Lotus kini sedang mempertimbangkan pengenalan varian enjin V8 untuk model Emira sebagai sebahagian daripada strategi baharu bagi memperluas daya tarik model enjin pembakaran terakhir syarikat itu. Langkah ini muncul ketika Lotus—kini di bawah pemilikan Geely—berusaha menangani cabaran peraturan pelepasan serta permintaan pasaran, khususnya di Amerika Syarikat.

Emira ketika ini ditawarkan dalam dua konfigurasi kuasa – enjin V6 supercas yang diperoleh daripada Toyota, serta enjin empat silinder pengecas turbo dari Mercedes-AMG – masing-masing mampu menjana sehingga 400hp. Namun, enjin V6 dijadual dihentikan pengeluaran kerana tidak lagi mematuhi peraturan pelepasan Euro 7 yang bakal dikuatkuasakan.

Sebelum ini, Lotus merancang untuk menggugurkan V6 dan menumpukan kepada enjin AMG empat silinder. Namun, maklum balas pasaran, khususnya dari pelanggan di Amerika Syarikat, telah mendorong syarikat untuk mempertimbangkan semula keputusan tersebut.

Menurut laporan Autocar, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Lotus, Feng Qingfeng, mengesahkan dalam satu taklimat pelabur bahawa syarikat sedang menilai potensi untuk memperkenalkan versi Emira yang lebih berprestasi tinggi dengan enjin V8. Idea ini tercetus selepas seorang pengedar utama di AS mencadangkan varian yang lebih berkuasa, ringan dan setanding dengan Porsche 911 GT3.

Walaupun konfigurasi akhir belum dimuktamadkan, spekulasi kini tertumpu kepada enjin V8 4.0 liter twin-turbo dari Mercedes-AMG – yang turut digunakan dalam model prestasi seperti Aston Martin Vantage dan DBX. Namun begitu, integrasi enjin ini ke dalam casis padat Emira dengan konfigurasi enjin pertengahan akan memerlukan rombakan kejuruteraan menyeluruh.

Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Lotus Cars Europe yang baru dilantik, Matt Windle, yang turut mengetuai operasi di kemudahan pembuatan Hethel, mengesahkan bahawa perbincangan sedang berjalan bersama pembekal enjin syarikat. Beberapa pilihan rangkaian kuasa turut sedang dikaji dengan teliti.

Emira kekal sebagai satu-satunya model berkuasa petrol dalam barisan Lotus dan dibina sepenuhnya di kilang Hethel, Norfolk. Tahun lalu, model ini mencatat kejayaan komersial tertinggi dengan 5,272 unit dihantar ke seluruh dunia. Amerika Syarikat, sebagai pasaran penting bagi Lotus, terus menjadi tumpuan utama dalam memastikan Emira kekal relevan dan kompetitif.

Bagaimanapun, perkembangan geopolitik terkini telah memberi kesan kepada strategi pasaran Lotus. Pada April lalu, Amerika Syarikat mengenakan tarif sebanyak 25% terhadap kenderaan buatan United Kingdom, memaksa Lotus menghentikan eksport Emira ke negara itu. Ini menyusuli pengumuman terdahulu mengenai tarif 145% terhadap kenderaan buatan China – yang menyebabkan penarikan balik SUV Eletre dan salun elektrik Emeya dari pasaran Amerika.

Perjanjian perdagangan baharu antara UK dan AS yang menurunkan kadar tarif kepada 10% memberikan sedikit kelegaan. Namun begitu, Lotus masih menangguhkan penghantaran ke pasaran AS sambil menunggu penjelasan lanjut mengenai pelaksanaan perjanjian tersebut. Windle menegaskan bahawa walaupun unit sedia untuk dihantar, syarikat mengambil pendekatan berhati-hati bagi mengelakkan sebarang implikasi kewangan yang tidak dijangka.

Melihat ke hadapan, Emira asalnya dirancang sebagai model terakhir enjin pembakaran dalam barisan Lotus, sebelum syarikat beralih sepenuhnya kepada teknologi elektrifikasi. Namun, peralihan tersebut tidak bergerak secepat yang diharapkan. Lotus kini masih menilai sama ada permintaan pasaran mencukupi untuk menyokong pelancaran kereta sport elektrik sepenuhnya – membuka ruang kepada kemungkinan lanjutan hayat model pembakaran dalaman secara terhad.

