Lotus Emira 420 Powers Up, Then Adds LightnessLotus (Lotus)When the Lotus Emira launched four years ago, it was meant to be the final combustion-engined sports car of a brand already in the process of pivoting to an electric luxury future. The years that followed have not been kind to the business model Lotus planned to pursue, with tariffs and market interest making the plan to sell big battery electric passenger cars like the Eletre globally look more and more fraught by the day. The company is now pivoting back to gas power in a big way, and the Emira that was once meant to be a swan song is suddenly being refreshed and treated like a halo product again.The latest Emira is the 420 Sport, now the range-topping variant of the signature Lotus sports car. As you might expect, the number indicates a bump up to 420 metric horsepower. That means only 414 hp in the usual American numbers, but that still indicates a small bump over the 400 hp offered by the Emira Turbo SE.Lotus Cars (Lotus Cars)Two-way adjustable Multimatic dampers headline other changes. Lotus claims that the car is 55 pounds lighter—and also has 55 pounds of added downforce—with an optional lightweight handling package. The Emira 420 Sport also marks the launch of a new removable glass roof panel, which will be available on other 2026-and-on Emiras.AdvertisementAdvertisementUnfortunately for buyers looking for the Emira's fantastic six-speed, the Mercedes-AMG-sourced four-cylinder is still not offered with a stick. That transmission is tied only to an outgoing Toyota V-6, leaving the 420 Sport with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.Lotus says that the Emira 420 Sport starts at $122,900 for American buyers, and orders are open now, with deliveries set to start in August of this year. Buyers who want an Emira with one of its original powertrains will have a limited window to buy either a Toyota or AMG-engined car before the new hybrid V-6 Emira is introduced soon.You Might Also LikeIf You Can Only Own One Car, Make It One of TheseThese Are the Most Popular Cars by State