Lotus Emira Finally Approved For US Sales After Three Years

Emira Approved for Customer Deliveries by California ARB, Thanks to Lotus Confirmation

After a period of almost three years since it was first introduced in July 2021, Lotus can now commence with the delivery of Emira models to the US. As brought to attention by a member on the Lotus Talk forum and verified by a representative from Lotus to Motor1, the Emira has recently obtained certification from the California Air Resources Board (CARB). This translates to dealers being authorized to hand over cars to their respective buyers.

According to our previous report, out of all 50 states in the US, only 14 adhere to CARB regulations. Lotus, however, opted to delay sales in the remaining 36 non-CARB states. This decision was likely made to avoid situations where customers from these states would sell their cars to buyers in CARB states, since the Emira model cannot be legally registered there. In January, Lotus submitted a revised powertrain calibration for the Emira V6 in hopes of obtaining CARB’s approval. Fortunately, on February 29th, their submission was approved.

The Emira V-6 incorporates a recognizable motor, specifically the 3.5-liter Toyota V-6 that has been supercharged to generate 400 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. This engine has been a staple for Lotus since its introduction in the Evora S back in 2010, although it has been slightly altered in comparison to the last Evoras sold in the US market. In contrast to the Evora GT model, the rev limit has been reduced and the power output has decreased by 10 hp.

Since the initial placement of reservations for Emiras by customers in 2021, there has been a substantial delay. However, it was not solely due to the problem with emissions. Lotus faced challenges in increasing production as a result of supply troubles caused by the pandemic. The distribution of cars to buyers in Europe and Asia finally commenced in 2022.

In the near future, the Emira V-6 will be accompanied by a four-cylinder version equipped with a 2.0-liter turbo engine developed by Mercedes-AMG. Although it has a slightly lower output of 360 horsepower, it compensates with the addition of an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Ultimately, production of the Toyota V-6 will come to a halt and the Emira will solely feature a four-cylinder powertrain.