Stunning new supercar is last of its kind

Lightweight machine with Formula 1 heritage represents the end of an era – and it’s more affordable than you might expect.

Lotus says the new Emira represents the end of an era.

As a replacement for the successful Lotus Elise, Exige and Evora trio, the Emira represents the brand’s next-generation sports car.

It will also be the last all-new petrol-powered Lotus, with future models set to be powered by electric motors.

The two-seat Lotus Emira looks set to reach Australia soon.

Pitched as a supercar available at a sports car price, the Emira has the same core layout as its predecessors – a lightweight aluminium chassis, mid-mounted engine and rear-wheel-drive traction.

Those are the same fundamental ingredients as a $485,000 Ferrari F8 Tributo for less than a quarter of its cost.

Lotus says the Emira will be its last petrol-powered sports car.

As before, Lotus turned to much larger manufacturers to provide engines for its coupe.

Entry-level versions will have a turbocharged four-cylinder engine and eight-speed dual-clutch auto provided by Mercedes-AMG. Based on the firecracker engine found in the A45 S hot hatch, the engine has been detuned to 268kW for now.

Premium versions have a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 engine mated to a six-speed manual or six-speed torque converter automatic transmissions.

A digital cockpit and central touchscreen bring Lotus into the modern era.

Supercharged to the tune of 298kW, the V6 helps the Emira reach 100km/h in a little more than four seconds, but looming emissions restrictions might make it a temporary part of the line-up.

If previous efforts are any indication, Lotus might milk its investment in the Emira over the course of a decade or more, which is why it represents an enormous change for the brand.

Lotus expects the Emira to be more popular than outgoing models.

Showstopping looks take design cues from Lotus’ electric Evija hypercar, with a little influence from British cousins McLaren.

Now blessed with handy features such as cupholders, the Emira brings a digital dash and modern infotainment screen with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to encourage customers to use their cars regularly.

Safety gear such as active cruise control and lane keeping assistance is available for the first time, and Lotus says enormous effort went into improving the usability of the car through improved storage and a reduction in squeaks and rattles on the road.

An F1-inspired diffuser and twin exhausts look sharp at the rear.

While that is good news for prospective customers, diehard Lotus fans might be worried that the car’s weight now starts at 1405 kilos – about 500 kilograms more than the outgoing Elise.

That’s a huge departure from previous models, but Lotus is convinced prestige car customers expect more than an aluminium and fibreglass go-kart from their weekend wheels.

Set to arrive locally in 2022, the machine is priced from £60,000 ($110,500) in the UK, making it a rival to mid-range sports cars such as the Porsche Cayman and Alpine A110.

Originally published as Stunning new supercar is last of its kind