Sekiranya dimuktamadkan, Emira V8 bakal menjadi model enjin V8 pertama Lotus sejak pengeluaran model lagenda Lotus Esprit dihentikan pada 2004. Dalam landskap automotif yang kian dikawal peraturan dan ketidaktentuan pasaran global, Emira V8 berpotensi menjadi lambang keberanian Lotus dalam mempertahankan warisan prestasi dan kejuruteraan yang telah mendefinisikan jenama itu sejak sekian lama.

The Emira, currently available with a supercharged V6 sourced from Toyota and a turbocharged four-cylinder engine supplied by Mercedes-AMG, delivers up to 400bhp in both variants. However, the V6 is set to be discontinued as it cannot be made compliant with the forthcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations. Although Lotus had previously planned to phase out the V6 in favour of the AMG four-cylinder, consumer preference, especially in the US, has prompted a reassessment.

According to Autocar, Lotus Chief Executive Officer Feng Qingfeng confirmed during a recent investor briefing that the company is considering a higher-performance version of the Emira and is currently assessing the viability of fitting it with a V8. His remarks followed feedback from an American dealer who proposed a lightweight, high-powered alternative capable of rivalling the Porsche 911 GT3.

While Lotus has yet to confirm the exact configuration, speculation centres on the AMG 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which is already used in performance models such as the Aston Martin Vantage and DBX. However, integrating such a powertrain into the Emira’s compact, mid-engined chassis would require substantial engineering revisions. Matt Windle, newly appointed CEO of Lotus Cars Europe and head of the Hethel manufacturing facility, acknowledged that discussions are underway with the brand’s current engine supplier, and that multiple powertrain options are being examined.

The Emira remains Lotus’s only petrol-powered offering and is built exclusively at its Hethel plant. The model set a sales record last year with 5,272 units delivered. With the United States historically representing a critical market for Lotus, the company is placing significant emphasis on maintaining the Emira’s competitiveness there.

However, recent geopolitical shifts have complicated the situation. In April, the United States imposed a 25% tariff on British-built vehicles, leading Lotus to halt Emira exports to the country. This followed an earlier US decision to levy a 145% tariff on Chinese-manufactured goods, prompting Lotus to withdraw its Chinese-built Eletre SUV and Emeya electric saloon from the American market entirely.

A new trade agreement between the UK and US that reduces tariffs on UK-built vehicles to 10% has offered a potential reprieve. Nonetheless, Lotus has yet to resume shipments, as it awaits detailed clarification on how the new terms will be implemented. Windle indicated that while vehicles are ready for export, the company remains cautious, preferring to avoid any premature actions that could incur financial penalties.

Looking further ahead, Lotus had originally intended for the Emira to be its final combustion-engine sports car, with an electric successor on the horizon. However, the transition to electric propulsion is not moving forward as swiftly as anticipated. The firm is still evaluating whether market demand is sufficient to support the launch of an all-electric sports car, suggesting that internal combustion may yet have a future in the Lotus range—albeit a limited one.

If approved, the V8-powered Emira would mark the company’s first V8 model since production of the Esprit ended in 2004. As Lotus balances regulatory demands, customer preferences, and trade complexities, the Emira V8 could emerge as a bold send-off to the marque’s celebrated combustion heritage.

Emira Clark Edition dibangunkan dengan kerjasama The Jim Clark Trust, dan dicipta bagi memperingati tahun kegemilangan 1965 — tahun yang menyaksikan Jim Clark menjuarai Kejuaraan Dunia Formula Satu bersama Team Lotus, serta merangkul kemenangan berprestij di Indianapolis 500. Tidak cukup dengan itu, beliau turut menguasai Formula 2, Siri Tasman di Australia dan New Zealand, serta perlumbaan kereta jelajah menggunakan Lotus Cortina, menjadikan pencapaiannya pada tahun tersebut sebagai salah satu yang paling luar biasa dalam sejarah perlumbaan.

Reka bentuk Emira Clark Edition diinspirasikan terus daripada Lotus Type 38, jentera yang digunakan Clark untuk menawan Indianapolis 500. Badan kereta disempurnakan dengan warna eksklusif Clark Racing Green, diserikan dengan bumbung hitam kontras, cermin sisi perak dan jalur lumba kuning terang di bahagian hadapan. Elemen perlumbaan klasik turut diterapkan melalui penutup bahan api aluminium bermesin dengan anod biru, hujung ekzos kuning dan jalur kuning lukisan tangan sepanjang sisi badan. Lambang khas Clark Edition pada pintu meminjam rekabentuk asal kereta lumba Jim Clark.

