Lotus is shifting quick into its new, electrified world.
The model has revealed and launched its final internal-combustion automobile, and is now dedicated to changing into a luxurious electrical rival to the likes of Porsche.
The Eletre SUV was the primary electrical Lotus, the Emeya you see right here is the second.
At greater than 5 metres lengthy, with area for 4 folks and their baggage, you possibly can argue the Emeya is a rival to the Mercedes-Benz EQS or BMW i7.
However when you think about even the mid-range Emeya S is packing 450kW of energy and 750Nm of torque, and Lotus says all its new vehicles are for the drivers, the Porsche Taycan and Audi e-tron GT additionally form as pure rivals.
Primarily based on our fast drive, there’s loads of proof to counsel the brand new age of Lotus has loads of potential.
How does the Lotus Emeya evaluate?
View an in depth breakdown of the Lotus Emeya in opposition to equally sized automobiles.
Lotus
Emeya
How a lot does the Lotus Emeya price?
With a beginning worth simply shy of $190,000 earlier than on-roads, the Emeya is aimed immediately on the Porsche Taycan.
| Mannequin | Value earlier than on-roads |
|---|---|
| 2025 Lotus Emeya | $189,990 |
| 2025 Lotus Emeya S | $209,990 |
| 2025 Lotus Emeya R | $259,990 |
To see how the Emeya traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device.
What’s the Lotus Emeya like on the within?
Wow. This can be a critically enticing cabin, miles faraway from the stripped-back ethos that’s outlined Lotus since its launch.
From the clear, trendy format to the high-end supplies, it feels each bit as particular as you’d count on of a automobile price greater than $200,000.
The driving place is superb, with loads of adjustment within the powered driver’s seat, and imaginative and prescient out of the cabin is sweet. Our tester had the optionally available electrochromic glass roof which made for a light-weight, ethereal feeling behind the wheel, and its get together trick – the place triangular sections could be dimmed on demand – makes it a $1400 choice we’d be ticking.
There’s an actual feeling of high quality. The leather-based is waxy, the buttons on the steering wheel and transmission tunnel have a pleasant click-clack feeling, and actual effort has gone into ensuring all of the graphics on the touchscreen are easy.
Lotus was one of many first manufacturers to decide to utilizing the Unreal Engine to drive its cabin graphics. The identical tech underpins widespread online game Fortnite, and it makes for infotainment that’s proper at dwelling within the iPad age.
There’s nonetheless some work to be accomplished on the finer particulars, although. Altering drive modes brings up a slick graphic, however when it goes away the automobile defaults to its dwelling display screen as a substitute of no matter you have been doing beforehand – which suggests you manually need to reopen CarPlay, for instance.
It’s the kind of factor that may be fastened with a software program replace, fortunately.
The slim shows in entrance of the driving force and passenger are a pleasant contact, given a rising variety of manufacturers need to run every part by means of a single show.
All of the boring, sensible stuff is taken care of right here. There are usable cupholders, and loads of storage bins round, to not point out sufficient USB-C ports to maintain a military’s price of gadgets charged.
Rear seat area is a robust swimsuit. This can be a longer automobile than a Porsche Taycan, and it pays off within the second row.
There’s sufficient legroom for tall adults to suit comfortably again there, and even at 6’7 there’s sufficient headroom for me to take a seat comfortably.
The outboard seats are extra welcoming than the center one, however you possibly can match three again there with out an excessive amount of bother. It truly is a usable household sedan in a approach the Taycan and e-tron GT aren’t, extra in step with a Mercedes-Benz EQE or BMW i5 within the second row.
Beneath a sizeable liftback is a boot that’ll fortunately take two units of golf golf equipment, or sufficient equipment for a household on a weekend away.
| Dimensions | Lotus Emeya S |
|---|---|
| Size | 5139mm |
| Width | 2241mm (incl. mirrors) |
| Top | 1459mm |
| Wheelbase | 3069mm |
| Cargo capability | 509 litres (5-seat) 1388 litres (2-seat) |
To see how the Emeya traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device.
What’s beneath the bonnet?
Regardless of its prodigious outputs, this isn’t essentially the most highly effective model of the Emeya.
| Specs | Lotus Emeya S |
|---|---|
| Drivetrain | Twin-motor electrical |
| Battery | 102kWh lithium-ion |
| Energy | 450kW |
| Torque | 710Nm |
| Pushed wheels | All-wheel drive |
| Weight | 2550kg (tare) |
| 0-100km/h (claimed) | 4.15 seconds |
| Energy consumption (claimed) | N/A |
| Energy consumption (as examined) | N/A |
| Claimed vary | 609km |
| Max AC cost fee | 22kW |
| Max DC cost fee | 350kW |
To see how the Emeya traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device.
