2024 Lotus Emira
Port City Exotics Vehicle story
Port City Exotics was born in Wilmington, North Carolina, from a simple idea — to bring the thrill of true driver’s cars to the Carolina coast. Founded by local enthusiast Hogan Hagy, PCE isn’t a faceless rental outfit; it’s a boutique experience built around passion, craftsmanship, and connection. Each vehicle in our collection is carefully selected for purity, performance, and emotion — the kind of cars that make you fall in love with driving again.
Our flagship car, the 2024 Lotus Emira First Edition, embodies everything we stand for. It’s Lotus’s final internal-combustion masterpiece — a hand-built, mid-engine sports car that merges British handling precision with German engineering. Powered by the AMG-developed M139 engine, the Emira delivers 360 horsepower through a dual-clutch transmission tuned by Lotus for raw, analog feedback. It’s balanced, lightweight, and alive in a way that few modern cars are.
Whether you’re carving through the bends along River Road, cruising to Wrightsville Beach, or simply enjoying a rare automotive icon, Port City Exotics offers more than a rental — it’s an invitation to experience what driving was meant to feel like.
Engine
Under the rear glass sits one of the most advanced 4-cylinder engines ever built — the Mercedes-AMG M139, hand-assembled in Affalterbach, Germany. It’s a 2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged masterpiece producing 360 horsepower and 317 lb-ft of torque, paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission that Lotus re-calibrated for faster shifts and smoother power delivery.
For the Emira, Lotus didn’t simply drop in the AMG motor — they re-engineered it for mid-engine placement, rotating the block 180° and developing bespoke intake, exhaust, and cooling systems to suit the car’s perfectly balanced chassis. The result is immediate throttle response, razor-sharp balance, and a soundtrack that blends turbo hiss with a deep mechanical growl.
This engine is both race-bred and road-refined: it revs to over 7,000 rpm, sprints to 60 mph in just over four seconds, and still cruises comfortably on the highway. Every ounce of its power is routed to the rear wheels — pure, classic Lotus driving feel backed by modern AMG engineering.
Wheels and tires
Lotus Forged: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tires
Brakes
The Emira rides on forged Lotus lightweight alloy wheels finished in gloss black — the perfect match for its sculpted body and performance intent. Each wheel was engineered for strength and minimal unsprung weight, improving steering precision and road feel.
Grip comes from factory-spec Michelin Pilot Sport 4S performance tires, a benchmark in both dry traction and wet-weather confidence. They were developed hand-in-hand with Lotus engineers to deliver the ideal blend of feedback, comfort, and control — exactly what you’d expect from a mid-engine sports car tuned at Hethel.
Braking is handled by Lotus-tuned AP Racing calipers and large, ventilated and cross-drilled rotors at all four corners. Pedal feel is firm and progressive, with incredible fade resistance even during spirited coastal drives. Together, this setup delivers the kind of connection and confidence that defines the Lotus driving experience — precise, communicative, and beautifully balanced.
Transmission
Power flows through an 8-speed dual-clutch transmission (DCT) developed by Mercedes-AMG and recalibrated by Lotus for a more connected, analog feel. Each shift happens in milliseconds — lightning-fast in Sport and Track modes, yet seamless and refined when cruising in Tour mode.
Lotus engineers reprogrammed the gearbox software to prioritize balance and driver engagement, delivering perfectly timed downshifts and instant throttle response. The result is a transmission that feels intuitive and alive — rewarding when driven hard, effortless when driven easy. Paddle shifters mounted behind the steering wheel give you full manual control, letting you unleash the engine’s power exactly when you want it.
This isn’t just an automatic — it’s a precision instrument that brings out the best of both AMG engineering and Lotus tuning.