This is the one we’ve been waiting for, right? There was a suspicion that maybe the, just maybe, the V6 Emira wasn’t the best that the final combustion engined Lotus could be. Now we’ll be able to answer that question for certain with the launch of this, the 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, dual-clutch auto model.

Some stats to kick us off with. The 1,991cc, all-aluminium AMG turbo produces 365hp at 6,600rpm, going all the way to 7,200rpm, with 317lb ft available from 3,000-5,000rpm. The eight-speed gearbox and launch control means 4.4 seconds to 62mph is possible, with the top speed rated at 180mph. Fuel consumption is to be confirmed, with a subject-to-homologation CO2 rating of 208g/km. Perhaps most interestingly of all, the 2.0-litre Emira weighs 1,446kg to DIN measurements (with fluids and 90 per cent of a tank, but no driver), which is only 12kg less than the V6 – the weight of the DCT presumably offsetting any saving from the smaller engine. An aluminium subframe is employed here for the first time (it’s steel on the V6).

Otherwise much will be familiar from the 3.5-litre Emira – this is no entry level model that goes without the jaw-dropping styling or dynamic capability of the flagship. Buyers will again be offered a Tour chassis on a Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport tyre, or a firmer, pointier, grippier Sports chassis using a Michelin Cup 2, with the Goodyear offered on the latter chassis. Both tyre options measure 245/35/R20 up front and 295/30/R20 at the rear, which sound pretty chunky for a more modestly powered Lotus, but let’s see. Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers are once more employed, and the 2.0-litre boasts its own calibration of the ESC; an ‘e-Diff function’, said to be able to ‘apply carefully modulated brake pressure to the rear wheels in order to maximise traction by the transfer or torque to the one with the most grip’, takes the place of the LSD in the more powerful car.

Gavan Kershaw said: “We’ve meticulously tuned the suspension settings for the 2.0-litre Emira to deliver the superb body and control that’s a Lotus hallmark without the car ever feeling harsh. We’ve calibrated engine and transmission mapping, in tandem with the Drive Modes, to create a refined and relaxed character in Tour, and with incredible launch performance, superb driveability, even quicker throttle response and kickdown in Sport and Track. We’ve also taken the opportunity to refine how the powertrain is linked to the traction and stability control systems to deliver the high-performance feel and connection that Lotus drivers expect.”

Buyers of the new Emira will be offered 13 colours ‘to heighten the visual impact of the Emira’s dramatic, purposeful form’ – certainly the car is even more dramatic in real life than the pics, especially in the brighter colours. The paints offered are Hethel Yellow, Magma Red, Vivid Red, Dark Verdant, Seneca Blue, Atlantis Blue, Meridian Blue, Osmium Silver, Nimbus Grey, Shadow Grey, Zinc Grey, Mist White and Cosmos Black. There’s a Black Pack and the usual array of options, too – the configurator awaits…

Don’t get too carried away, however: the 2.0-litre Emira costs £81,495. Which is quite a bit more than it was predicted to cost, Lotus another manufacturer grappling with the increased cost of everything. But you probably don’t need us to tell you that’s M4 money, let alone Cayman GTS 4.0 cash. On the other hand, if this turbo car is the Emira in its finest form, perhaps it’ll be worth every penny…