If one were to think about Lotus‘ progression into electric vehicles, from an enthusiast’s perspective, the story would probably begin with an electric sportscar, followed by a sedan or coupe and inevitably, an SUV. However, put on your commercial hat and the SUV would have to come first in that order given the popularity of the segment, this would be followed by a sedan and then a sportscar. But whichever hat you wear, the sedan is always the second logical step in Lotus’ electric future and now that it’s here, has anything been lost in the translation from concept to reality.
While I found the Eletre to be excellent in both S and R guises, it was perhaps a step too far for some when it became Lotus’ first production EV and SUV! From that perspective, the Emeya is an easier pill to swallow for the traditional Lotus enthusiast, mainly because it’s lower to the ground and therefore, more in line with the brand’s offerings of old, powertrain aside.
And yes, the Evija was the first electric Lotus but it is a low-volume hypercar, so I have purposely omitted it from the discussion above!
Speaking of in line, that’s exactly what the Emeya is when appreciated from the exterior. Right from the first glance, it just looks right. Although a sizable vehicle when you measure it up, the execution in design hides those proportions so well, making it a vehicle that rudely interrupts conversations of bystanders, forcing them to have a gander at the car instead. At traffic lights, I could often spot people stepping away from their coffee conversations to admire the car!
While recognizable as a member of Lotus’ electric family, the car’s mere presence still strikes plenty of curiosity. While parked up, I noticed people looking for the badge when up close with the car, an effect that works to the brand’s benefit as more awareness is given to the Emeya. This alluring aura that the Emeya seems to have could also have been helped by its beautiful Fireglow Orange shade. Some say it looks red and while under some lights it does, there’s no denying that it is a beautiful hue of orange. Under direct sunlight, the metal flake shines through distinctly. Yes, there are some surreal colours in the Emeya range but nothing quite like this!
Remember how I said the Emeya was a sizable car? To put this into context, it’s over 5.1m in length and nearly 2.1m in width. Yes, it’s large but those dimensions are masked well by its low height of 1.4m and a dynamic design. Additionally, when you are driving along, I highly encourage you to pop out the wing as it adds to the visual appeal of the car. Yes, you probably won’t need it for anything less than 150kph but I believe a ‘form over function’ approach is the one to take here!
However, the interior offers both form and function with added real estate too!
This is where the Emeya really comes into its own as a luxury vehicle. Remember, this is still new territory for Lotus but they absolutely nailed the Eletre’s interior and have done the same for the Emeya. Granted, the two interiors are almost like for like but no complaints as it is a superb place to be either way!
Fit and finish firstly is exactly what you would expect from a $250,000 car. There isn’t a cheap or scratchy feeling material in sight with leather, carpeting and machined metal making up the most important touchpoints. The infotainment screen is lightning quick and offers some of the best UI in the industry as is the KEF audio system which delivers superbly even in the standard spec. Massage seats are an option worth ticking as well. What really catches you off guard though is the amount of rear seat space in the Emeya, it is vast, especially in what is supposed to be a hyper-GT car!
While Emeya offers plenty of tech and luxury while at a standstill, this is still a proper Lotus in the way it likes to be driven. In its S guise, 600hp is available on tap, allowing this nearly 2.5 tonne vehicle to catapult its driver and passengers from 0-100 in a stomach churning 4.2s. Emeya will keep going to well above that speed but its really in the corners where it comes into its own, handling them in a way that should not be possible from a vehicle of this weight. It urges you to push it harder, to take those corners with more vigor until somewhere in the silence, a whiff of old-school Lotus appears.
The Verdict:
Emeya takes everything I loved abut the Eletre and delivers it in a new package. The materials, seats, audio system and electrifying performance are all outstanding. Not to mention the looks and admiration it got on the street, leaving every person either envious or impressed! Fireglow Orange does seem to have that effect on people.
Even though Emeya is and always will be a special car to me because it took me up the Goodwood Hillclimb at Festival of Speed 2024, partiality aside, whether you are wearing your enthusiast hat or your commercial hat, the Emeya makes sense as the next step in Lotus’ journey to electrification.
2024 Lotus Emeya S: 5/5
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Lotus Emeya S courtesy of Lotus Cars Auckland. Thank you Chris and Charlotte.
Photos by Harry de Souza, words by Matthew D’Souza.
