The Lotus Emira i4 is powered by a 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engine built by Mercedes-AMG. However, the tuning and calibration are unique to Lotus and it has been designed to make 268kW/430Nm.

While the Lotus Emira is a more luxurious model by the brand's previous standards, it remains a compact and impractical sports car - and that’s very much on brand. In terms of storage inside the cabin, there are two cup holders and a small lidded console box, but the size of the cabin means everything is quite narrow and feels a little tight for space.

The Lotus Emira i4 accelerates 0-100km/h in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 275km/h.

The Lotus Emira has been designed as a more premium and luxurious sports car compared to the stripped down and basic models of the recent past. Standard equipment includes LED headlights, climate control, keyless ignition, cruise control, rear parking sensors, a premium sound system and a 12.3-inch digital dashboard.

The Lotus Emira is a two-seater sports car. The seats are comfortable and supportive and can be trimmed in Nappa leather or Alcantara.

The Lotus Emira is equipped with a 60-litre fuel tank, so with its 10.1L/100km fuel consumption figure it has a driving range of approximately 594km.