Lotus Emeya R 2024 Pre-Introduced in Malaysia – Electric Sedan with 905hp, 985Nm Torque, 435km Range, Price Around RM800,000?

New from open order book in Malaysiathe Emeya Lotus has arrived in Malaysia, in the form of the flagship Emeya R. The electric performance sedan is being showcased at a closed preview event at Pavilion Kuala Lumpur ahead of its launch, which is set to take place very soon.

The Emeya has an estimated starting price of RM575,000, which is comparable to its main rival, Porsche Taycan. This R version will certainly be quite a bit more expensive, however – considering the way the base Emeya is expected to be RM23,000 cheaper than the related version ElectricityThe R’s retail price is expected to be around RM815,000 (the Eletre R is priced at RM838,000).

For that money, you get a big five-door sedan that produces a staggering 905 horsepower (675 kilowatts) and 710 pound-feet of torque from its two motors – quite a bit more than the base Emeya and Emeya S, which produce 603 horsepower (450 kilowatts) and 530 pound-feet. All of this is sent to all four wheels, allowing the R to sprint from 0 to 62 mph (100 km/h) in just 2.78 seconds and to 124 mph (200 km/h) in nine seconds, all the way to a top speed of 166 mph (256 km/h).

All Emeyas come with a 102 kWh battery, slightly smaller than the heavier Eletre’s 112 kWh unit. But while the Emeya and Emeya S have WLTP-rated ranges of 610 km and 540 km respectively, the more powerful and less efficient R can only travel up to 435 km on a single charge.

What’s cool is that the Emeya’s 800-volt charger allows for DC fast charging up to 400kW, taking just 14 minutes to charge the battery from 10% to 80%. It can also support AC charging up to 22kW, so a full charge takes 5.5 hours.

Under the skin, the Emeya comes standard with three-chamber air suspension and adaptive dampers that can react to changing road conditions. Many parameters, such as ride height, suspension stiffness and throttle response, can be adjusted via five driving modes – Range, Tour, Sport, Individual and Track. The Emeya R adds a handling package that includes active roll stabilization and rear-wheel steering.

Built in Wuhan, China and developed at the Lotus Innovation Center in Raunheim, Germany, the Emeya is Hethel’s second electric “hypercar” after the Eletre. It is long (5,139 mm), wide (2,123 mm) and low (1,459 mm), and sports the brand’s “spongy” design language that hints at aerodynamic efficiency – first seen on the Evija supercar – this car has good road performance, even surpassing the massive Eletre.

Aside from the body shape and lower ride height, the Emeya is distinguishable from the front by its signature dual L-shaped LED daytime running lights (the main headlights are mounted lower in the bumper, near the corner air ducts). You still get the active “petal” lower grille, black roof, body-colored C-pillar “fins,” an active rear spoiler (two levels are available here) and a full-width taillight strip from the Eletre.

Wheel options range from 20 to 22 inches in diameter, but the Emeya S and R ride on 21-inch wheels as standard; the car you see here has the largest 22-inch wheels with carbon fiber aero inserts. These hide larger brakes with six-piston front calipers, an upgrade over the standard four-piston units. Carbon ceramic brakes with ten-piston front calipers are optional and are also fitted here.

Another difference for the R is the standard carbon package, which includes a front splitter, hood, wing mirrors, Gurney rear spoiler (on the active rear wing) and rear diffuser, all made from the lightweight material. An extended package adds carbon front and rear bumpers, a bonnet fascia and side skirts; however, it does not have the optional side view camera.

The Emeya’s sumptuous interior is a far cry from the stripped-down cabins of the brand’s lightweight sports cars – as it should be, given the R tips the scales at two and a half tonnes. The dual-cockpit dashboard design and wide centre console are similar to what you’ll find in the Eletre.

Also shared with the SUV are a pair of screens – a slim 12.6-inch display for the driver and passenger, a large 15.1-inch infotainment touchscreen, and a 55-inch head-up display. These screens run on a pair of Qualcomm Snapdragon 8155 chips and Lotus HyperOS, using the game-derived Unreal Engine to render the 3D Emeya on the central screen.

Elsewhere, you’ll find plush electric seats with massage functions for those in the front and, with the comfort package, in the rear as well. This show car was fitted with the four-seat executive package, which adds, among other things, a nine-inch touchscreen that folds flat when not in use. This has the unfortunate side effect of cutting boot space from 509 litres to just 426 litres.

Other optional features include a panoramic glass sunroof (which can be had with an electronic “dimming” function) and a 23-speaker, 2,160-watt KEF Reference Audio sound system (a 15-speaker, 1,380-watt system is standard) attached to the four-seat layout.

All Emeyas come equipped with a range of driver assistance technologies including autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control with stop and go function, lane keeping assist, traffic sign recognition, blind spot monitoring, front and rear cross traffic alert, rear collision warning and a 360-degree camera; parking assist is offered as an option.

Like the Eletre, it also gets retractable lidar sensors on the roof, front fenders, and rear doors. These sensors support highly autonomous driving capabilities, which Lotus promises will be added via over-the-air updates when local regulations allow.

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