Lotus has unveiled another special edition of the Emira, though this one marks an important milestone for the sports car. It’s called the Lotus Emira 420, and not only is it the lightest and most powerful Emira yet, but it also serves as a send-off for the AMG-sourced 2.0-litre powertrain, with reports suggesting it would be replaced by a new 3.0-litre hybrid V6 from Horse Powertrain.
The new Lotus Emira 420 will be offered with a single powertrain option: an AMG-sourced 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine producing 420 hp and 500 Nm of torque. Those figures now match the Mercedes-AMG A45S in full, whereas previous versions of the Emira featured detuned outputs of 365 hp and 406 hp in the Turbo and Turbo SE, respectively.
What remains unchanged, however, is the drivetrain layout, with power still sent exclusively to the rear wheels via an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission (DCT).
The Lotus Emira 420 comes standard with the marque’s Lightweight Handling Pack, bringing with it a host of chassis, aerodynamic, and weight-saving upgrades aimed at sharpening the sports car further.
Among the key highlights are two-way adjustable Multimatic dampers, a titanium exhaust system, a lightweight lithium-ion battery, and additional carbon fibre components throughout the vehicle. Together, these changes help shave up to 25 kg off the Emira’s weight compared to other variants.
Aerodynamics have been given some attention as well, with the Lotus Emira 420 gaining a redesigned front splitter and vents, extended side sills, larger air intakes, a lip spoiler, and a louvred tailgate. Lotus says these revisions improve airflow to the outboard radiators by 15%, the central radiator by 14%, and brake cooling by 10%, while airflow through the exhaust valve is also increased by 30%.
Combined, the upgrades generate up to 25 kg more downforce without increasing aerodynamic drag. Handling has also been sharpened further with a revised suspension setup and a ride height lowered by five mm.
Visually, the Emira 420 can be specified in 16 exterior colour options, with Tangelo Orange reserved exclusively for the new 420 model. Buyers can also choose from nine wheel designs, including a newly introduced 20-inch 15-spoke forged alloy wheel finished in satin dark grey.
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Additionally, Lotus is offering an optional exterior carbon fibre pack, which adds carbon fibre finishes to components such as the front splitter, side sills, wheel arch vents, side pods, rear spoiler, and diffuser surround.
Inside, the cabin retains the Emira’s familiar driver-focused layout, featuring a 10.25-inch central infotainment display paired with a 12.3-inch TFT driver’s display. Sports bucket seats and a KEF premium audio system also come as standard. Being offered as an automatic-only, the Emira 420 gains new carbon fibre shift paddles.
For buyers seeking additional personalisation, Lotus is also offering a new Hand Painted Pack. Inspired by the Tangelo Orange launch colour, it adds contrasting highlights across the cabin, including the centre console, steering wheel spoke, gear lever inner trim, and air vent surrounds.
Alongside the introduction of the Emira 420, Lotus has also announced a new removable roof panel option across the Emira range. While not a fully open-top convertible setup, the removable panel allows drivers to enjoy a more open-air experience, with the roof section capable of being stored in a dedicated protective bag.
It’s also worth noting that an even more extreme Emira variant already exists in the form of the Emira Burthust Edition, which produces 510 hp and 600 Nm from the same AMG-sourced engine. However, that model was developed exclusively for the Australian market by Lotus’ local distributor, with production limited to just 15 units.
Priced from GBP105,900 (approx. RM564k), the Lotus Emira 420 could very well mark the end of an era for the model’s AMG-sourced 2.0-litre powertrain experience. Moving forward, reports from Motor1 suggest the powertrain will eventually be replaced by a new 3.0-litre hybrid V6 setup supplied by Horse Powertrain, the Geely-Renault joint-venture powertrain company.
Known as the W30, the new engine was already previewed at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show. Preliminary figures range from 476 hp to 544 hp and 600 Nm to 700 Nm of torque, while the powertrain itself supports both transverse and longitudinal configurations. Those are substantial numbers, though it remains to be seen whether the new hybrid V6 can replicate the character and drama of the outgoing AMG-sourced four-cylinder engine.
READ MORE: The updated Lotus Emira will be powered by a new hybrid V6 engine from Horse Powertrain
