Formula 1 World Champion Jenson Button has driven the new Lotus Emira at the Laguna Seca Raceway, the very first appearance for the new sports car in the USA.
Fresh from the Emira’s world debut last month and it’s first public demonstration at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, Button was on hand to put the very last petrol engine Lotus through its paces on the famous American race track.
Like Lotus, Jenson was in California for Monterey Car Week and the unveiling of the Radford Type 62-2, the 21st century reinterpretation of the 1960s Lotus Type 62 that is being manufactured using the latest Lotus technology. The fruits of the technology collaboration between Radford and Lotus received its world premiere last week, ahead of making its public debut with the Emira on the Lotus stand at The Quail, A Motorsport Gathering.
Jenson Button stated after his drive in the new Emira that “This is such a great circuit, most road cars on tracks don’t work, but this does.”
The Emira the Norfolk based firms all-new mid-engined sports car that perfectly embodies the ongoing transformation of the iconic British sports car manufacturer. Its striking design promises to deliver exotic supercar appeal in the sports car segment, with inspiration from the Lotus Evija hypercar clear in its fluid surfaces and crisp feature lines.
Two petrol engines are available, including a new-to-Lotus 2.0-litre turbocharged ‘i4’ from technical partner AMG as well as the much-loved and characterful 3.5-litre supercharged V6 from the critically acclaimed Evora GT.
A choice of manual, automatic and Dual Clutch Transmission is available, with power output from 360 to 400 hp at launch. All versions will hit 0-62mph (0-100km/h) in less than 4.5 seconds.
The USA is a key market for the Emira as Lotus transforms into a truly global performance car company, and Lotus retailers across the country have already seen strong demand from potential customers.
The Lotus Emira joined the Lotus Evija hypercar and the Radford 62-2 at The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering, which took place on Friday 13 August.
Watch the video of Jensen’s drive in the Lotus Emira