Ruang dalaman pula direka untuk membangkitkan semangat perlumbaan era 1960-an. Tempat duduk pemandu dibalut kulit merah dan Alcantara, manakala tempat duduk penumpang menggunakan kulit hitam – satu penghormatan kepada konfigurasi kabin Clark pada tahun 1965. Tombol gear kayu gaya retro dan lencana Jim Clark dengan corak tartan keluarga dari Lochcarron, Scotland, memberikan sentuhan sentimental yang mendalam. Tandatangan Clark turut tertera pada papan pemuka, dan lambang Team Lotus dijahit pada bahagian belakang tempat duduk, menyerlahkan warisan perlumbaan kereta ini.

Setiap unit Emira Clark Edition akan diberi nombor pengeluaran tersendiri pada plat gentian karbon, dan disertakan beg kulit buatan tangan eksklusif dengan hiasan Clark sebagai pelengkap istimewa bagi pemiliknya.

Dari sudut prestasi, edisi istimewa ini mengekalkan enjin supercharged V6 3.5 liter Lotus Emira yang menjana 400hp. Kuasa disalurkan menerusi transmisi manual enam kelajuan bersama limited-slip differential. Antara ciri prestasi lain termasuk stereng hidraulik untuk rasa pemanduan tulen, nota ekzos baharu, Track Mode, dan pakej penggantungan sukan yang ditawarkan melalui Lotus Drivers Pack.

Emira Clark Edition bukan sekadar sebuah kereta — ia adalah penghormatan moden kepada warisan Jim Clark dan bukti pengaruhnya yang kekal dalam dunia perlumbaan serta falsafah kejuruteraan Lotus. Model ini ditawarkan pada harga £115,000 (kira-kira RM646,274) di United Kingdom, manakala di Jerman ia disenaraikan pada €140,000 (sekitar RM666,176).

The Emira Clark Edition commemorates one of motorsport’s most revered figures, whose extraordinary achievements in 1965 continue to resonate across generations. That historic year saw Clark claim the Formula 1 World Championship title with Team Lotus, while also capturing victory at the Indianapolis 500 — a feat that remains unequalled. Beyond that, Clark also dominated in Formula 2, the Tasman Series in Australia and New Zealand, and achieved success in touring car races with the Lotus Cortina.

This historic campaign forms the foundation for the Emira Clark Edition’s design and ethos, celebrating Clark’s unmatched versatility and dominance across various racing formats. It stands as a modern homage to a driver whose legacy continues to influence the sport and the marque.

The car’s distinctive appearance draws direct inspiration from Clark’s 1965 Indianapolis-winning Lotus Type 38. It is painted in a bespoke Clark Racing Green finish, accented by a contrasting black roof, silver mirrors, and a striking yellow racing stripe across the nose. A machined aluminium fuel cap with a blue anodised centre, vivid yellow exhaust tips, and a hand-painted yellow pinstripe along the swage line reinforce its racing credentials. The doors are adorned with a Clark Edition emblem derived from insignia used on Clark’s original racing cars.

Inside, the Emira Clark Edition evokes an atmosphere steeped in motorsport nostalgia. The seats are asymmetrically upholstered — the driver’s seat wrapped in red leather and Alcantara to mirror Clark’s 1965 racing cockpit, while the passenger seat features black leather and Alcantara. A retro-style wooden gear knob enhances the period aesthetic, accompanied by commemorative Jim Clark badges which incorporate his unique family tartan from Lochcarron, Scotland. Additional design flourishes include Clark’s signature on the dashboard and Team Lotus motifs stitched into the seatbacks.

Each car will be individually numbered with carbon fibre treadplates indicating its limited production run. Buyers will also receive an exclusive hand-crafted leather holdall tailored with Clark Edition detailing, underscoring the bespoke nature of the vehicle.

Underneath its historically inspired design lies the power of the Lotus Emira V6. The special edition retains the 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine, delivering 400hp through a six-speed manual gearbox with a limited-slip differential. Performance enhancements include unfiltered hydraulic steering, a revised exhaust note, Track Mode, and a sports suspension package courtesy of the Lotus Driver’s Pack.

The Emira Clark Edition not only celebrates a motorsport titan but also offers a pure driving experience in keeping with Lotus’s engineering philosophy. This model stands as both a collector’s gem and a testament to Clark’s enduring influence on the world of racing.

