“We didn’t want to derate any of the power,” grins the sports car boss. “We could have done that but the main driver for the engines was gearbox application, [not] power.” The four-pot comes with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission for ultra-fast changes (and the fastest 0-62mph time of 4 four seconds flat), whereas the slightly slower V6 comes with a manual or six-speed torque converter.
The Emira is available in GT4 racing spec, with more power from the V6, a sequential racing ‘box and enhanced aero. Is this a template for stripped out, roadgoing Emiras following the blueprint of Porsche’s 718 Cayman GT4? “We’re pretty much at the power we can be on those engines,” counters Windle – until the hybrid comes on stream.
An open-top version is likely to filter through in time: the chassis was developed with sufficient stiffness for a spider version, like the classic Elise.
An open Emira would sell well in the vital US market, where Chinese imports of the Eletre SUV and Emeya saloon are non-starters due to tariff barriers. Given that sister brand Volvo has a factory in South Carolina, could Lotus use it to assemble the big EVs in the States? “At the moment, there are no plans for production over there,” says the European boss.
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