Can a sports car with 612 hp also be efficient and offer affordable running costs? Apparently, the Lotus Emeya S, the mid-range version of the British electric GT, promises just that. It’s not the R, the 918-hp hypercar, but it still delivers fun and power, combined with unparalleled comfort.
To put it to the test, I planned a journey from Munich, Germany (though the locals like to call it the northernmost city of Italy) to Rome: a total of 933 km from the Allianz Arena to the Stadio Olimpico—keeping the sporty theme alive. The goal? To recharge as little as possible and keep costs low.
The Emeya claims 612 km of WLTP range and promises it can cover Amsterdam to Paris, about 500 km, on a single charge. So, I set it to Range mode, resisted the temptation to switch to Sport, lowered the suspension, and set off to see if it could deliver on its promises.
A wow-car
There’s no denying it—this Emeya is stunning. I’ll admit, I had fun glancing into cars heading in the opposite direction because everyone, without exception, was staring at it. Flashing lights, honking horns, shouts of “wow,” and other compliments—it’s a car that grabs attention in the best way possible.
Its design echoes that of the Eletre but with its own unique touches. For example, the front headlights are triple, with dual LED daytime running lights and main lighting units integrated into the bumper. The rear, however, is the standout feature, with an active spoiler, a diffuser, and a continuous LED light bar paired with “hidden” taillights embedded in a glossy black panel that also houses the second of two LiDAR sensors (the other is neatly integrated into the roof).
In our case, the Emeya features bespoke 21’’ wheels with six-piston brake calipers—though I’d opt for carbon-ceramic brakes for even better performance. It also comes with the extended Carbon Package, adding carbon fiber to the front diffuser, “mirror cameras,” and several interior elements.
That said, forget the traditional “simplify and add lightness” philosophy typical of Lotus. The Emeya measures 5.1 meters in length and weighs 2.5 tons, thanks to its 102 kWh battery and the extensive electronics packed into the vehicle. Still, it boasts all-wheel drive and air suspension with four-level adaptive dampers. In the R version, it even adds active anti-roll bars and rear-wheel steering.
An interior full of details
The interior of the Emeya represents a significant step forward for Lotus, once again drawing inspiration from the Eletre but with a much more practical approach. While almost everything in the SUV is controlled via the large touchscreen display, here a few more physical buttons have been added: for instance, the mirror cameras are adjusted with soft-touch buttons on the door panel, the steering wheel has electronic adjustment operated via a lever on the column, the glovebox opens with a soft-touch button on the center tunnel, the volume is controlled on the steering wheel, and the dual-zone climate control has its temperature adjusted with buttons on the central tunnel. The seat controls also feature physical buttons on the sides.
In short, while much remains digital, the approach taken with this sedan feels far less distracting. It’s also less over-the-top in terms of opulence: the white Nappa leather is paired with soft-touch white materials, white seat belts with green and yellow stripes, and velvet-Alcantara for the steering wheel (which I wasn’t entirely convinced by) and the smartphone compartment—though the latter is a bit slippery, as the phone tends to slide backward with the first acceleration. And, of course, there’s the aforementioned carbon fiber trim.
There are a total of six touch displays: two that replace the side mirrors, the large central screen, the one behind the steering wheel, another for the front passenger, and finally one for the rear passengers, who can adjust audio, climate, and other settings.
In the back, the space is generous, even for taller occupants (the writer is 1.94 m tall), and the floor isn’t overly intrusive. Additionally, there are two USB-C ports just below the rear seats, making it very convenient to charge devices. The rear seats are also electronically adjustable for reclining.
The trunk is spacious, and the fastback design makes it practical and wide-opening: filling its 509-liter capacity is very straightforward, which is impressive for a car of this type. Even in the base version, ventilated and massaging seats come standard, with optional features like the customizable KEF Reference sound system.
