After nearly three years of anticipation, customers are finally receiving their Lotus Emira V6 First Editions, marking the end of a protracted certification process. Back in July 2021, Lotus unveiled the Emira as its final internal combustion engine (ICE) sports car before transitioning to an all-electric lineup.
Fast forward to December 2023, when our Zac Palmer had the chance to test drive it and declared it a class apart in terms of driving experience, stating, “You can’t spend $105,900 on a single car that would be more fun than the V6 First Edition I drove.”
However, for those who had reserved the Emira more than two years ago, the wait continued as the cars were nowhere to be seen. Last March, Gator Motorsports’ franchise Indy Lotus revealed that U.S. certification, particularly certification by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), was causing the delay.
While the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency had approved, Lotus held off on deliveries to ensure compliance with CARB mandates, leading to further delays.
Earlier this year, Lotus announced a software update for U.S. vehicles, likely related to certification requirements. However, at the end of last month, CARB finally approved Lotus’s engine programming, allowing the Emira to be released to customers.
Originally slated for the 2022 model year, the Emira’s arrival in the U.S. is now designated for 2024. With the certification hurdles cleared, customers are eagerly taking delivery of their long-awaited Emira V6 First Editions.
However, there’s also news of a price hike for the entry-level trim, the Emira First Edition powered by a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine sourced from AMG.
This trim, priced at $99,900 before delivery and options, represents a significant increase from the initially announced price of $85,900. Similarly, the Emira V6 First Edition now starts at $105,400, up from $93,900. As a result, the non-First Edition trim is expected to surpass the initially announced price of $74,900.
Despite the price adjustments, customers can look forward to discounts on the regular run of V6-powered models, including those with a manual transmission, once Lotus fulfills the First Edition orders.
