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The CMST Lotus Emira aero kit is a dry-carbon body package for the Emira, designed to extend the car's factory aerodynamic language rather than overwrite it. Made from dry carbon (prepreg, autoclave-cured carbon fibre), it adds a front lip with integrated canards, a vented carbon bonnet, side skirts with functional side and roof intakes, a rear lip and a ducktail-style spoiler. Every piece is shaped to merge with the Emira's existing lines, so the upgrade reads as a more complete version of the same car — lighter on top, cleaner through the air, and more planted at speed.

• Vehicle: Lotus Emira (2022-onward; shown on a 2025 car)
• Material: dry carbon fibre (prepreg, autoclave-cured) with exposed twill weave
• Key pieces: front lip, four-piece canards, vented bonnet, side skirts, two side intakes, roof intake, rear lip, ducktail spoiler
• Aim: reduced drag at the nose, engine and cabin cooling, added rear downforce
• Finish: exposed dry-carbon weave, suited to the Emira's mid-engine proportions

Evolution, not reinvention

The Emira is Lotus's send-off to the pure combustion sports car, and it carries the brand's design DNA openly — the "porosity" surfacing first seen on the electric Evija, with airflow guided over, through and around the body rather than simply pushed aside. CMST's design philosophy for the kit is to work with that, not against it. The new parts trace the same upper, middle and lower character lines that define the standard car, so the aero additions look integral. The brief is evolution: keep the Emira recognisably itself, sharpen what Lotus already built, and use dry carbon to do it with the least added weight. On a car whose whole identity is built on lightness and aerodynamic honesty, that restraint is not just a styling choice — it is the only approach that respects what the Emira is.

Piece-by-piece breakdown

Front lip and canards

The front lip continues the Emira's own leading edge and adds a "load and release" shape — the corners turn up slightly, and a set of four canards plus integrated guide fins comb the air arriving at the nose. The function is to sort airflow before it piles up: directing it outward along the flanks reduces turbulent build-up at the front and trims the drag the standard bumper generates. Visually, the carbon weave and added fins give the nose more attack while keeping the factory outline intact.

Vented dry-carbon bonnet

The bonnet is the kit's centrepiece and the clearest argument for dry carbon. It uses a raised central spine flanked by vents — a "middle-up, sides-in" form that builds an air-management channel into the panel while flowing smoothly into the rest of the body. Swapping the standard bonnet for dry carbon removes weight from the highest, most forward panel on the car, which is exactly where Lotus's "add lightness" thinking pays off in responsiveness. The vents also help relieve heat and pressure from under the bonnet. The minimal geometry suits the Emira's restrained surfacing.

Side skirts and intakes

The side skirts lower the Emira's visual centre of gravity and flatten the airflow along the lower body, helping air travel more cleanly toward the rear instead of tumbling under the sides. The side intakes are not decorative: on a mid-engine car they feed the engine's cooling needs directly, and dry carbon's heat tolerance makes it a sound material right next to a hot powertrain. A roof intake adds airflow over the cabin and engine area. Each opening is a deliberate trade-off between a function and a line.

Rear lip and ducktail spoiler

At the tail, the rear lip and a small ducktail-style spoiler work together for the kit's "less drag, more downforce" goal. The layered rear shapes help the air leave the car cleanly, while the understated ducktail adds adjustable high-speed downforce that builds on the Emira's already strong stability. It is a restrained piece by design — enough to mean something at speed without turning a road-biased Lotus into a track car in appearance. The dry-carbon finish lifts the perceived quality of the whole rear.

Why dry carbon on the Emira

Dry carbon — prepreg sheet cured under heat and pressure in an autoclave — is stiffer and lighter for a given strength than wet-layup carbon, with a tighter, more consistent weave. On a Lotus, where lightness is part of the brand's engineering identity, that matters more than on most cars: shaving mass from the bonnet and outer panels sharpens the very responsiveness the Emira is bought for. The material also tolerates the heat around a mid-engine bay, so the intakes and skirts can sit close to the powertrain without concern. Carbon here is doing real work, not just adding a weave.

Fitment and finish in Australia

Dry-carbon aero rewards precise fitting. We recommend professional fitment with each panel dry-fitted first to set even gaps — particularly the bonnet, whose latch and seal alignment matter, and the front lip, which must line up with the bumper and sit at a sensible height for Australian driveways and speed humps. Confirm the side and roof intakes seat cleanly so airflow and cooling work as intended. Australian UV is hard on lacquer, so a ceramic coating or paint-protection film over the exposed weave keeps it from hazing. Parts come in clear-coated dry carbon to suit the Emira's factory palette.

Explore aero options for the car in our Lotus Body Kit collection, look at rear aero under Lotus wing options, tidy the flanks with Lotus side skirts, and read about the brand's dry-carbon process on the CMST page.

FAQ

Which Lotus Emira does the CMST kit fit?

The kit is made for the Lotus Emira (2022-onward), shown here on a 2025 car. Confirm your model year and engine variant when ordering, as intake and cooling details can differ between the four-cylinder and V6 Emira.

What is the difference between dry carbon and normal carbon fibre?

Dry carbon uses pre-impregnated (prepreg) carbon sheet cured under heat and pressure in an autoclave, producing a lighter, stiffer part with a more uniform weave than standard wet-layup carbon. It costs more to make, which is why it is reserved for performance cars like the Emira where weight genuinely matters.

Are the bonnet vents and side intakes functional?

Yes. The bonnet vents help release heat and pressure from under the panel, and the side intakes feed cooling to the Emira's mid-mounted engine. Dry carbon's heat tolerance is one reason it suits these openings, which sit close to the powertrain.

Will the ducktail spoiler change how the Emira drives?

The ducktail adds modest high-speed downforce on top of the Emira's already good stability, and it does so without the drag or visual aggression of a large wing. For everyday driving the change is subtle; the bigger gains are the weight removed by the carbon panels.

Does fitting the kit affect the factory warranty?

Bolt-on carbon aero is a cosmetic and aerodynamic upgrade and does not touch the drivetrain, but warranty terms vary by market and dealer. We recommend professional fitment and keeping your original panels; speak to your Lotus dealer about how aftermarket exterior parts are treated locally.

Considering a dry-carbon build for your Emira? Explore fitment, finishes and rear-aero choices in our Lotus Body Kit range and talk to the AME Motorsport team about specifying yours.