Lotus introduces the Emira Turbo SE, its newest variant of the Emira offered for sale in Singapore.
I was intrigued to go down since it is a Lotus launch, but was ultimately convinced with the appearance of a car that has inspired the launch model.
The Emira Turbo SE is different; a touch above the First Edition, replacing the 3.5-litre Toyota-sourced V6 and the popular manual gearbox with a 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine derived from Mercedes-AMG, paired only with a 8-speed DCT gearbox.
This powertrain upgrade is quoted to shift the Emira SE from a standstill to 100km/h in roughly 0.3 seconds faster than the manual V6.
The Turbo SE in Singapore is to be sold at a starting price of S$548,800, excluding COE and options.
What differentiates the Turbo SE from the First Edition is the standard and unique package for the Turbo SE – the Lotus Driver’s Pack. Standby with me for a bit of confusion..
The First Edition comes with a Lotus Driver Pack (Without the ‘s in the option), featuring only “2” features – Track Mode (ESP).
For the Turbo SE, the Lotus Driver’s Pack is two options – either sports suspension and or touring suspension. I believe these specification differences is the same as the First Edition’s chassis choices – Touring and Sports.
The overall difference I can gather with the Turbo SE is that the Lotus Driver’s Pack bundles the Lotus Driver Pack with the Chassis options, as per my understanding.
Featured with the Lotus Driver’s Pack for the Emira SE Turbo is a Track Mode HMI / TFT display – graphical and user interface changes on the screen display. Launch control is added with the package, as is switchable exhaust notes based on drive mode – including exhaust valves, that the First Edition comes without.
Cosmetics that differ are standard option Satin Grey 20″ V-spoke forged wheels, Zinc Grey paintwork and red brake calipers. This new trim also features unique badging, replacing the yellow background Lotus badges with black backgrounds and unique side badges for the Turbo SE trim.
The 2.0-litre AMG-derived twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder outputs 400 brake horsepower and 480Nm of torque.
This new powertrain decreases the time needed to hit 0-100km/h to 4.0 seconds flat, improving on the Emira First Edition. Top speed is also uprated to 290 km/h.
The Turbo SE nameplate harks back to Lotus’ heritage, “SE” standing for “Special Equipment”. The SE trim first debut in the Lotus Type 14 Elite, which has since trickled down to other Lotus models in its history.
Cars with the SE nameplate include but are not limited to the Elan SE (M100), Esprit Turbo SE (Steven’s Esprit), Europa SE (Type 121), Excel SE (Type 89).
If the cosmetic looks of the Turbo SE press model isn’t fully to your tastes, the Lotus configurator allows you to spec your ideal Emira, and many standard fit cosmetics can be replaced by other options. I would guess that the decals here are more press-exclusive, as the decals themselves were not available in the configurator.
I was particularly interested with the Turbo SE decals but the configurator doesn’t have the option anywhere, as is the stripes.
Joined with the media press unveiling on Friday is not just an Esprit Turbo, but a Eletre and Emeya, alongside two Emira First Editions.
The Singapore Lotus group had an unofficial convoy drive to the event, but unfortunately as fate would have had it, a night out later in the day had broken down the Elan.
The rest of the media below are more photos of each Lotus car present, some thoughts about them and some technicality surrounding some of the cars.
Lotus Emira Turbo SE
Over the outgoing Evora, the Emira has definitely proven to have been a better success. Where Singapore and maybe other countries could be applicable, I have seen more Emira’s on the road by coincidence than Evora’s.
The four-cylinder variant of the Emira makes sense in markets like Singapore’s, where road users are penalized harder for higher displacement engines.
The trim names as a piece of trivia have conformed to Lotus trim naming philosophy. For the Eletre and Emeya, both “S” and “R” trims are existing trim names for older models. The Emira SE is a more obvious follow-up.
The looks of the Emira screams Ferrari more than the Elise/Exige and Evora of previous years. Those two models had its unique identity, but the styling for this leads a different direction that follows the exotic look of its Italian competitors.
I do like this Emira as it stands, with exception of only the color chosen. Its.. interesting, though I would call it dull. A colorway like the Turbo Esprit on display next to it would be a nicer fit for a tribute like this car.
Grey and black will blend better with its surroundings, which for a loud sports car.. seems counterintuitive.
Nevertheless, this press unit appears to be the base Turbo SE specification with the bespoke “turbo se” graphics that aren’t shown in the configurator.
The shown color is the base Zinc Grey paintwork, the only other paintwork not a cost option is Vivid Red.
Base option to the Turbo SE is also the Extended lower Black pack, painting more components in gloss Black. Exhaust tailpipe finishers, rear Lotus logo, front air blades, front splitter, side sills and rear diffuser.
Checking from the configurator, extras on the side and front between both Black Pack options are negligible and hard to spot. The primary difference viewable from the configurator and perhaps in person is blacked out exhaust tips and black rear Lotus badges.
Included also is the stock option for wheels, the 20″ V-Spoke ultra-lightweight satin Grey option. Silver is the only unpaid option, the rest like the diamond turned options that can be seen on the corresponding 1st Editions are optional paid options for the Turbo SE. Red calipers are the default color option.
I’m biased. Full disclosure, I’m wholly biased to the Turbo Esprit. After researching into these cars, I am surprised that there are still a few on local soil.
