Lotus Emira

Importing a used Lotus Emira from the USA

The Emira is a landmark car: the final petrol-powered Lotus, a mid-engined sports car conceived to send the combustion era off in style. It reached the United States as a keenly awaited model, and early US cars are now appearing on the used market. Importing a used Lotus Emira from the USA is a way to secure one, sometimes at a keen price, and USCar Trader arranges the whole process purely as your broker and intermediary, with no manufacturer partnership and no margin added to the car.

Production years and key changes

Revealed in 2021 and reaching customers from 2022, the Emira replaced the Elise, Exige and Evora in one stroke, becoming Lotus's sole internal-combustion model as the company pivots to electric. It launched with a well-specified First Edition before the standard Base joined the range. Built on a bonded-aluminium chassis at Lotus's home in Hethel, England, it keeps the marque's focus on light weight and steering feel while adding a more usable, better-finished cabin than its predecessors. Because it is a current model, every used example is recent and low-mileage by classic-import standards.

What is under the hood

Two very different powertrains are offered. The V6 uses a 3.5-litre supercharged Toyota-sourced engine (the 2GR family) producing around 400 hp and 430 Nm, paired with either a 6-speed manual or a 6-speed torque-converter automatic. The four-cylinder i4 uses Mercedes-AMG's 2.0-litre turbocharged M139 with roughly 360 hp, driving through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission. Both are mid-mounted and rear-wheel drive. The supercharged V6 with the open-gate manual is the enthusiast's favourite for its sound and mechanical connection, while the AMG four offers rapid, effortless shifts.

Trims and body styles

The Emira is a strict two-seat coupe with a single closed body style; there is no convertible. Specification runs from the launch First Edition, which bundled the desirable options, to the Base, with a choice of touring or sports suspension and the Lotus Driver's Pack. Colours, wheel designs and interior trims vary, and US cars are generally well equipped with the digital instruments, touchscreen infotainment and modern driver aids that mark the Emira out from earlier Lotus models.

What the US market offers

Because the Emira is new, the American used pool is small but growing, made up of low-mileage cars from early buyers. Condition is generally excellent, so the focus shifts to specification: engine and gearbox choice, options, colour and whether the car has been tracked. Documented dealer servicing and a clean history are the things to verify. As a recent model, values are still settling, which is what can make a considered import worthwhile.

Who this import is for

Import an Emira if you want a modern, analogue-feeling mid-engined sports car with genuine Lotus handling and, in V6 manual form, a driving experience that is becoming rare. It rewards drivers who value feel over outright numbers. It is a focused two-seater rather than a practical daily car, but as a statement sports car with real provenance it is compelling, and its Toyota-derived V6 brings welcome mechanical familiarity.

Technical data and figures

Reliability: trouble spots to check

As a young model the Emira has a limited long-term record, but some patterns are already clear. The supercharged V6 is fundamentally a proven Toyota engine, which gives it a reassuring mechanical baseline, and the manual gearbox is likewise well understood. The AMG-sourced four and its dual-clutch transmission are also known quantities from Mercedes applications. The niggles reported on early cars are mostly electronic and build-related: infotainment glitches and software bugs that later updates address, occasional rattles and trim fit issues, and the usual teething of a car built in a period of major change at Lotus. Confirm that any outstanding software updates or warranty campaigns have been carried out, and check that a tracked car has been serviced accordingly.

US vs. Europe differences

US-market Emiras carry US lighting (side markers, US headlamp aim, no rear fog lamp), an mph-led display and US-specification emissions and driver-assistance calibration. Because the Emira is sold new in Europe as well, its underlying engineering is EU-familiar, which tends to simplify the compliance work compared with an obscure US-only model, though the lighting and speedometer items still apply.

How the import works

The stages are: selection and price agreement; VIN and origin verification; secure payment through escrow; inland transport to a US port and ocean freight to Europe; customs clearance on arrival; technical inspection and individual approval (TÜV/§21) with any needed conversions; and German registration. USCar Trader coordinates each step as your intermediary.

Import duty, VAT and fees

Remember: no origin proof, no 0% duty – and 19% German import VAT is due on every import.

The two charges are separate. EU import duty can be 0% only on vehicles of provable US origin under Regulations (EU) 2026/1455 and 2026/1461, in force since 1 July 2026 for directly transported goods until 31 December 2029. The Emira is built in Hethel, England, so US origin does not apply; the rate depends on the documented origin and is generally the standard passenger-car duty. We never describe this as duty-free or guaranteed. Separately and always, the 19% German import VAT (Einfuhrumsatzsteuer) applies on import. We state both openly and add no margin of our own.

From modifications to registration

Typical changes are adding or activating a rear fog lamp, adjusting or replacing headlamps for the European beam pattern, ensuring compliant side indicators, and providing a km/h speedometer reading, which on a modern digital cluster is often a software matter. The odometer is verified. Once individual approval is granted, standard German registration completes the process.

Pre-buy inspection points

Before buying, confirm: the VIN matches the title and paperwork; a Carfax or AutoCheck report is clean of salvage, flood and odometer issues; the title is clean rather than rebuilt; dealer service and any software or warranty campaigns are documented; the car has not been hard-tracked without records; the paint and panel fit show no accident repair; and the infotainment and electronics all function correctly.

What buyers ask most

Can I import a used Lotus Emira from the USA?

Yes. As a used vehicle it can be imported, cleared and individually approved for German registration, with USCar Trader acting as your broker.

Does the 0% EU import duty apply to the Emira?

No. The Emira is built in the UK, so US origin cannot be shown; the rate depends on documented origin and is generally the standard passenger-car duty, and the 19% German import VAT always applies.

Should I choose the V6 or the AMG four?

The supercharged V6 offers a richer sound and is available with a manual; the AMG turbo four is lighter over the nose and quick with its dual-clutch gearbox. Both are strong choices.

Is a manual gearbox available?

Yes, on the V6, which is the version enthusiasts most often seek. The i4 is dual-clutch only.

How reliable is the Emira?

The mechanicals are largely proven Toyota and Mercedes-AMG units, so the main early issues are electronic and build-related and are addressed by software updates.

What is needed for TÜV and registration?

Rear fog lamp, headlamp adjustment, compliant indicators and a km/h display are the usual individual-approval items before registration.

How long does shipping take?

Ocean freight from a US port to Northern Europe generally takes a few weeks, with customs and inspection following on arrival.

Learn more in the Lotus in the Carhub, compare the mid-engined Porsche Cayman and open-topped Porsche Boxster, consider the Jaguar F-TYPE, or browse the current Emira listings.