Mid-mounted, turbocharged, capable of 208 bhp per liter.
Lotus is making the move to electrification, but before it puts the dino juice on a shelf, the British carmaker is giving gasoline one last hurrah with the new Lotus Emira, a lightweight two-door set to mount a high-output AMG four-cylinder just behind the cabin.
The engine in question is the turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder M139, as produced by Mercedes' go-fast division and found in models like the Mercedes-AMG CLA45. The M139 in the new 2023 Lotus Emira was specifically tuned for the application and includes unique hardware upgrades for the mid-mounted arrangement.
Notably, Lotus claims that the AMG engine is the world's most-powerful four-cylinder homologated for road use, capable of throwing down an impressive 208 brake horsepower per liter, as is the case in the Mercedes-AMG CLA45 S. However, in the Emira, the M139 will be good for a total of 360 horsepower, plus 310 pound-feet of torque. That said, over 400 ponies should be easy for those tuners that want a bit more.
Standout features include a twin-scroll turbocharger and roller bearings for optimized spool-up, as well as a unique exhaust system designed by Lotus. Standard spec also includes an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with paddle-shifting exclusively feeding the rear wheels.
As for the rest of the vehicle, the 2023 Lotus Emira First Edition rolls on 20-inch alloys, with two-piece brake discs, LED lighting, a titanium exhaust finisher, and glossy black exterior trim. Customers can get theirs in one of six different hues, including Hethel Yellow, Shadow Grey, Nimbus Grey, Magma Red, Seneca Blue, and Dark Verdant.
For those that prefer extra cylinders, the Lotus Emira will also be available with a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-liter V6 rated at 400 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. Although more power typically means more better, there's something to be said for opting into the four-cylinder when it comes to this lightweight, mid-engine corner-carver.
Pricing for the Lotus Emira First Edition starts at $85,900, with order books set to open in April. Deliveries should ramp up by the end of the year.
Although Lotus was built on a philosophy of lightness and simplicity, new electric vehicle technology can't be denied, especially when it comes to the business of going fast. As such, the Lotus Emira could very well shape up to be quite the collectible for those enthusiasts that prefer to harness explosions over electrons.
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