It’s hard to imagine a more evocative sight than a Lotus with the letters “SE” stitched into its DNA.
For those with even a hint of petrol in their veins, those two initials bring to mind the spirited Esprits of the past, the agile Excel SEs, and the turbocharged thrills of a bygone analogue era.
Now, for 2025, Lotus channels that same energy into its latest stunner, the Emira Turbo SE, which has just landed in Singapore.
The Emira Turbo SE ditches the familiar V6 that some markets still enjoy. Instead, Singapore gets a more lithe turbocharged four-cylinder sourced from Mercedes-AMG. This porker delivers 400bhp and 480Nm, making it the most powerful and quickest Emira yet.
0–100km/h is dusted in 4.0 seconds, and if you’ve got a long enough stretch of tarmac, this featherweight will go on to a very un-British 290km/h.
What truly sets the Turbo SE apart is the standard Lotus Drivers Pack, a veritable buffet of driver-focused goodies.
There’s a dedicated Track mode complete with bespoke graphics, Launch Control for perfect starts, and switchable exhaust notes depending on your mood (or your neighbours’ patience).
Braking is taken care of by cross-drilled and ventilated two-piece discs, and handling is predictably sublime. The Emira comes fitted with a Sport Chassis by default, but should you fancy something a touch more forgiving for Singapore’s potholes and speed bumps, the Tour Chassis is available at no additional cost. A nice touch, considering Lotus’s focus has always been on offering purity without punishment.
The visual tweaks also whisper seductively. New 20-inch V-spoke forged wheels are finished in Satin Grey, Zinc Grey body paint, and red brake callipers peek through with just the right amount of aggression. The ‘Emira Turbo SE’ badging, black tailpipes, and black Lotus insignia complete the ensemble like a well-fitted Savile Row jacket.
Inside, the car is finished in Alcantara with a sporty Alcantara headliner, and for those with more particular tastes, the personalisation options are delightfully extensive. Choose between leather or Alcantara finishes, a range of caliper colours, and if you want your beats to match your drive, there’s even an optional KEF Premium audio system to fill the cabin with rich, high-fidelity sound.
Add the Convenience Pack and you’re treated to front park sensors, reverse camera, auto-dimming mirrors and storage netting in the cabin.
While the Lotus Emira Turbo SE is no longer being displayed at New Bahru, you can catch a glimpse of it at the Lotus Singapore showroom.
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