Lotus is giving the Emira a sharper edge with the new 420 Sport, a China-market version positioned as the lightest and most powerful take on the current sports car.
It’s pitched as a road car with genuine track intent, rather than a simple trim update.
With 420 hp, a 186 mph top speed and a lower curb weight, the Emira 420 Sport pushes the four-cylinder model closer to the serious driver’s end of the spectrum.
At a glance
- Lotus has launched the Emira 420 Sport in China as the most powerful and lightest version of the sports car yet.
- The car uses AMG’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine with 420 hp, revised aerodynamics and weight-saving hardware.
- Pricing starts at around 988,000 yuan, or about $145,000, with deliveries scheduled to begin in October.
A lighter Emira with sharper track intent
The Emira 420 Sport is described by Lotus as a track-grade road car, and the changes point clearly in that direction.
The car sits 5 mm lower than the Emira Turbo SE, giving it a more purposeful stance while supporting the aerodynamic revisions.
Lotus has reworked the front cooling system to send more air to the radiators, a useful change for a turbocharged car expected to spend time under sustained load.
Brake cooling has also been improved, which should help maintain consistency during harder driving sessions.
At 300 km/h, or 186 mph, the updated aero package produces an extra 25 kg of rear downforce without increasing drag.
That last detail matters because the Emira’s appeal has always relied on balance and feel, not simply chasing bigger numbers.
Titanium exhaust and AMG turbo power
Weight reduction plays a central role in the 420 Sport’s character.
A titanium exhaust system and lightweight lithium battery help bring the standard curb weight down to 1,430 kg.
Lotus also offers an optional lightweight handling package that trims a further 25 kg from the car.
Power comes from AMG’s 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, tuned here to produce 420 hp and 500 Nm of torque.
The mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout remains one of the Emira’s defining traits, keeping it distinct in a market where many performance cars are becoming larger, heavier and more digitally filtered.
An eight-speed dual-clutch transmission handles shifting duties.
Lotus quotes 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds, with top speed rated at 300 km/h.
China pricing and buyer appeal
The Emira 420 Sport starts at around 988,000 yuan, equal to roughly $145,000.
Deliveries are scheduled to begin in October, placing the model into customer hands quickly after launch.
For Chinese buyers, the 420 Sport gives the Emira range a more focused flagship with tangible mechanical and aerodynamic changes.
It should appeal most to drivers who want the compact, mid-engine Lotus formula with added performance, lower weight and a more serious cooling package for fast road use or track days.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Lotus |
|---|---|
| Model | Emira 420 Sport |
| Market | China |
| Engine | AMG 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder |
| Power | 420 hp |
| Torque | 500 Nm, 368 lb ft |
| Drivetrain | Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive |
| Transmission | Eight-speed dual-clutch |
| 0-100 km/h | 3.9 seconds |
| Top speed | 300 km/h, 186 mph |
| Standard curb weight | 1,430 kg |
| Aerodynamics | Additional 25 kg rear downforce at 300 km/h without added drag |
| Chassis height | 5 mm lower than Emira Turbo SE |
| Weight-saving features | Titanium exhaust and lightweight lithium battery |
| Optional package | Lightweight handling package reducing weight by another 25 kg |
| Price | From around 988,000 yuan, approximately $145,000 |
| Deliveries | Scheduled to begin in October |
The Emira 420 Sport doesn’t change the essence of Lotus’s compact sports car, but it does give it a more urgent brief with meaningful gains in power, cooling, aero and weight.
For drivers who still value a focused two-seat performance car over outright excess, this looks like one of the more interesting Emira variants yet.
