New 420 Sport is lightest Emira – and could be the last before it drops AMG and Toyota power
Lightest Emira brings bespoke bodywork, improved aero – and an Esprit-style removable roof
Lotus has revealed a new lightweight Emira that aims to offer a “pure expression” of the company’s DNA with improved agility and responsiveness over the standard car.
Based on the Emira Turbo, with the Mercedes-AMG four-pot engine, the new Emira 420 Sport is named for its power figure in PS (414bhp), which represents a bump of 54bhp over the standard car and 14bhp over the warmed-up SE that arrived last year.
Lotus says the car will crack 0-62mph in 3.9sec and achieve a top speed of 186mph – but more important than its straight-line stats are the dynamic advantages it offers over the regular Emira, with the firm claiming it has “been designed specifically to deliver even more performance both on road, and on track.”
The 420 Sport, priced at £105,900, is equipped as standard with the Lightweight Handling Pack, which trims 25kg off the weight of the standard Turbo – taking it down to 1421kg – and boosts downforce by the same amount.
It also brings a suite of subtle bodywork modifications in pursuit of optimised aerodynamics and cooling – which, Lotus says, improves track performance without increasing drag.
There’s a new front splitter with reshaped vents at the front and a new lip spoiler at the back. The sills have also been extended and the air intakes expanded, which is said to increase airflow to the radiators by up to 15% and improve brake cooling by 10%.
“With these upgrades, drivers are able to experience more consistent performance in demanding conditions, particularly on track,” says Lotus.
The car also rides 5mm lower on its uniquely tuned suspension, wears high-performance tyres and comes with bespoke carbonfibre shift paddles that “combine with updated haptics for added responsiveness and engagement”.
Buyers can further emphasise the 420’s lightweight remit with an optional carbon styling package that swaps out the splitter, sills, vents, side pods, rear wing and diffuser for carbonfibre items.
The 420 Sport also introduces to the Emira range a removable sunroof, to be rolled out as an option across the line-up, and features a louvred rear deck that nods to the old Esprit Turbo.
The 420 does not replace any current model in the Emira range, with the two existing four-cylinder variants and the V6 all remaining on sale – but it could be the last new version introduced before the sports coupé swaps its AMG and Toyota engines for a new hybrid V6 developed by Horse Powertrain in the coming years.
