Lotus Emira 420 Sport Is The Lightest, Fastest Four-Cylinder Emira Yet
The Lotus Emira has received rave reviews from all over the world so far, helping solidify the British brand's reputation as a maker of ultra lightweight, fun-to-drive sports cars at a time when the company was on a path to an all-electric future.
As you probably know, things have changed and earlier this month Lotus backtracked on its EV-only focus, announcing a multi-powertrain strategy where plug-in hybrid powertrains will play a big role going forward. As part of its new strategy called Focus 2030, a 986-horsepower hybrid V8 supercar will arrive in 2028, and it's expected to dust off the legendary Esprit name.
But until that happens, Lotus fans will be happy to know that a new Emira version has become available, and it's the most powerful, lightest, most aerodynamic and most expensive one yet.
More Power And Less Weight Is The Good Old Lotus Way
The new Lotus Emira 420 Sport manages to squeeze 416 horsepower and 369 pound-feet of torque from the Mercedes-AMG 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine, making it the fastest four-cylinder production car in the world today, according to its maker.
Compared to the Lotus Emira Turbo SE on which it's based, the Emira 420 Sport has an additional 10 hp and 15 lb-ft, but it is 55 pounds (25 kg) lighter with the optional Lightweight Handling Pack, which makes it the lightest Emira to date with a curb weight of 3,132 lbs (1,421 kg).
What's more, the Emira 420 Sport also produces 55 lbs more downforce with the Lightweight Handling Pack due to a a series of aerodynamic tweaks that improve cooling and track performance without increasing drag. This makes the 420 Sport the most aerodynamically capable Emira ever built.
The optional pack also includes two-way adjustable Multimatic dampers, a titanium exhaust, a lithium-ion battery, carbon fiber components and a dedicated Lotus Track Performance app to measure and record your lap times.
From a performance standpoint, all these attributes translate into a 0-62 MPH sprint in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 186 MPH. That means the 420 Sport is one-tenth of a second quicker to 62 MPH and 5 MPH faster than the Emira Turbo SE. The mid-engine sports car's transmission is the same 8-speed dual-clutch unit from the Turbo SE and Turbo models.
Styling Tweaks That Double As Functional Upgrades
You'll recognize the Emira 420 Sport on the road thanks to exterior updates like the new front splitter, revised front vents, extended side sills, larger air intakes, a lip spoiler and a louvered tailgate. These changes pay tribute to cars such as the Esprit Turbo but are not just aesthetic; they result in 15% more airflow to the outboard radiators, 14% more airflow to the central radiator, a 10% improvement in brake cooling, and 30% more exhaust valve airflow. Lotus says these upgrades enable more consistent performance on the track.
Speaking of track performance, the Lotus Emira 420 Sport also comes with a 0.2-inch (5-mm) lower ride height, revised suspension settings and high-performance tires for more control and feedback.
Inside, the cabin sports 12-way adjustable seats, a driver-focused layout and new carbon fiber gearshift paddles with updated haptics that are said to increase responsiveness and engagement.
In addition, Lotus has also added a removable tinted glass roof panel, available now across the entire Emira lineup. Inspired by the Esprit, it can be removed quickly and stored behind the seats in a protective bag, transforming the Emira from a coupe into a (partially) open-top car.
Customers can personalize their Emira 420 Sport further with an optional exterior carbon fiber pack, nine wheel designs and finishes and 16 paints, including the model exclusive Tangelo Orange. There are also two new optional interior packs available: the Carbon Fibre Pack and a Hand Painted Pack that adds Tangelo Orange highlights throughout the cabin.
The Lotus Emira 420 Sport is available to order now, with deliveries expected from August 2026. It starts at $122,900 in the U.S.-a $16,000 premium over the Emira Turbo SE.
Copyright 2026 The Arena Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
This story was originally published May 26, 2026 at 2:00 PM.