2026 Lotus Emira V6 SE and Turbo: A Lighter, Smarter, Sharper British Coupe

By Team Dailyrevs June 9, 2025

The 2026 Emira V6 SE and Emira Turbo mark a strategic trim-level refresh with smarter safety tech and performance tweaks.
Lotus retains its signature handling by fine-tuning suspension geometry and weight balance.
Starting from £79,500, the Turbo lowers the entry barrier without compromising Lotus DNA.

A Sharper Emira for a Tighter Era

For 2026, Lotus isn’t reinventing the Emira—it’s refining it. And perhaps that’s the smarter move. The brand’s last combustion sports car arrives with meaningful updates in two distinct trims: the Emira V6 SE and the Emira Turbo. The goal? More clarity, more capability, and a tighter price ladder.

In a segment increasingly bloated with dual-clutch drama and digital distractions, Lotus is sticking to its old-school virtues—light weight, sharp steering, and mechanical honesty—while making concessions where they count: safety tech, usability, and engine accessibility.

Trim Split: Turbo for Purists, V6 SE for Thrill-Seekers

The base 2026 Emira Turbo is powered by a 2.0-litre AMG-sourced turbocharged inline-four mated to an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission, producing 360 hp. It’s the lighter and more accessible option, now priced from £79,500 in the UK. The more potent Turbo SE pushes output to 400 hp—but this remains distinct from the V6 range.

The Emira V6 SE, on the other hand, keeps its roots in the past. The 3.5-litre supercharged V6, good for 400 hp, is paired with a 6-speed manual or automatic transmission, preserving the kind of driver engagement that’s quickly becoming a rarity. It starts around £96,500 and adds several standard performance features that used to be optional.

As Lotus' Managing Director Mike Johnstone noted in the official release, “These are not just new trims; they represent an evolution of how we bring performance and usability into balance without diluting the Emira’s DNA.”

Suspension, Steering, and Subtle Tweaks

For both models, Lotus engineers have revised the suspension and wheel alignment settings. Depending on the trim, you get recalibrated Tour or Sport damping modes that fine-tune ride compliance without undermining the car’s agility. The gearbox mount on the automatic variants has also been updated to reduce vibration and deliver smoother shift engagement.

Another noteworthy improvement? Cooling. The reworked coolant routing and system tweaks reduce weight and improve thermal efficiency—particularly relevant for track-day enthusiasts pushing the Emira’s limits.

Explore the 2026 Lotus Emira Turbo SE at DailyRevs.com
Explore the 2026 Lotus Emira V6 SE at DailyRevs.com

Safety Tech: Finally, ADAS Comes Standard

One of the few critiques levied at the outgoing Emira was its lack of modern Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS). That changes in 2026. Both trims now come standard with features like:

Autonomous Emergency Braking (AEB)
Lane Departure Warning
Blind-Spot Monitoring
Driver Fatigue Alert
Traffic Sign Recognition

Lotus also offers an Extended Co-Driver Pack, which adds Adaptive Cruise Control, Rear Cross-Traffic Alert, and High-Beam Assist. While Lotus diehards may sneer at such acronyms, they’re essential for market survival—especially with growing emissions and safety regulations.

Cosmetic Adjustments That Complement

From a visual standpoint, the 2026 Emira lineup avoids flashy overhauls. You’ll spot new color options like Eos Green, Zinc Grey, and Purple Haze, alongside black badging and forged 20-inch alloys. It’s tasteful rather than transformative—precisely the approach Lotus buyers expect.

The Black Pack now comes extended on select trims, and yes, red brake calipers are still in the mix if that matters to you. But it’s more about refinement than reinvention. A car that already looked great didn’t need a reinvention—it needed refinement. And that’s what Lotus delivered.

Pricing, Market Rollout, and Final Thoughts

With prices ranging from £79,500 for the Emira Turbo to £96,500 for the V6 SE, the 2026 Emira trims have been strategically positioned. They not only broaden accessibility but also tighten the brand’s value proposition just as rivals like Alpine and Porsche start to lean more heavily into EVs.

Deliveries begin September 2025 across Europe and the UK. India and other Asia-Pacific markets are expected to follow in early 2026.

A Mid-Engined Swan Song, but on Lotus Terms

This isn’t Lotus chasing trends. This is Lotus clarifying its final combustion-era play. The 2026 Emira is more usable, better equipped, and more accessible—but it hasn’t lost what made it special. The handling feel remains tactile. The engine note, especially in the V6, is still raw. And most importantly, the Emira continues to offer something few sports cars do anymore: trust between machine and driver.

Whether you want turbocharged composure or supercharged nostalgia, the 2026 Lotus Emira lets you pick your poison. And either way, it’ll feel like Lotus.