Limited to just five examples and unique to Australia, Lotus has launched an Emira Turbo Heritage Edition. Paying homage to the Esprit, it will be available in Cosmos Black or Mist White – the latter having been immortalised in the 1981 Bond film “For Your Eyes Only”.
The special edition will feature specific “Emira Turbo” period decals, matte gold painted and diamond cut forged alloy wheels, and a Nappa leather or Alcantara interior. Owners even receive a complimentary entry to October’s Lotus Week event at Winton Raceway.
The latter is obviously only for those who purchase the car before that event. The Emira itself, well that’s available now, it’s priced at $204,990 plus on-roads, and features 4-cylinder turbo power, svelte lines and lightweight construction.
Introduced in 1980, the Lotus Turbo Esprit was the fastest production car of its time, capable of reaching 0-100km/h in just over 5.0-seconds and a maximum speed of 240kph thanks to its 2.2-litre, 156kW turbocharged engine and customary lightweight construction.
The timeless design of the Lotus Esprit earned it accolades across the automotive world and was selected as one of the “Top Sports Cars of the 1980s” by Sports Car International magazine.
Like the Esprit, the Emira Turbo Heritage Edition delivers its performance via forced induction. This time powered by a bespoke 268kW version of AMG’s M139 direct injection turbocharged engine.
Manufactured specifically for the Lotus Emira, it features re-engineered hardware to aid mid-mounted integration, and specific software to give it a true Lotus character. It is the world’s most powerful 2.0-litre four-cylinder homologated for road use.
An eight speed DCT gearbox compliments the engine perfectly, maximising performance through a tightly matched gearset and rapid-fire shifts. All of this transmitted to the driver through an old school electrohydraulic power steering setup.
Double wishbone suspension on all corners, Bilstein dampers, forged alloy wheels, Lotus
co-developed performance tyres, and two-piece brake discs round out a world class dynamic package that ensures delivery of a fully immersive drive experience.
However this Emira is not just about driving performance. A very high standard equipment specification is expected of a special edition, and this one’s no exception. Drivers, Convenience and Design Packs are all included.
This means you’ll find a 12-way adjustable driver seat with memory, and a KEF 10 channel premium audio system. Wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are also included. It’s backed by a 3-year unlimited kilometre warranty and national roadside assist too.
You can find out more on the Lotus Cars Australia website, or by talking to your local dealership.
