Models · Lotus
Lotus Emira buying guide
The Emira is Lotus's last petrol sports car, a mid-engined two-seater built from 2022 with a supercharged 3.5 V6 or a turbocharged 2.0 four-cylinder from Mercedes-AMG.
The versions
- V6: supercharged 3.5 V6, 395hp, six-speed manual or six-speed automatic
- i4: Mercedes-AMG 2.0 turbo four-cylinder, 360hp, eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox
- 2.0 Turbo SE (2025): 400hp (power figures as given in hp by PistonHeads)
- Rear-wheel drive two-seater coupé
What to check on a Emira
3 model-specific things to look at when you view one. They're a starting point, not the full inspection.
Recall work
What to look for: Ask for evidence that recall work has been done, or give a Lotus dealer the 17-digit VIN to check.
Why it matters: Lotus lists three Emira recalls from 2023: the driver and passenger seatbelts, the windscreen wiper, and missing A-pillar tethers. Most cars will have had them done, and dealer paperwork shows it.
Driveshaft seal leaks on the V6
What to look for: From underneath, look where the driveshafts enter the gearbox for fresh oil. On the drive, listen for noise from the transmission.
Why it matters: A manufacturer communication covered oil leaks from the transmission driveshaft seals, transmission noise on the V6 and, in some cases, loss of drive. It was put down to the driveshafts not being fully locked into position during assembly, so ask whether the work has been done.
Windows and water ingress
What to look for: Open and close each window fully and check it seals at the top and doesn't drop part way. Feel the carpets and look at the headlining for damp, and look along the panels for small blisters in the paint.
Why it matters: Some cars have let water in past the windows, or had windows drop to halfway after closing. Water ingress was serious on at least one car, and paint blistering has been linked to moisture getting in. A shield was also fitted to the heating and ventilation unit after some resistors failed.
Also in the full guide
- Battery health
- The cold start, test drive and paperwork checks for the exact version you're viewing
The full guide to the Emira
The CrankSight guide walks you round the car on your phone at the viewing, with every check for the exact version you're looking at: what to look for, where to find it, and what anything you find is likely to cost. As you go it builds an assessment of that car, and if you view more than one, it lines them up side by side.
£29 for the model, used on as many cars as you like, delivered within 72 hours or your money back.
General points for the model, last checked October 2026. Every car is different, so treat this as a guide to what to look at, not a verdict on any car. CrankSight is independent and has no connection with Lotus.