceases these cars will be all the more sought after.
FAQs
The Emira comes in two engines: a supercharged 3.5-litre Toyota-derived V6 with 400 hp and a turbocharged 2.0-litre Mercedes-AMG inline-four with 360–400 hp (depending on state of tune). They are both rear-wheel drive and come in manual or automatic gearboxes.
The Lotus Emira is a two-seater that is strict. It replaces the Evora, with a small rear seat, but Emira focuses on driving dynamics and a more focused cockpit at the expense of passenger space.
India does not officially sell the Emira in authorised dealerships in India. Privately imported CBUs can be imported, but the aggregate of import duties and taxes raise the on-road price, estimated between ₹1.2 crore and ₹1.8 crore.
The V6 manual model has a top speed of 180 mph making it one of the fastest cars in its category. The V6 automatic is electronically restricted to 169 mph, with the AMG I4 variant not having an officially rated top speed.
They are both two-seat sports coupes, both of roughly similar size and price, both being mid-engine. The Cayman leads in engine refinement and quality of infotainment.
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