Except for the electrical Emeya, Lotus Vehicles Malaysia (LCM) additionally introduced alongside the Emira Turbo to its showcase at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur. The corporate took orders for the four-cylinder sports activities automobile final August, however manufacturing delays have pushed again deliveries to such a level that it is just now making its first native look right here, forward of a relaunch similtaneously its sedan sibling.
Let’s begin with the elephant within the room first. As you might have surmised from the headline, the automobile has misplaced the “i4” tag – one thing LCM officers on the occasion have unsurprisingly attributed to a trademark declare from BMW. The automobile remains to be merely badged the Emira, however Lotus now makes use of the Emira Turbo title in official documentation to distinguish it from the V6 mannequin.
Nothing else in regards to the automobile has modified, together with the RM1,095,000 price ticket for this First Version mannequin – the RM998,800 introductory worth has since been exhausted. Neither has the engine, which stays the M139 2.0 litre turbocharged four-pot from the Mercedes-AMG A45, right here sending 360 hp and 430 Nm of torque to the rear wheels.
Additionally donated by Affalterbach is a eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, which is the only gearbox choice (no guide right here, sadly). Regardless of being down 40 hp over the V6, the four-banger is simply two tenths of a second slower from zero to 100 km/h (4.4 seconds), whereas its high pace is equivalent at 290 km/h.
Constructed on the identical bonded aluminium Lotus Sports activities Automobile Structure because the V6, the Turbo will get a brand new, lighter aluminium rear subframe to accommodate the Merc engine. Regardless of this – and the lopping off of two cylinders – the additional weight of the turbocharged setup means the automobile weighs simply 12 kg lower than the V6.
The Turbo continues to trip on all-round double wishbone suspension with Eibach springs and passive Bilstein monotube dampers, accessible in an everyday Tour setup with Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyres or in a fast-road Sport tune (fitted right here) with Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 rubber. Regardless of which model you go for, you’ll get 20-inch V-spoke cast alloy wheels hiding AP Racing brakes with four-piston entrance callipers.
Adapting the Emira to the turbo engine are a recalibrated stability management system (with brake-activated torque vectoring in lieu of the V6’s limited-slip differential) and bespoke anti-roll bars. The continued fitment of electro-hydraulic energy steering means the automobile retains some semblance of really feel by means of the rim.
Belying the great reengineering beneath is an unchanged exterior that retains the sculpted design language first seen on the Evija – replete with giant entrance and aspect air intakes and rear bumper cutouts which can be harking back to the electrical hypercar’s gaping “pass-through” aero ducting. Highlights embrace vertical LED headlights, hourglass-shaped bonnet cutouts, an upswept window line, small trapezoidal taillights and huge rear diffuser.
Inside, you’ll discover a no-nonsense cabin with a flat-bottomed steering wheel, 12-way power-adjustable sports activities seats and a “floating” centre console. The latter encompasses a fighter jet-style flip-up cowl for the starter button and is topped by the identical gearlever because the V6 automated which – unusually for a sports activities automobile – makes use of a left-right (as a substitute of up-down) sequential shifter additionally discovered within the Proton S70.
Different gadgets Proton house owners shall be accustomed to are the 12.3-inch instrument show and 10.25-inch freestanding infotainment touchscreen. These use bespoke Lotus software program, nonetheless, with their very own show designs and Apple CarPlay and Android Auto (fortunately). A 12-speaker KEF sound system is normal.
The First Version moniker on this automobile affords it 4 tools packs that are in any other case supplied as choices. These embrace a Decrease Black Pack that provides a gloss black end to the entrance splitter, aero blade inserts within the nook air intakes, aspect skirts and rear diffuser. There’s additionally the Design Pack that throws on sports activities pedals, black Alcantara headlining and an Emira-branded strip on the ground mats.
Additionally fitted are the Lotus Drivers Pack with a Observe Mode for the soundness management (plus a track-specific instrument display screen) and a Comfort Pack, the latter coming with entrance parking sensors, a reverse digicam, auto wipers, auto-dimming mirrors and a rear baggage storage web. The automobile you see right here additionally has the total Black Pack that covers the roof, door mirror caps and satin-finish tailpipe finishers.
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