Lotus, the legendary British automaker renowned for its sports cars, has taken a bold leap into the electric vehicle market with the unveiling of Emeya, the company's first four-door hyper-GT. The global premiere for the Emeya took place in the heart of New York City, USA, as part of a three-day immersive brand experience that showcased the past, present, and future of Lotus at Studio Emeya. With pricing likely to start around the £100,000 mark for a 600 bhp version, just how confident can Lotus be that its brand history will help it generate significant sales in these troubled economic times?
Emeya is poised to set a new benchmark for the Lotus brand, fusing the company's 75-year expertise in engineering and design with the latest advanced innovations. This bold step represents Lotus' commitment to delivering an electric car that not only performs exceptionally but also retains the essence of driving excitement that has defined the brand for decades.
“Bringing together our rich heritage with intelligent performance and the latest cutting-edge technologies, we're pushing the boundaries for how a luxury electric vehicle should look and handle – making it truly for the drivers,” said Feng Qingfeng, CEO of Lotus Group.
So what does Qingfeng believe are the key features that will set this car apart from other offers in the market? Well, according to Lotus, prospective customers should be looking at:-
Advanced Aerodynamics and ‘Hyperstance'
Emeya boasts advanced and active aerodynamic features, including an innovative active front grille, rear diffuser, and moving rear spoiler. This, combined with a low centre of gravity referred to as ‘hyperstance,' enhances stability when driving and sets a new standard in the GT segment for ride and handling excellence.
Electronically Controlled Air Suspension
Emeya features an electronically controlled air suspension system that continuously adjusts to ensure a smooth and comfortable ride. Its onboard sensors analyse the road 1,000 times per second to deliver a level of comfort and control that exceeds expectations.
Impressive Power and Acceleration
The top-spec Emeya model features Lotus' high-power dual motor setup, propelling the hyper-GT to a top speed of over 155mph (250km/h) and accelerating from 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in under 2.8 seconds. This makes Emeya one of the fastest electric GTs in the world. In the real world, it will be 1 second faster than the similar looking MG 4 XPower at £36,500 and 1 second slower than a Tesla Model S Plaid at £120,000.
Exceptional Charging Capabilities
Lotus' market-leading charging capabilities complement Emeya's performance. With a 350kW DC fast charger, it can add 93 miles (150km) of range in approximately five minutes and reach an 80% charge within 18 minutes, ensuring confidence during long journeys.
Sustainable Luxury
Emeya is consciously designed with advanced sustainable materials, including repurposed fibres from the fashion industry, PVD aluminium, Alcantara, Nappa leather and Ultrafabrics PU – all sustainably sourced to reduce its carbon footprint.
Immersive Audio Experience
Lotus has partnered with KEF to develop an unrivalled audio system for Emeya. Featuring KEF's award-winning Uni-Q speaker design, Uni-Core space-saving subwoofer enclosure, and Dolby Atmos-enabled 3D surround sound, the Emeya promises to elevate music listening to new heights.
Ben Payne, Vice-President of Design at Lotus Group, expressed, “This is a Lotus like you have never seen before. We've built on everything Lotus has achieved so far to create a luxury performance car for the drivers, designed to inspire confidence, exhilarate with raw emotion and pure joy – connecting them to the road.”
Lotus believes that Emeya marks a significant milestone in the sportscar brand's journey towards becoming a global performance brand by 2028. Production is expected to commence in 2024, with further details on market availability and pricing to be announced at a later date.
What are we expecting here at WhichEV? There are likely to be two variations of the car, with a standard model based on a 600 bhp motor around the £100,000 mark and a high end/boosted model that has over 900 bhp and a price slightly north of £120,000.
The immersive experience in New York City served as a platform to showcase the brand's rich heritage and its vision for the future. The event, which took over four storeys of a Manhattan parking lot, invited attendees to embark on Lotus' journey, highlighting how Emeya was created and the emotions it evokes while driving. The event culminated in an immersive reveal of the car, followed by a rooftop party featuring DJ and radio presenter Benji B, providing attendees with an up-close and personal experience with Emeya.
As Lotus sets its sights on a new era of luxury electric vehicles, Emeya is looking to represent the perfect fusion of emotion and logic, power and precision. The name “Emeya” itself embodies Lotus' ambition and commitment to this groundbreaking vehicle. Emeya joins Lotus' line-up of luxury lifestyle electric vehicles and is looking to redefine the electric GT segment. You can let Lotus know you're interested in further Emeya information – and we're expecting a big update in Q4 2023.
Lotus itself has a rich history dating back to its founding in 1948. On track, it has produced some memorable F1 cars and it won the Constructor's Championship seven times in the 1960s and 1970s. Ask any ‘Gentleman of a certain age', what they think of when you say Lotus – and the chances are that most will confess to a fixation with the white Esprit Turbo that James Bond turned into a submarine with anti-aircraft missile system. Those days of pure fantasy are now long gone but, on the more practical side of things, issues with production in the 1980s and 1990s will have been put to bed by the brand's new Chinese ownership – and the company is now firmly focused on the high-performance sports car business.