Lotus Emira 420 Sport: Fastest and Most Focused Yet

Numbers-wise, the first clue is in the name. The 420 Sport is the first Emira whose output starts with a four, although that figure references PS, which translates as 416bhp and 369lb ft in old money. Generating that figure is the AMG-sourced 2.0-litre turbo four-cylinder. Contrary to what the power output might suggest, Lotus hasn't simply adopted the AMG A45's powertrain – it remains a Lotus development of the A35's engine – with the additional 16bhp over the Turbo SE courtesy of a revised ECU map and improved cooling. As ever, the unit is mated to an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission sending power to the rear wheels. 0–60mph takes 3.7 seconds, 0–100mph 8.4 seconds, and the top speed is 186mph.

Although the Emira 420 Sport stops short of becoming a full-blown track car, its aerodynamic revisions carry genuine substance. A new front splitter, revised front vents, extended side sills, larger air intakes, a lip spoiler and a louvred tailgate are claimed to increase airflow to the outboard radiators by 15 per cent and the central radiator by 14 per cent, with brake cooling also improved by 10 per cent. Exhaust valve airflow is up by 30 per cent too, yet the drag coefficient remains unchanged at 0.37. Lotus says the changes also draw on the brand’s back catalogue, with the louvred tailgate providing an obvious nod to the Esprit Turbo.

A must-have option is the Lightweight Handling Pack. It comprises a titanium exhaust, lithium-ion battery and carbon fibre components, removing 25kg from the kerb weight and adding it to the downforce total. The pack also introduces two-way adjustable Multimatic dampers for compression and rebound. The underlying DSSV technology varies its resistance according to the speed and displacement of piston movement, handling small high-frequency road inputs differently from large body movements through a corner. It remains a passive system with no electronics or lag, which is all very Lotus. Ride height drops 5mm over the standard Emira, with revised geometry to suit. The pack also adds Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s to the equation.

Inside, new carbon fibre gearshift paddles with revised haptics are the most notable change, with 12-way bucket seats standard. The biggest differentiators come via the options list: a Carbon Fibre Pack reworking the driver display surround, steering wheel centre spoke and seat back logo surrounds, and a Hand Painted Pack distributing the 420 Sport's signature Tangelo Orange through the cabin.

New across the entire Emira range is a removable tinted glass roof panel, again inspired by the Esprit. Unusually for this day and age, it requires manual removal and stows behind the seats in a protective bag. Lotus claims structural integrity and dynamic performance are unaffected.

As Lotus readies its next chapter, the Emira's original billing as the last petrol Lotus sports car has since been overtaken by events, with Lotus recently confirming the return of the Esprit, complete with V8 power. The Emira itself will evolve into a second-generation car, sporting a Horse Powertrain-developed turbocharged six-cylinder producing in excess of 500bhp, born of the Geely-Renault alliance and almost certainly hybrid.

The 420 Sport, then, arrives as something more significant than a new range-topper – on paper, it has the ingredients to be peak MK1 Emira.

As Gavin Kershaw, Lotus's long-serving Director of Attributes, puts it: "Adjustable dampers, increased downforce, sharper responses, reduced roll – every detail obsessively engineered to put the driver more in control."

Lotus' timing couldn't be better. The Cayman GTS has been withdrawn from sale, with its successor plagued by indecision, and the axe is set to fall on the Alpine A110.

The Emira 420 Sport is available to order now, priced from £105,900 in the UK. The first customer cars are expected to arrive in August 2026.