How does the Lotus Emeya drive?
We spent round 20 minutes within the Emeya on roads that actually didn’t enable us to stretch its legs, so these are prime stage observations. We’ll have extra time with the automobile quickly, so control CarExpert and our YouTube channel.
In information that’ll shock no-one, the automobile is fast in a straight line. Put your foot down and it instantly lunges in the direction of the horizon in a approach no 2500kg automobile has a proper to, with spectacular traction from the four-wheel drive system.
There’s a touch of what seems like torque steer if you plant the accelerator instantly on uneven roads, however it exists within the background quite than dominating the expertise.
Once you’re not in a rush, there’s an actual sense of refinement behind the wheel.
Street and wind noise are conspicuous by their absence at 80km/h on coarse Australian nation highways, and the electrically assisted steering doesn’t hunt down cambers or comply with ruts within the highway just like the chatty hydraulic rack within the Emira sports activities automobile – that’s in step with this automobile’s remit as a long-haul cruiser.
Experience high quality from the air suspension is spectacular. It isn’t floaty or unfastened, however it breathes properly with the highway.
Flicking into Sport tightens issues up, however based mostly on our fast spin the Lotus engineering staff has stored one eye on rough-road consolation throughout the vary of suspension setups.
Value noting listed here are the driving force assists methods, which have been very delicate.
From the lane-keeping help to the driving force consideration monitor, the Emeya falls into the identical entice as numerous different Chinese language vehicles. As is the case with the infotainment, a software program replace could possibly be all that’s required.
What do you get?
Normal tools on the bottom Emeya consists of:
- 20-inch alloy wheels
- Matrix LED headlights
- Gloss black roof end
- Air suspension
- 8-way energy adjustable entrance seats
- 4-way energy adjustable steering column
- Heated seats and steering wheel
- 15.1-inch touchscreen infotainment display screen
- DAB+ digital radio
- Bluetooth telephone connectivity
- Wi-fi smartphone mirroring
- KEF premium audio system
- Over-the-air software program updates
- 12.6-inch shows for driver and passenger
- Inside carbon-fibre bundle
- Energy-folding exterior mirrors
- Auto-dimming inside mirror
Shifting to the Emeya S brings:
- 21-inch five-spoke alloy wheels
- Rear privateness glass
- Panoramic glass roof
- Consolation seat bundle
- 2-way cushion extension
- 2-way headrests
- Entrance seat air flow and therapeutic massage
- Heated rear seats
- Autonomous parking help with distant park
- LiDAR system
Shifting to the Emeya R provides:
- Lotus Dynamic Dealing with Package deal with Monitor Mode
- 21-inch wheels in gloss black
- Exterior carbon bundle
- Photo voltaic Yellow exterior paint
- Quartz Inside Theme
Is the Lotus Emeya protected?
The Lotus Emeya hasn’t been crash examined by Euro NCAP.
Normal security tools consists of:
- 7 airbags
- Driver monitoring system
- Rear collision warning
- Autonomous emergency braking
- Rear cross-traffic help
- Blind-spot monitoring
- Lane-keep help
- Entrance and rear parking help
To see how the Emeya traces up in opposition to the competitors, try our comparability device.
How a lot does the Lotus Emeya price to run?
Lotus hasn’t confirmed capped-price service prices for the brand new Emeya.
| Working prices | Lotus Eletre S |
|---|---|
| Guarantee | 5 years, 150,000 kilometres |
| Battery guarantee | 8 years, 200,000 kilometres |
| Roadside help | 5 years, limitless kilometres |
| Service intervals | 12 months or 15,000 kilometres |
| Capped worth servicing | TBC |
| Complete capped worth service price | TBC |
CarExpert’s Tackle the Lotus Emeya
The Emeya isn’t like several Lotus earlier than it, however to be weighed down by historical past can be to overlook the purpose right here.
If Lotus is to outlive, it must evolve and communicate to new patrons. It nonetheless has a mountain to climb if it’s to be taken critically as a Porsche rival, however it’s clear Geely has given the model the instruments give it a purple scorching crack.
The Emeya reveals loads of promise. It’s putting to take a look at exterior, impressively luxurious inside, and packs the kind of punch you’d count on of a automobile chasing the Taycan on paper.
Primarily based on our transient stint behind the wheel, it’s additionally shot by means of with sufficient model DNA to justify the basic Lotus bade on its nostril – with out compromising on the issues that make for a high quality grand tourer.
It’s going to be enjoyable digging a bit deeper.
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