Lotus has taken the wraps off three new models in Chengdu, marking a significant step in its Focus2030 strategy that spans petrol, pure-electric and hybrid powertrains. The Emira 420 Sport, Emeya 900 GOLD and Eletre 900 GOLD went on sale simultaneously with Chinese guide prices ranging from 918,000 yuan (about $129,300) to 1.188 million yuan (about $167,300), before taxes and incentives. The trio covers a petrol sports car, an electric sedan and an electric SUV, targeting buyers who want both driving excitement and everyday practicality.
The launch came a day after Lotus announced it had completed the acquisition of 100% of Lotus UK, marking the first time in the brand's 78-year history that its manufacturing and engineering consulting operations are fully unified. According to Chinese outlet 电动邦 (EV Kingdom), the company's first-half results showed global deliveries up 39% year-on-year and gross margin turning positive at 10%. The three new models complete product refreshes across all three powertrain lines within a single year, a feat few global sports car brands can match.
Emira 420 Sport: refining the petrol formula
The Emira 420 Sport represents Lotus's continued commitment to mid-engined petrol sports cars, a segment that is rapidly shrinking amid the electric vehicle wave. The car uses a re-tuned AMG M139 2.0-litre turbo engine producing 400 horsepower (about 298 kW), paired with a reprogrammed 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds and reaches a top speed exceeding 300 km/h. Lotus engineers rewrote the intake and fuel injection logic to broaden the torque curve rather than chase peak power, making each horsepower more usable.
Weight reduction remains a core Lotus principle. The three-piece welded aluminium body shell weighs just 226 kg, and a lightweight handling package shaves an additional 25 kg through titanium exhaust, lithium-ion battery, carbon-fibre louvred tailgate and forged wheels. The weight saving is concentrated at the rear, shifting the centre of gravity forward for sharper turn-in and more stable braking. The suspension geometry was completely revised despite a modest 5 mm ride height reduction, with new camber, steering knuckle and roll centre settings. The car features Multimatic dual-mode 11-way adjustable dampers, allowing independent compression and rebound adjustment, a rarity in this price class in China.
Aerodynamic upgrades increase rear downforce by 45% while maintaining a drag coefficient of 0.37, an unusual combination. New front splitter, enlarged vents, extended side skirts and lip spoiler work together to keep the car planted at speed.
Emeya and Eletre 900 GOLD: electric performance with restraint
The Emeya 900 GOLD and Eletre 900 GOLD, dubbed the "Golden Double 900," share a dual-motor powertrain producing 905 horsepower and 985 Nm of torque. The Emeya hits 100 km/h in 2.78 seconds with a top speed of 256 km/h, while the Eletre does the sprint in 2.95 seconds and tops out at 265 km/h. More telling than straight-line numbers are lap times: a production-spec Emeya set a record 2 minutes 20.317 seconds at Sepang International Circuit in July, with no special ECU tune, stripped interior or track tyres. The Eletre has also posted 1 minute 37.792 seconds at Zhejiang Circuit, holding the fastest SUV title for three consecutive years.
Both cars use an intelligent honeycomb oil-cooling system derived from the Evija hypercar, designed to maintain performance over 300 km of continuous track driving, roughly the distance of a Formula 1 race. The chassis includes 50:50 weight distribution, dual-chamber air suspension, continuously variable damping, 48-volt active stabiliser bars and rear-wheel steering. The Emeya is one of the few production cars with four active aerodynamic elements: active air dam, active rear diffuser, four-position adjustable rear wing and active grille shutters. The rear wing generates up to 215 kg of downforce and can act as an air brake under emergency braking.
Lotus has chosen to bundle what it calls the "Handling Gold Package" as standard, including carbon-fibre trim, ten-piston carbon-ceramic brakes and forged carbon wheels. These options previously would have added over 100,000 yuan (about $14,100) to the price. The ten-piston carbon-ceramic system saves about 30 kg of unsprung weight and maintains performance at temperatures up to 1,100°C. The cars feature 62 carbon-fibre components, reducing weight by 10 kg, with Alcantara upholstery that weighs one-third as much as Nappa leather.
Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng explained the decision to cap power at 905 horsepower, noting that while horsepower has no ceiling, grip has physical limits. Doubling output would gain less than one second in acceleration but require larger, heavier motors, batteries and cooling systems. "Restraint is itself an attitude," he said.
The corporate restructuring may prove as significant as the new models. Lotus Engineering, founded in 1952, has served clients including Rolls-Royce, Tesla, Aston Martin, AMG, Jaguar Land Rover, GM, Honda and Toyota. Tesla's first Roadster was built on Lotus Engineering's chassis. Now this expertise will be prioritised for Lotus's own products. The company's first-half results showed revenue up 23%, gross margin at 10% and operating losses narrowed by 63%. China deliveries grew 60% year-on-year, accounting for 58% of global volume, helped by the For Me hybrid SUV. The strategy is clear, but execution will determine whether Lotus can sustain its premium pricing in a fiercely competitive market.
