Sports car brand unveils collection of ultra-rare motors inspired by F1 racers – including touching nod to racing legend
A MUCH-loved British manufacturer has unveiled a series of sports cars inspired by their F1 machines of the past – with each focussing on a legendary driver.
Lotus is readying a series of limited edition Emira models to celebrate its Formula 1 history – with each boasting a unique colour theme and number.
Officially called the Emira Limited Edition, the cars will feature five different liveries – each inspired by former Lotus F1 racers.
Limited to just 12 units each, they will be released across 12 selected European markets – Switzerland, Italy, Austria, Spain, Luxembourg, France, Sweden, Norway, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany and Denmark.
The number 12 pays homage to the legendary number worn by Ayrton Senna during his time with Lotus in F1.
Each Emira will feature bespoke details and hand-crafted finishes, with the liveries honouring the colours of famous Formula 1.
The first example to be released will be inspired by the Type 99T car – in which Ayrton Senna triumphed in Monaco and Detroit in 1987.
It will feature a yellow finish with blue detailing and the number 12 visible on the sides, along with black wheels and brake callipers.
The Emira based on the Type 97T will combine a Shadow Grey base colour with gold detailing – in celebration of the 1985 car in which Senna claimed his first Grand Prix victory in Estoril, Portugal.
Another will be made in tribute to the Type 86 from 1980, which was a one-off prototype with blue colours and red and silver stripes, and the number 11 on the flanks.
There is also a car dedicated to the Type 78 – the iconic car from 1977 that was one of the first to exploit the aerodynamics of ground effect.
This car features the number 5 in homage to US racer Mario Andretti, who won the world championship with the team in 1978.
Lastly, a car that honours the Type 25 will be finished in the gorgeous dark green livery and emblazoned with yellow stripes – much like the 1963 car that was driven by Jim Clark.
Each Emira is powered by a 2.0-litre turbo engine developed by Mercedes-AMG and customised by Lotus, capable of 0-62 mph in 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 175 mph.
Each car comes with a black Lotus logo and an ‘Emira Limited 1/12’ nameplate on the B-pillars and dashboard, along with a certificate of authenticity.
While price will vary between each country, the starting cost will roughly be around £80,000.
The limited edition models come as Lotus are set to offer their so-called Chapman Bespoke customisation programme next year, which will give customers the chance to modify their Lotus in a wide range of details.
Back in September, Lotus unveiled an exciting new model with three seats and a top speed of 199 mph.
The British car maker are set to release their first all-electric sports car next year and the aggressive-looking concept has been held up as a “blueprint” for what it could look like.
Known as the ‘Theory 1’, the stunning motor features an odd three-seat setup, 986bhp and an all-wheel-drive electric powertrain that draws energy from a 70kWh battery.
Lotus also claims it has a 0-62mph time of less than 2.5 seconds and a top speed of 199mph.
Most notable of all is the Theory 1’s carbon-made body weight, which is under 1,600kg – significantly low for an electric car.
This comes as a car expert discussed a Lotus sports car from the past that is the ultimate modern classic – described as “underappreciated”.