Lotus Emira 420 Sport – lightweight Turbo is AMG 2.0L 4-cyl’s last hurrah before Horse hybrid V6 replacement

Lotus has introduced a new lightweight version of the AMG-powered Emira Turbo, called the Emira 420 Sport. Snigger at the numeral part of the name all you want, but this is a very serious sports car touting more power, a 25 kg weight saving and a 25 kg increase in downforce over the already potent standard model.

The trimmed fat comes courtesy of an optional Lightweight Handling Pack, bringing with it carbon fibre components, a titanium exhaust and an lithium-ion 12-volt battery. Meanwhile, the M139 2.0 litre turbo four-cylinder engine has been uprated over the detuned 365 PS and 406 PS versions in the Turbo and Turbo SE, now making the full 420 PS and 500 Nm of torque – the same as the Mercedes-AMG A45S. A seven-speed dual-clutch transmission continues to send drive to the rear wheels.

All the power in the world means nothing on a Lotus without Hethel’s legendary ride and handling, so the 420 Sport comes with bespoke chassis tuning and a five millimetre ride height drop. The aforementioned Lightweight Handling Pack adds two-way adjustable Multimatic dampers and high-performance tyres for even greater performance on road and track; there’s even a dedicated Lotus Track Performance lap timer app.

Further tweaks include a subtle bodykit inspired by the original 1980s Esprit Turbo, helping to increase downforce without adding drag. There’s a new front splitter, revised front vents, extended side sills, larger air intakes, a lip spoiler and a louvred tailgate. Not only do these changes aid aerodynamics, but they also increase airflow to the outboard and central radiators and the brakes by as much as 15%, providing added cooling and more consistent performance.

The 420 Sport carries over the Emira’s nine wheel design and colour options, including new 20-inch 15-spoke forged alloys in satin dark grey. Despite its lightweight nature, the car continues to feature 12-way power-adjustable seats, although the DCT does gain carbon paddle shifters.

On the options list is an exterior carbon pack consisting of the front splitter, side sills, wheel arch vents, side pods, rear spoiler and diffuser surround. You also get 16 colours to choose from – including the exclusive Tangelo Orange – along with a carbon pack for the interior and a Hand Painted Pack that adds the tangerine hue across the cabin.

Lotus has also announced that a new removable roof panel option has been added across the Emira range, adding a bit of an open-top experience. It’s not quite a targa top, but instead a sunroof-sized piece of glass that can be popped out quickly and stored in a protective bag. Lotus’ trademark extruded aluminium construction means that the dynamic performance of the car remains unchanged.

Set to be delivered to customers starting in August, the 420 Sport is likely the last hurrah for the Emira’s existing pure petrol engines. According to Autocar, both the AMG mill and the Toyota-sourced 2GR-FE 3.5 litre supercharged V6 are set to be replaced by the W30 3.0 litre twin-turbo hybrid V6 from parent Geely’s Horse Powertrain, which was recently shown at the Auto China show in Beijing last month.

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