The Lotus Emira i4 variant joins the Emira V6 which is priced from RM1.3 million
Lotus Cars Malaysia today announced the arrival of the 2.0-litre Emira i4 in First Edition with a price of RM998,800, on-the-road fully taxed.
The exclusive offer for this final ICE-powered Lotus is valid only for cars made in 2023 before its actual price of RM1,095,000 takes effect.
Powering this mid-engine two-seater is a turbocharged 2.0-litre aluminium engine and eight-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) sourced from Mercedes-AMG. This engine is the same as the one powering models like the new Mercedes-AMG A45 and CLA45.
Further developments by Lotus including new intake and exhaust systems, plus a bespoke calibration matched to new transmission shift-mapping enable the Emira i4 to deliver 360 bhp at 6,600 rpm and 430 Nm of torque at 3,000-5,500 rpm. Thanks to the powertrain, the Lotus Emira i4 accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.4 seconds and hits a top speed of 290 km/h.
The introduction of the four-cylinder engine allows for a new, lightweight cast aluminium rear subframe, reducing the car’s weight by 12 kg compared to the Emira V6. The subframe also houses the new rear suspension.
The Eibach springs and Bilstein high-pressure dampers are tuned to suit the Emira with different settings for the Tour and Sport chassis options. Tour is optimised for road use, offering softer springs and dampers, while Sport is track-focused with stiffer springs and dampers, together with increased camber and toe angles to maximise grip. The anti-roll bar stiffnesses are also bespoke to Emira, and the component on the front axle is now lighter too.
The Emira i4 also comes with a choice of specially-developed tyres optimised for exacting steering and traction requirements – 245/35/R20 in front and 295/30/R20 at the rear. The Tour chassis version is fitted with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres, which are also available as an option with the Sports chassis.
Exclusive to the Sports chassis are Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres designed for extreme track use without compromising ride comfort. Both tyres have ‘LTS’ markings on the side wall to denote the Lotus-approved specification.
The braking system on the other hand, consists of two-piece, cross-drilled and slotted discs together with four-piston callipers on the front axle. The branded callipers can be finished in a choice of four colours at no extra cost.
On the exterior which is identical with the V6 variant, highlights include Full-LED headlights with signature double ‘blade’ daytime running lights (DRL), sculpted doors with deployable handles, intake ducts that are seamlessly integrated into the muscular rear haunches, gloss black vents at the rear, a gloss black rear diffuser that houses the two exhaust pipes and number plate, as well as 20-inch lightweight alloy wheels.
Thirteen colour options are available, namely Hethel Yellow, Magma Red, Vivid Red, Dark Verdant, Seneca Blue, Atlantis Blue, Meridian Blue, Osmium Silver, Nimbus Grey, Shadow Grey, Zinc Grey, Mist White and Cosmos Black.
Inside the cabin, the Emira comes with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, a 12.3-inch TFT instrument cluster, a 10.25-inch touchscreen for the infotainment system with Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay connectivity, and a 10-channel, 560W premium audio system with six speakers developed with KEF.
There are also the 12-way power-adjustable heated seats clad in Nappa leather upholstery, satin chrome trim finishers, white interior mood lighting, and Lotus-branded sill kick plates. Customers can also opt for the same Nappa leather on the steering wheel with the top dead centre band and stitching available in yellow, red or ice grey. In terms of storage, there is 208 litres of space behind the two seats and an additional 151 litres in the rear luggage compartment.
The Emira i4 First Edition comes fully loaded with four option packs as standard. One of it is the Lower Black Pack, which adds on contemporary gloss black accents to the roof, cantrails, mirror pods and the Lotus wordmark on the rear clamshell. The exhaust finishers are satin black.
The Design Pack adds on a privacy glass, sports pedals, a black Alcantara headliner and Emira-branded footwell mats.
The Convenience Pack adds front parking sensors, a rear reversing camera, rain-sensing wipers with aero blades, auto-dimming mirrors and a rear luggage storage net.
Last but not least is the Lotus Drivers Pack. This gives customers the option of the Tour or Sports suspension. For either option, it also includes Track Mode ESP, with a new Track mode highlighted on the TFT instrument display screen which prioritises information required for high-performance driving.
As with the Emira V6, production of the four-cylinder Emira i4 takes place at the Chapman Production Centre (CPC) in Hethel, named in honour of the company’s founder.
Keyword: Lotus Emira i4 First Edition now in Malaysia – RM998,800