The Lotus Emeya has the Porsche Taycan squarely in its sights, with the Emeya R boasting 905bhp and a 0-100km/h time of 2.78 seconds.
The Emeya, Lotus’ first hyper-GT (grand tourer), is officially available in Singapore through Wearnes Automotive. It is the brand’s second electric model after the Eletre to be launched here, and the first cars are slated to be delivered in the fourth quarter of 2024.
Lotus says the term “hyper-GT” refers to a model capable of finishing the century sprint in under three seconds. The Emeya, in range-topping R guise, manages this in an incredible 2.78 seconds.
Responsible for this feat are the car’s dual motors that kick out 905bhp and 985Nm of torque. The motors are fed by a 102kWh lithium-ion battery, which provide a WLTP range of 435km. The Emeya R is also the only variant in the lineup with a 2-speed automatic gearbox – the other two utilise a single-speed transmission.
Sitting below the Emeya R is the Emeya S. It also has a dual-motor setup, but its outputs are 603bhp and 710Nm of torque. The S is no slouch, though, as it still goes from a standstill to 100km/h in 4.2 seconds. Given its lower output, this mid-tier model offers a WLTP driving range of 540km.
The entry point to the range is the Emeya, which has the same performance as the S model. As standard, it has smaller brakes (370mm versus 412mm for the other two), with the front callipers featuring four pistons instead of six. That said, it’s the most efficient of the three. Utilising the same battery pack, it has a maximum range of 610km.
Lotus says the Emeya combines the carmaker’s expertise in engineering and design with today’s latest innovations. Many of these innovations, however, are neatly integrated into the car.
For instance, the Emeya’s bodywork does not overtly display its aerodynamic components, so there are no oversized spoilers to be seen. Instead, the Emeya relies on “Porosity” and active aerodynamics to enhance performance.
“Porosity” in Lotus terms refers to how air flows around and through the vehicle, and this is managed by a series of eight vents. These vents also help to cool the car’s brakes, electric motors and batteries.
The electronically controlled bits, on the other hand, are the active front grille, active air dam, active rear diffuser, and active rear spoiler. The latter, measuring 296mm, is over 100mm wider than the one in the Eletre SUV. Lotus says it can deliver over 215kg of downforce to help stabilise the Emeya at high speeds.
Speaking of quick, the Emeya’s 800-volt architecture enables it to be charged at up to 402kW. At this rate, the batteries can be recharged from 10% to 80% in just 14 minutes.
Prices for the Emeya (before COE and options) start from $415,000, while the Emeya S and Emeya R start from $438,000 and $563,000 respectively.
