2.78 seconds to 100, is quicker than you can say “All-New Lotus Emeya R”. We take a first look at the British brand’s new Hyper-GT.

Photos and Text: Augustine Lai

SINGAPORE

So, Lotus Singapore did a thing. They launched what they termed, their very first Hyper-GT car – the All-New Lotus Emeya R. The hyper grand tourer four-door is the storied brand’s second electric model, following the debut of its larger sibling, the Lotus Eletre.

So you may be wondering why is the Emeya categorised as a Hyper-GT? Well.. as the title suggests, the top of the range Emeya R puts out an astonishing 918hp and 985Nm, which allows it to achieve a century sprint of 2.78 seconds, in eye-watering ballistic fashion. If you were to ask me, this is in hypercar territory; yet the Emeya offers owners the practicality and comfort you’d expect in a sedan. 

The Emeya R, which tops the three-car line-up, is the only variant that utilises a two-speed automatic gearbox and it is powered by dual motors, and a 102kWh lithium-ion battery. It offers a WLTP range of 435km.

The mid-variant Emeya S which is also endowed with dual motors, puts out a more down-to-earth 611hp and 710Nm. It also is easier on the face, doing 100km/h in a more sane 4.2 seconds. It also has a more practical range of 540km (WLTP).

Then there is the entry Emeya, which matches the performance statistics of the Emeya S, but makes do with smaller steel (as-opposed to carbon-ceramic) brakes: 370mm compared to 412mm at the front, and 367mm compared to 397mm at the rear; along with 4-piston front brake callipers instead of 6. However, the base Emeya offers the best range performance of the pack, with a WLTP range of 610km.

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Lotus says that the Emeya’s design and driving characteristics are built based on the fundamentals of Lotus sports car engineering DNA. Some of these attributes include active aerodynamic features, which are incorporated into the front grille, rear diffuser and spoiler. Along with a lower centre of gravity compared to the Eletre, the Emeya utilises this advantage, to achieve a drag coefficient of 0.21Cd, with its aero generating over 150kg of downforce, to keep the wheels firmly planted where they’re meant to be.

There are five driving modes- Range, Tour, Sport, Individual and Track; to suit different driving needs and further adding to driving characteristics. Drivers can adjust ride height, air suspension stiffness and acceleration response. This personalisation allows drivers the flexibility to adjust for optimal performance, efficiency or comfort, in any driving condition.

Even with its supercar-like performance, the Emeya does not compromise on space. It boasts a 509-litre boot and a 31-litre frunk. And since you might just want to showboat to your friends, the Emeya has an Advanced Intelligent Panoramic Glass Roof, which allows drivers to toggle between opaque and clear settings, and where you can make individual sections of the roof opaque to block direct sunlight while keeping the remaining segments transparent.

Lotus says that the 800-volt architecture in the Emeya allows it to reach a peak charging power of 402kW which enables a rapid charging time of 10 to 80-percent in 14 minutes, making their Hyper-GT one of the quickest charging EVs available today.

The Lotus Emeya starts at S$415,000, with the Emeya S retailing from S$438,000, while the Emeya R from S$563,000. Prices stated are without COE and options.

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