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It’s all about savoring the things big and small that guarantee joy in this circus act of life. The first bite of a crisp autumn apple, for example. Or spotting a cool bird. And then there’s driving a car like the 2027 Lotus Emira 420 Sport, the newest, most powerful Emira, which comes loaded up with more of the focus and fun that have traditionally made Lotus sports cars great.
The 420 Sport joins a long line of Lotus “Sport” models that have been blessed with more of the most desirable of Hethel’s gifts: more power, less weight, and optimized aerodynamics. Previous family members include the Esprit Sport 300, Esprit Sport 350, Elise Sport 220, Exige Sport 380, and the Evora GT410 Sport.
Our detailed First Look is linked here, but topline items include a turbocharged AMG four-cylinder pushing 416 hp and 369 lb-ft of torque, an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, a ride height lowered by 5mm, and the optional Lightweight Handling Pack that includes Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires, two-way adjustable Multimatic dampers, a lighter 12-volt battery, and a titanium exhaust.
Public Decency
To enjoy the joys of a Lotus on the road is to experience a sprinkling of small magic each day. A run to the store becomes a treat, a longer errand a gift. Slide over its moderately wide sill, lower yourself into the seat, shut the door, buckle the color-matched seat belt like a pageant sash, and it feels as though you’ve zipped yourself into some riding leathers. Like so many Lotuses that have come before, you wear the 420 Sport rather than sit in it. The seats could even be called supportive and comfortable, at least for the 90-minute increments of our initial experience.
Despite the louvered rear window, visibility isn’t actually terrible. The Emira’s wing mirrors stick out far enough to allow you to get a lovely look at your own side intakes as well as anything sneaking up on your rear. And even the shortest-legged among us won’t have a problem reaching the pedals.
It’s funny that Lotus has built its reputation around lightness, because actually operating it is anything but. Everything you touch has tangible weight to it: The pedals require effort, and the hydraulically assisted steering is, like, organically heavy. Remember what that was like?
In the most relaxed Tour mode, the ride remains firm. This is because the different drive modes don’t alter the 420 Sport’s suspension response or steering weight, only the traction control, exhaust note, and engine characteristics. The result is a persistent, rumbling reminder of the road rushing by, not unlike the feeling of a plane cruising at altitude.
The throttle pedal obeys your asks of it without delay. Lean on it more gently, and the engine feeds in gradual power. Stab at it, and the transmission gets involved, kicking down a gear or two as acceleration swells like a charging bull, rocketing the 420 Sport horizonward with a throaty four-cylinder howl.
The brakes bite progressively and predictably, so you can stop with confidence. And no matter where or how you use the car, the beastly inhale of the turbo behind your shoulder is like the devil that encourages those intrusive thoughts to win. The steering rack feels just a smidge on the slow side when making sudden adjustments. Still linear and communicative, though.
Owing to how low and buzzy the 420 Sport is, it’s a little bit like driving a go-kart on the road. You’re tiny and maneuverable and nimble, with enough torque to get ahead of anything that might try to box you in. We’d love to see what sort of experience a longer road trip yields, but we suspect the car is an agreeable cruiser, as well.
As for everyday cons, we can count them on a couple of fingers. The first is the removable tinted glass roof—the only one available on the 420 Sport. It lets in light but also heat, not to mention the wind can become incredibly loud as it rushes over the roof at high speeds. And although an engineer explained the Emira’s omittance of a rear seat is due to packaging a wholly different layout, we still mourn losing that extra storage option.
To Run Track
Many very serious people will tell you track driving is a very serious business, and if that’s your attitude, maybe one of those very serious German cars beckons instead. This Lotus is serious, but it’s also just as happy being unserious.
At its home track in Hethel, England, the 420 Sport dances and delights both on the big straights and through the highly technical corners. Lotus provided us with Lightweight Handling Pack–equipped cars set up in the track suspension tune, which admittedly most people probably won’t request unless they do this kind of thing frequently. The wall of power cannonballed us down the Mansell Main and Fittipaldi Straights and begged the question, “What’s turbo lag?” We don’t know her! When we needed to rapidly choke off speed, we stood on the brakes and stoppage happened breathlessly and flat with nary a wiggle.
Whether or not you’re a seasoned driver, fun is a prize this Lotus hands out to just about anyone. It doesn’t gatekeep a good time merely for those accustomed to driving at the limit. The suspension has just enough lean that rebound motions are controlled, but it also makes the car feel playful and even a bit mischievous. It’ll happily do a little slide if you’re in the mood, and the traction control works with you to catch any misses. The 420 Sport’s rotation point is clearly about where the driver’s hip is, so cornering quickly feels like a natural movement of the torso, a corporeal extension of your own body.
The wheel-mounted paddles snap off rapid shifts, but a couple of times we found ourselves clashing with the system on upshifts and downshifts. And as we had noticed on the road portion of the drive, we wished the steering was just a hair faster, especially around a particularly fast right-left turn. But it’s truly a matter of personal preference. Everything else worked together prodigiously.
While some may be alarmed by Lotus’ expansion into EVs and SUVs, this recent trip to its spiritual home was proof the British automaker is still doing what it does best. They say money can’t buy happiness, but if you have the money, it sure can buy an Emira, and with it, more joy.
2027 Lotus Emira 420 Sport Specifications
BASE PRICE
$122,900 (est)
LAYOUT
Mid-engine, RWD 2-pass, 2-door coupe
ENGINE
2.0L/416-hp/369-lb-ft (est) turbocharged port- and direct-injected DOHC 16-valve I-4
TRANSMISSION
8-speed twin-clutch auto
CURB WEIGHT
3,250 lb (mfr)
WHEELBASE
101.2 in
L x W x H
173.7 x74.6 x 48.4 in
0-60 MPH
3.7 sec (mfr est)
EPA CITY/HWY/COMB FUEL ECON
18/26/21 mpg
EPA RANGE, COMB
322 miles
ON SALE
August 2026
