The Lotus Emira has been given the green light by the California Air Resources Board (CARB), marking a significant milestone as deliveries of this mid-engined sports car are set to commence across the United States. Although hundreds of Emiras had already been shipped into the country, they were held up at dealerships, pending emissions approval. Despite CARB standards being applicable only in 14 states, Lotus opted to delay nationwide deliveries to prevent vehicles from being redirected from compliant states to non-compliant ones.
Back in January, Lotus had acknowledged that some final checks were necessary before CARB approval could be secured, but no further updates were provided at the time. However, six weeks later, a member of the Lotus Talk forum obtained documentation revealing that the CARB approval had been granted on February 29 through a public records request.
The Emira holds considerable significance for the Lotus brand as it takes the mantle from the Exige, Elise, and Evora models. This marks the end of an era for combustion-powered Lotus cars. While the Emira has been available in international markets for a few years, it's now making its debut in the U.S. market. While some markets offer a choice between a Mercedes-AMG-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine and a 3.5-liter supercharged V6 from Toyota, the U.S. variant exclusively features the latter. Delivering a robust 395 horsepower and 430 Nm of torque, power is transmitted to the rear wheels through either a six-speed torque converter automatic or a six-speed manual transmission.
In January, reports emerged of a Lotus dealership receiving over 100 Emiras, eagerly awaiting CARB approval to finalize customer deliveries. This delay underscores the meticulousness with which Lotus is approaching the introduction of the Emira into the U.S. market, ensuring compliance with environmental regulations while meeting the expectations of eager customers.