The real range of the Lotus Emeya S
I left Munich at almost 7 AM and arrived at the Stadio Olimpico at 4:30 PM—9.5 hours for 933 km. This is the same amount of time you’d take with any car, but let’s break it down further.
A quick note: I picked up the car the day before, and instead of being at 100%, it was at 87%. I used that opportunity to tour Munich with a local guide to find interesting spots to photograph both the city and the car.
For instance, I discovered that despite being far from the sea, some Munich locals love surfing on a small “waterfall” of the Isar River, the smaller of the two rivers running through the city. Fun fact: the Isar is nicknamed The Ice River because its Alpine origins make it cold even in summer.
So, I didn’t start with a full charge but still made only two stops. The first was at the Ionity charging stations at the Brenner Pass, on the Austria-Italy border. These stations have the advantage of being covered, protecting you from snow, rain, or summer sun. Located 214 km from the Allianz Arena, I arrived with about 25% battery remaining, aided by Austria’s highway speed limits.
The second and final stop was at the Secchia Ovest service area on the A1 motorway near Modena. Between the two stops, I covered 317 km and still had about 150 km of range left when I arrived.
Certainly, the downhill terrain of South Tyrol helped save energy, but even with its dual electric motors and impressive power, the Emeya can achieve over 420 km of real-world highway range at 120–130 km/h, and even more at 110 km/h. This was with temperatures below 0°C and winter tires on 21” wheels instead of the larger 22” ones.
The final stretch, Modena to Rome, was the longest—405 km. It confirmed the car’s capabilities, as I arrived in the capital with no issues and about 25 km of range remaining.
Lightning-fast charging
It’s not just about range: the 102 kWh battery, despite the car’s weight, enables long-distance travel. Additionally, the EPA platform on which the Emeya is built is one of the most advanced currently available, supporting an 800-volt architecture. This means the Emeya can charge at up to 350 kW, fully leveraging networks like Ionity or Free To X, which are now widespread in Italy, even in central and southern regions.
Under optimal conditions, the car can recharge 80% in just 18 minutes.
However, this quick charge time was only achieved during the stop in Modena, thanks to favorable temperatures and Free To X’s Hypercharger stations by Alpitronic, which maintain efficiency even in the cold. Unfortunately, the Ionity chargers at the Brenner Pass didn’t exceed 110 kW.
How much did I spend?
For the two charging sessions, I spent €90.58 (approximately 675 DKK).
The most affordable option remains Ionity, thanks to the Ionity Passport: that charge cost me €33.58 (around 250 DKK), while the second one with Free To X cost €57 (about 425 DKK).
Here’s a downside of Italian highways: except for two stations in the Liguria region, Ionity stations are all located outside the highway, which in Italy means having to exit through the toll gate.
It does (almost) everything for you
As demonstrated, this wasn’t a performance test but an endurance test of the range in a limited time frame—933 km isn’t standard fare. The Emeya handles it well for all the reasons mentioned, but also because it ensures a comfortable journey.
The Emeya features four LiDAR systems: one on the roof, a nearly invisible rear one, and two retractable side sensors. By pressing a button on the left side of the steering wheel, the Emeya activates semi-autonomous driving, including adaptive cruise control that stops and starts in traffic, lane-keeping assist, and even speed limit adaptation.
In practice, it does everything except overtaking, which makes such a long trip much less stressful. Of course, you need to stay attentive, and some system sounds—though all can be deactivated—can be a bit annoying. Overall, everything is designed for comfort, aided by the well-upholstered seats that offer excellent back support.
Final considerations
With 612 hp and a 0–100 km/h time of 4.5 seconds, the Emeya S is plenty of fun, and its top speed of 250 km/h makes it one of the fastest electric cars. On German highways, I couldn’t resist testing it. Remarkably, even under braking, it doesn’t feel like a car of this size and weight, remaining highly agile.
For me, another plus is the low driving position. It’s not as low as some sports cars because of the battery, but the driving pleasure remains unbeatable.
