The Lotus Emira is the swan song of the brand’s gas-powered era, and for a car that marks the end of an era, it’s not holding back. In true Lotus fashion, it’s been lightweight, sharp, and thrilling but now, the Emira Turbo SE takes things up a notch. With a punchier four-cylinder turbo that matches the V6’s power output, this new variant promises even more of that Lotus magic.

The Emira has been offered with two engines: an AMG-sourced 2.0-litre turbocharged inline-four making 268 kW (360 horsepower) and a Toyota-sourced 3.5-litre V6 pushing out a hearty 298 kW (400 horsepower). Now, Lotus is slotting in a third option for markets in Africa, the Asia-Pacific region, and the Middle East, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine with a bit more venom under the hood.

Meet the Emira Turbo SE, where the four-pot has been massaged to crank out 298 kW (400 horsepower), matching the V6’s output. Torque gets a healthy bump too, climbing from 430 Nm to 480 Nm, making the Turbo SE as potent as its six-cylinder sibling. Power is delivered to the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox manual purists will need to stick with the V6 if they want that third pedal.

Performance? As expected, it’s sharp. Lotus claims the uprated four-cylinder will sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.0 seconds, shaving three-tenths off the standard four-cylinder’s time of 4.3 seconds. The top speed? Up by 18 km/h, topping out at a respectable 290 km/h. Lotus has also thrown in their Drivers Pack as standard for this model, which includes stiffer suspension, two-piece brakes for better stopping power, and launch control for those perfectly dialled starts.

Aesthetically, the Turbo SE flexes just enough to stand out. It comes with forged Satin Grey V-spoke wheels, red brake calipers for that extra pop of aggression, and some bespoke Turbo SE badging. It’s subtle but effective, in the same way Lotus cars always have been understated but with serious intent.

While there's no official word on whether the Turbo SE will make its way to North America, Lotus hasn’t ruled it out either. For now, it’s a tantalizing addition to select markets, and with its combination of turbocharged punch and Lotus finesse, it’s clear this Emira is something special.