These unlike the its contemporary rivals such as a Ferrari or Lamborghini uses a 2.2L turbocharged 4-cylinder. The Esprit at this time in its production history did not have a similar firebreather like its Italian rivals. Even so, the Turbo Esprit was no slouch, making 210 horsepower and 271Nm of torque. (for early models that used dry sump lubrication)
210 horsepower sounds comparably puny now, but Lotus cars aren’t heavyweights either. Not the old ones at least.
A curb weight of around 1250KG allows the Turbo Esprit to land 0-100km/h times of roughly 5.6 seconds in period tests, outpacing the Ferrari 308 GTB and Porsche 911 SC of similar model year.
Its a similar case with a future family member of the Esprit, the later Elan SE. Roughly 165 horsepower from its 1.6-litre engine brings the car to a quoted 0-100km/h time of around 6.4 seconds.
As a displacement underdog, it was able to match the accelerative sprint of big dogs like the Aston Martin Virage of its time. Other cars with the same displacement, i.e a Honda Civic SiR, would do the same sprint in around 7-8 seconds.
Lotus cars were most certainly able to punch above its weight in many cases.
The white and red colorway shown here is also the iconic color for the Turbo Esprit, most famously used in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only in 1981.
The ‘turbo esprit’ graphics is an iconic decal. Many cars, even now as seen here done officially by Lotus themselves on the Emira, use an identical font and format for side decals. I replicated the graphics on my own Elan, as have some other owners.
I’d wager this is the spec to have – the synonymous white and red colorway with BBS-design wheels to match. I would prefer the red interior, but only as a concept – my eyes might give up quick if I ever do own a red interior!
On an unrelated note, I’ve assumed that this car has actually been using a red interior before taking a closer look at this car, this image on SGCarMart of a 2024 sales listing confusing me as it is a similar-looking Turbo Esprit with a red interior.
However based on older posts and some distinctive features outside of the car, both Esprits are different units. That elusive unit hasn’t been posted online in a long while. It’ll be a mystrey, and one that I would love to take a look at.
The Esprit is definitely not contemporary in styling and technology in the modern era, but it’s no doubt an automotive keepsake that would snatch the attention of anybody.
Not Lotus’ first Lotus badged saloon I suppose. I think where the enthusiast eye is concerned, saloon cars are still alright. I know people don’t like the design – I personally dislike the front end but like the rear – and of course, until I get to sample many other Lotus cars before this, I cannot say if this is a true Lotus.
It is definitely go-fast on the straights like the Lotus Carlton – in a different and probably less popular method – but it does land that brief. However, as an image maker and as a low-volume car, definitely not what Lotus have had in mind if regarding sales, albeit sales have slumped for all models in the line-up.
Like the Carlton that was a big car of its time, the Emeya is huge. Picture the Kia Stonic parked next to it as a reference for its heft.
Now this I myself cannot justify much, coming from someone with interest primarily in the older models. Geely’s acquisition over Lotus and their attempt to pull Lotus upmarket has resulted in products like the Electre.
If its what keeps Lotus afloat, then so be it. People are now starting to understand Porsche’s case of the Cayenne and Panamera – selling more common cars to keep the enthusiast side of cars possible.
I’m not all for the looks. not all for the idea, not all for the powertrain, but I’m not the target buyer. I do wonder cheekily that should I wave at one of these while on the move, will they wave back as would other owners of an Elise, Exige, etc?
The Emira is a pretty new look for the Lotus sports car as we know it. What I mean is the Toyota 2GR-FE making its way into the Emira platform until its inevitable replacement of the Mercedes AMG M139 4-cylinder that is in the Turbo SE.
Where looks are concerned there’s not really difference I see between the Turbo SE and 1st Editions – No bodywork changes.
The registered unit in front features the Full Black Pack, painting the roof and wing mirrors Gloss Black. Both units are in Seneca Blue, Diamond-Cut Ultra-lightweight V-Spoke Forged Alloy wheels and yellow caliper options.
As mentioned when I expressed my split view on the Turbo SE’s choice of colors, the Seneca Blue has been a pretty well established color for the Emira. Thie Lotus Emira in this shade hardly has any other sports coupe in any market that resembles it closely, the only possibility is a well-specced Ferrari matching the silhouette and paint.
The Emira no doubt boasts a very unique way of badging on a car, using the taper of the rear quarter window to denote the car’s trim. Its a unique touch, and a good position for photoshoots.
I saw some articles that a future successor to the Elise may start at about £75k. When the original S1 Elise was sold for around £40k adjusting for inflation,
I do wonder if sales of this successor, if it ever enters production, will see buyers bite. Rumors say it will be an electric vehicle, same as the Eletre and Emeya. Public opinion is still divided by the idea of a electric sports car, but it isn’t a new concept, being attempted by the MG Cyberster and Yangwang U9.
Course, especially in the current economy are lesser buyers willing to down heaps of money into a toy that only seats two, among other factors. But the Yangwang has proved to the world that electric sports cars are the numbers-game winners, and the MG Cyberster is proof that the market does exist, even if it is small.
Few words for the Elan as this post isn’t about her. White and red colorway would probably allow it to blend with the Esprit. Its a goal achieved!
Some notable extras that were present during the event:
(Photos and event taken on 4/11/25)
~Efini
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