The Lotus Emira is an all-new sports car from the famed British motorsports brand. In terms of competition, the Emira is up against the likes of the Porsche Cayman.

What’s New for the 2023 Lotus Emira

Oh, it’s all new, from the ground up. The Lotus Emira went into production in late 2022. The First Edition will be available in the United States in late 2023, and the Base Edition will follow in spring of 2024. The 2023 Emira represents a back-to-basics step forward for Lotus.

Design

The Lotus Emira is a sleek and low-slung sports car that hunkers down over big wheels and grippy rubber. The sides flow, and the rear end boasts the brand’s telltale cheeky flip at the edge of the trunk lid. It’s a cutie that still clearly means business. At launch, the Emira will be available in a choice of 13 colors, and it will come with 20-inch wheels in a choice of three finishes fitted over disc brakes available with black, silver, red, or yellow calipers. Option packages offer up a gloss black roof, choice of clear or privacy glass, and additional wheel designs.

Powertrain

Each of the first Emiras for sale will get a 3.5-liter supercharged V6, sourced from Toyota, good for 400 hp and 310 lb-ft of torque. In 2024, Lotus will offer a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder, sourced from AMG, which is expected to make 360 hp. The V6 will have the choice of a six-speed manual or a six-speed automatic transmission, while the turbo-four gets only a dual-clutch eight-speed automatic. Both will come with rear-wheel drive (RWD).

Interior

The Emira follows the proud Lotus tradition of creating an interior space that’s more cockpit than cabin, focused on the driver and accommodating just one lucky passenger. Lotus proudly boasts two cupholders in the center console and a trunk large enough to hold a golf bag or a single suitcase. Upholstery combines Alcantara and leather in a choice of colors.

Technology

That said, the Emira marks some steps forward for Lotus in terms of tech. Standard features include a 10.25-inch touchscreen entertainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto integration, a 12.3-inch digital instrument cluster, and a 10-speaker audio system. These tech offerings represent a step toward comfort over the minimalist Lotus models of the past without compromising the focus on driving dynamics.

Safety

The Emira First Edition will include automatic LED headlights, a reversing camera, front parking sensors, and rain-sensing windshield wipers. We don’t expect crash testing from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) or the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), since these groups typically don’t evaluate sports cars that sell in low numbers.

Pricing

As of this writing, Lotus lists pricing for the Emira First Edition, available in the third quarter of 2023, as starting at $105,400 with the supercharged V6 engine. Lotus’s online configurator is already available for this model, even though many options do not yet have prices. Delivery of the turbo-four model is expected in early 2024, and its pricing should become public before then.