Jim Clark-edition Lotus Emira marks a legendary season for the racing great
Sixty years after Jim Clark’s epic 1965 F1 world championship and Indy 500-winning season, Lotus has revealed a limited edition Emira to mark the anniversary
Green and yellow finish is a modern representation of the Lotus livery of 1965
James Arbuckle
Car of the month – Lotus Emira Clark Edition
Undeniably a Lotus…
Correct, and that’s the entire point. Lotus has always been a brand big on its history… and never shy of cashing in with a string of special-edition Elises and Exiges, but surprisingly this is its first effort with the Emira. That said, this version of its top-selling sports car does go beyond just a fresh paint job. It’s been built to celebrate 60 years since Jim Clark’s all-conquering 1965 season, during which he won both the F1 World Championship and the Indy 500 aboard Colin Chapman’s finest.
You’ll never forget you’re in a Clark Edition Emira thanks to interior badges
James Arbuckle
Why is it special, then?
Well, aside from the recreation of the distinctive racing green and yellow colours worn by both Clark’s F1 Type 33 (plus the 25 he used to win in France that year) and the Type 38 he guided to Indy success, the tribute styling also includes a hand-painted yellow pinstripe down the flanks, plus yellow-tipped exhaust pipes and an aluminium fuel filler cap with anodised blue centre, mimicking the design of the 38s from Indianapolis.
Why is the driver’s seat red and passenger seat black?
The interior has been designed to be asymmetrical, with the driver’s seat in red as a nod to Clark’s 1965 cars having red racing seats. Nice touch, if a bit odd. Plus, inside there’s a version of Clark’s signature imprinted on the dashboard, a retro wooden gear knob, numbered carbon-fibre door treadplates and more badging than you can shake a branded stick at.
Lotus racing cars in the 1960s also had red seats.
James Arbuckle
But it’s still an Emira?
Yes, but that’s nothing to be sniffy about considering the Emira is already a well-sorted sports car, and the petrol-powered flagship of Lotus. Despite electric models like the Eletre making up 60% of the firm’s deliveries, an electric Clark-themed car would hardly have suited, so you’ve got a 3.5-litre V6 giving 400bhp and a manual gearbox to play with instead. Fitting.
Top speed is 180mph
James Arbuckle
How many will be made?
Lotus has limited the Clark Edition Emira to just 60 units and it will only be sold into ‘selected markets’, which is likely code for ‘anywhere but America’ thanks to tariffs leading to a pause in Emira US exports.
And how much will it cost?
The Clark Edition has a price of £115,000, which is a hefty chunk more than the standard £89,500 Emira, so you need to really value your green to go for one.