The Lotus Emira is one of the most exciting cars of 2022, and DickieMeaden's had an early drive in a close-to-production prototype -
. It’s the latter we’re sampling, mated to a 6-speed manual transmission. It could almost have been made forWe’re driving Emira VP-007 - an ADAS test vehicle used for the development of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems. Such technology is new to Lotus, but essential to the marque’s future EV models, so whilst resolutely driver-focussed, Emira is the car to bridge that technological gap.
The first major surprise is when you open the driver’s door and lower yourself into the seat, as for the first time in 25 years ingress and egress into a new Lotus is a doddle. The interior is clean and simple with a welcome sense of space. There’s even useable space behind the seats to place your coat or a laptop bag. The comfort-spec seat in VP-007 isn’t fully representative, but offers decent support.
Gently roll your wrists and the Emira peels into quick corners with cucumber coolness. No fuss or nibbling at the corner, just one smooth input from turn-in through apex to exit. Into tighter corners you inject the attacking energy by applying punchier steering inputs.