The Lotus Emeya, the second household automotive from China-based Group Lotus, has entered the quickly increasing phase of enormous four-door electrical GTs. I noticed the Porsche Taycan rival on show on the 2024 Bangkok Worldwide Motor Present in March and spent some time exploring its design, consolation, area and options intimately. Right here’s my expertise with the Lotus Emeya:
Design
Once I noticed the Lotus Emeya on the 2024 Bangkok Worldwide Motor Present, I felt that it had extra muscle and seemed larger than a typical four-door GT. Its athletic demeanor is extra pronounced than that of the Audi e-tron GT and Porsche Taycan, that are the closest rivals. Having seen it proper after the Eletre, it appeared to me that Lotus had remolded the SUV together with recent styling to create the Emeya—the similarities between the 2 fashions are evident.
I appreciated the Emeya’s swooping strains, sports activities car-like fast-sloping hood, easy surfacing on the doorways and quarter panels, and the light curve within the beltline. The headlight association, which supplies the Emeya a extra SUV-like look than that of a grand tourer, is amplified by its tall stature, one thing that I didn’t discover interesting. Don’t get me unsuitable, the Emeya is a placing electrical automobile, and can make heads flip. However does it meet the requirements I anticipate from a GT? For me, the reply is a no.
Lotus manufactures the Emeya in Wuhan (Hubei Province), China, and this a well-built electrical sedan. After spending a while inspecting its exterior, I didn’t discover any abnormally giant or misaligned panel gaps.
Inside
The Lotus Emeya options electrically operated entrance and rear doorways, making ingress and egress straightforward. Getting into the entrance posed no issues, however I bumped my head whereas stepping into the again. I believe tall folks notably would want to thoughts their heads right here. The driving force’s door closed robotically as soon as I pressed the brake pedal.
I’m 5’7” tall, and I had good headroom within the entrance. There was a niche of about six inches between my head and the headliner, so I believe 6’1” or taller folks may not be all that comfy on this automotive. The comparatively excessive ground affected the under-thigh assist, making it common at greatest. Nevertheless, the lumbar assist posed no points.
As soon as settled within the driver’s seat, I glanced round to get a really feel of the design and structure. I wasn’t stunned to seek out the inside virtually an identical to the Eletre, with related designs for the dashboard, steering wheel, heart console, analog controls, and screens.
The rear visibility was restricted, to not say it was sudden or something out of the extraordinary for this physique model. Just like the Eletre, the Emeya is offered with each common ORVMs and digital ORVMs, and the unit I reviewed featured the latter. The feed from the cameras was crystal clear and the shows displaying it had been shiny and sharp. The steering wheel seemed chunky and felt sporty to carry.
The standard of bodily controls like buttons and switches was good, and I felt the identical in regards to the upholstery, too. The storage field within the heart console was fairly deep, and I believe it could possibly be used to maintain an iPad mini or Amazon Kindle. The middle console’s free cupboard space was too small to carry a big grocery bag or a purse.
To exit the Emeya, all I needed to do was simply press a button on the driver-side door and it swung itself open electronically. Closing the door was even less complicated; I gave the door a nudge, and it closed electronically. Lotus will promote the Emeya in a 5-seat model with a bench within the rear and a 4-seat model with two sports activities seats within the rear. The pattern I used to be inspecting was the 4-seat model, designed for max consolation.
4-door GTs aren’t identified to really feel very spacious within the again on account of their low and fast-sloping rooflines and small rear home windows, however the Emeya, reminding me of the first-gen Porsche Panamera, appeared like an exception. Once I truly sat in its again, I felt it may accommodate tall passengers comfortably.
The 2 particular person seats have a reclining backrest with a superb stage of adjustability. I observed that it was doable to regulate the entrance passenger seat from right here, and whereas no Emeya prospects are more likely to be chauffeur-driven, whoever sits within the again will admire this comfort. The surface visibility was good regardless of the robust upward belt line.
The rear seats, identical to the entrance ones, saved me tucked in with good bolstering. I used to be stunned to seek out there was a therapeutic massage operate within the again, too. I had ample legroom and knee room. The under-thigh assist may’ve been higher, although. The cushion was electrically extendable, however I’d’ve most popular it in a barely raised place. The ground being a bit excessive didn’t assist right here.
Driving impressions
Lotus hasn’t totally disclosed the specs of the Emeya, however I do know that it sits on the identical platform because the Eletre. Given the similarities with the SUV, I anticipate it to be provided with the identical dual-motor powertrains that allow an AWD drivetrain structure, one configuration with 450 kW (603 hp)/710 Nm (524 lb.-ft.) score, and the opposite with a 675 kW (905 hp)/985 Nm (726 lb.-ft.) score.
Lotus has confirmed that the top-end Emeya’s dual-motor powertrain permits it to zoom to 62 mph from a standstill in 2.78 seconds and clock a high velocity of 159 mph. These are spectacular figures, however after seeing the preliminary Eletre critiques, I’m extra curious about understanding how easily it hastens, how exactly it assaults the corners, and whether or not it provides a simple drive.
Choose worldwide publications sampled a prototype powered by the dual-motor powertrain producing 675 kW (905 hp) and 985 Nm (726 lb.-ft.) of torque and sporting winter tires in Finland in early 2024. From what we all know, the Emeya’s suspension provides very good dealing with, inspiring the motive force to push it to its limits. The suspension absorbs bumps effortlessly, providing nice trip high quality, too. The automotive doesn’t really feel out of grip even on snow-clad roads.
The Emeya’s electrical motors get their juice from a 102 kWh battery pack, which I anticipate to present it an EPA-estimated vary of over 300 miles in the usual configuration.
Worth
I anticipate the Emeya to begin at round USD 90,000. The Tesla Mannequin S rival has been confirmed to be launched within the U.S. as a MY2025 mannequin.
TopElectricSUV says
The Lotus Emeya encompasses a sporty but quirky exterior alongside an opulent inside that provides nice ranges of area and luxury. I’ll reserve my conclusive opinion till the costs come out, however for now, it looks like a promising Tesla Mannequin S different.
Lotus Emeya FAQs
What’s the Lotus Emeya’s launch date?
The Lotus Emeya will seemingly start arriving at U.S. dealerships by early 2025.
What would be the Lotus Emeya’s worth?
The Emeya’s costs may begin at round USD 90,000.
Which vehicles would be the Lotus Emeya’s rivals?
I acquired my Grasp’s in Enterprise Administration & Administration and have been an Worldwide Automotive Information Editor since 2014. I’ve traveled to international motor exhibits and automotive occasions, pushed varied kinds of automobiles, and centered on hybrid and electrical vehicles within the final 4 years.