In the United Kingdom, the Emira Clark Edition is priced at £115,000 (RM646,274), while the German market will see it listed at €140,000 (RM666,176).

Kedai itu, berkeluasan 173.58 m², memulakan kerjaya di Kuala Lumpur 10 bulan selepas pelancaran Hyper-SUV Lotus Eletre serba elektrik. Eletre telah menjadi popular di Malaysia, dengan 50 kereta dihantar setakat ini dan 200 lagi dalam perjalanan.

Mencerminkan identiti korporat antarabangsa baharu Lotus, Lotus Store mempamerkan kereta sport Eletre dan Emira. Ia juga menawarkan bilik konfigurator untuk menyesuaikan kenderaan, bahagian untuk barangan Lotus eksklusif dan ruang istirahat.

Pelanggan boleh memperibadikan setiap aspek kenderaan mereka menggunakan konfigurator, dari bahagian luar dan dalam hingga peralatan dan alat bantu memandu.

Dibuka setiap hari dari jam 10.00 pagi hingga 10.00 malam, kedai tersebut terletak di tingkat 1 di Lot 1.47.02 Pavilion Damansara Heights. Pelanggan dialu-alukan oleh skrin LED beresolusi tinggi 8.4 meter persegi yang menarik.

Kedai ini merupakan pendahulu kepada bilik pameran utama Lotus Cars Malaysia di Glenmarie, Shah Alam, yang akan dibuka pada Q2 2024. Jenama itu juga merancang untuk mengembangkan kehadirannya di wilayah lain dan memperkenalkan Penyelesaian Perkhidmatan Mudah Alih Lotus untuk kemudahan tambahan.

Jack Zaal, Pengurus Besar Lotus Cars Malaysia, menonjolkan pendekatan berhati-hati jenama itu untuk memperkenalkan semula dirinya di Malaysia, memeberi tumpuan kepada pelanggan sedia ada dan baharu. Kejayaan Eletre, digabungkan dengan langkah Malaysia ke arah elektrifikasi kenderaan, telah melonjakkan Lotus kepada jenama terkemuka di Malaysia.

Lotus Cars di Malaysia diwakili oleh Lotus Karz Sdn Bhd, pengimport tunggal, pengedar dan pembekal perkhidmatan selepas jualan dan alat ganti untuk jenama itu, di bawah KARRUS Automotive, anak syarikat yang mengkhusus dalam kereta baharu, terpakai dan klasik premium.

Spanning 173.58 m², the Lotus Store in Kuala Lumpur opened its doors 10 months after the launch of the first all-electric Hyper-SUV Lotus Eletre in April last year. The Lotus Eletre has been well-received in Malaysia, with 50 cars already delivered as of this month and another 200 cars on their way.

Designed to reflect Lotus’s new international corporate identity, the Lotus Store showcases two of the brand’s latest offerings in Malaysia – the Eletre and the Emira sports car. It also features a configurator room where customers can personalise and accessorise their vehicles, a dedicated wing for exclusive Lotus merchandise and apparel, and a well-appointed lounge area.

The configurator allows customers to customise every aspect of their vehicle, from the exterior and interior to the level of equipment and additional driving aid features.

Operating daily from 10.00 am to 10.00 pm, the Lotus Store is located on the 1st floor at Lot 1.47.02 of Pavilion Damansara Heights. Customers are greeted by an 8.4 sqm high-resolution LED screen upon entering the store for an engaging display.

The Lotus Store at Pavilion Damansara Heights also sets the stage for the opening of Lotus Cars Malaysia’s flagship showroom in Glenmarie, Shah Alam, scheduled for Q2 2024. The brand plans to further expand its footprint in the Northern and Southern regions and implement a Lotus Mobile Service Solution for greater customer convenience.

Lotus Cars Malaysia General Manager Jack Zaal emphasised the brand’s gradual but methodical approach to reintroducing itself in Malaysia, focusing on reassuring existing customers and attracting new ones. The success of the Eletre, coupled with Malaysia’s push towards vehicle electrification, has propelled Lotus into a premier class marque in Malaysia.

Lotus Cars in Malaysia is represented by Lotus Karz Sdn Bhd, the sole importer, distributor, and provider of after-sales service and spare parts for the brand. Lotus Karz is a wholly-owned subsidiary of KARRUS Automotive, an importer of premium new, used, and classic cars.