3 Minutes
You can feel it before you hear it: the Emira has been trimmed, tightened and tuned until every kilogram and millimetre has a purpose. Lotus has taken its last internal-combustion Emira idea and sharpened it into something that looks, sounds and drives like an apology to weight we never asked for.
Under the skin sits a 2.0-litre turbo four that delivers 414 horsepower and 369 lb-ft of torque. The headline figures are immediate enough, but the experience comes from what Lotus removed as much as what it kept. Carbon fibre bodywork, a titanium exhaust, a small lithium-ion auxiliary battery and two-way adjustable Multimatic dampers all combine to shave roughly 25 kg compared with the Emira Turbo. The Lightweight Handling Pack adds another 25 kg of downforce, turning traction into intent.
Less mass, more menace
Zero to 62 mph happens in 3.9 seconds. Top speed is 186 mph, which translates to about 299 km/h. Lower ride height, revised suspension geometry and fresh high-performance rubber sharpen every turn. The steering feels communicative, not theatrical; the car tells you precisely where it wants to go and how much you can push.
Lotus describes this new variant as the flagship of the Emira lineup. That feels accurate. It’s not merely a spec increase; it’s a tonal shift. There’s a new removable tinted glass roof panel — a first for the Emira range — and the cabin gets 12-way adjustable seats, carbon fibre shift paddles and optional exterior carbon fibre trim. New 20-inch, 15-spoke forged wheels complete the look.
The 420 Sport also arrives against a backdrop of change at Lotus. The company’s Focus 2030 plan has evolved: rather than sealing the Emira as the final internal-combustion model, Lotus now pursues a multi-powertrain path that leans on hybrids and battery-electric models. Hybrid work is front and centre with the new X-Hybrid system rolling out to Europe, and Lotus promises a V8-hybrid supercar by 2028 with more than 1,000 PS on tap.
So why release a hot Emira now? Because a lightweight, visceral petrol car still matters to the brand’s DNA and to customers who prize driving clarity over headline electrification. The 420 Sport is a reminder that Lotus can still extract purity from combustion engines while preparing for an electrified future.
Orders are open now, with first deliveries scheduled before the end of summer 2026. Pricing for major markets, presented in euros, sits at approximately €114,300 for the US-spec equivalent, €129,900 across Europe and about €123,900 for the UK equivalent. That positions the Emira 420 Sport as an expensive entry point, but one that promises a driving package neatly aligned with Lotus’s sporting pedigree.
It’s a small car in a big moment. Quietly, the Emira 420 Sport answers a simple question: can a petrol-engined sports car still feel modern? Lotus’s answer is emphatic — and light.
Source: autoevolution
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