Not that there’s a lot to present away the junior Emira’s Swabian coronary heart, at the very least superficially. In the V6 automobile, you may see the highest of the supercharger by means of the glass, whereas this I4 has plastic cladding, like its chief rivals, the Alpine A110 and Porsche 718 Cayman S. Elsewhere, even the deliciously big-bore tailpipes are the identical on each strains of Emira. But then if I had one thing so fairly on my arms, I wouldn’t tinker both. In the flesh, this valedictory combustion-engine Lotus has the look of a Ferrari 488-Lancia Stratos cross. It’s gorgeous. The scalloped sides are significantly breathtaking – pun totally meant.
Once you’re inside, I4 hallmarks present. There are two fairly lovely aluminium paddles mounted to the steering wheel. They management the Mercedes eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox, and whereas their motion is a tad brief and unsatisfying, they’re in perceived-quality phrases emblematic of the cabin as a complete. Airy however intimate, the cockpit has a maturity past that of the darkish, plasticky A110 and a heat that the Cayman has at all times struggled to muster. It’s solely let down by the seats, that are a bit unsupportive and brief, with jutting headrests. Otherwise, it’s pretty. Slick tech, too.
Foot on the conspicuously centred brake pedal, drag the clever, leather-on-metal gear selector into drive, hit the beginning button and your first style of Lotus-featuring-AMG is… docile and understated. Pull off the mark and the motor burbles and thrums gently, and you actually must sharpen your ears to understand the waspish rigidity that hints at its outrageous, more-than-200bhp-per-litre output potential. Admittedly, right here the M139 isn’t wound up as bombastically as within the Mercedes-AMG A45 S. In the super-hatch it makes 416bhp at 6750rpm, whereas within the Emira it’s pegged to 360bhp, delivered at 6600rpm. Even better-endowed variations will certainly comply with, however for now the I4 Emira is deferential to the 400bhp V6 one which made its bow final 12 months.
