The Lotus Emira Will Soon Have More Power And Less Weight

HomeLotusEmiraNews The Lotus Emira Will Soon Have More Power And Less Weight

The wraps are coming off in just a few weeks.

Photo by: Lotus Adrian Padeanu By: Adrian Padeanu May 12, at 3:42am ET

• Facebook
• X
• LinkedIn
• Flipboard
• Reddit
• WhatsApp
• E-Mail
• copy

Share Comment

The Breakdown

• The "most powerful and lightest Emira built" is coming soon.
• Lotus plans to reveal the hardcore version in the following weeks.
• The Emira will remain part of the lineup for years to come.

A new V8 supercar headlines Lotus’ “Focus 2030” business strategy announced today, but until the “Type 135” arrives in 2028, another sports car is about to break cover. The Geely-owned automaker intends to roll out an updated Emira in the coming weeks. While technical specifications remain a mystery, we do know it’ll be the most powerful and lightest version to date.

Launched in 2022, the Emira is currently offered with a turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder of AMG origin and a larger supercharged 3.5-liter V6 from Toyota. With Lotus refraining from talking about the powertrain, one could speculate that the engineers in Norfolk have massaged one of the two existing engines. But what if they didn’t and instead used an entirely different engine?

Speaking during an earnings call a year ago, Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng said the company was “currently investigating the feasibility of the V8.” We’ll have to wait and see whether it has since been given the green light. If it has, it would make sense for the Emira to use a variation of the same eight-cylinder engine destined for the company’s first supercar. Ironically, the switch to a larger V8 may be driven by necessity, as the V6 apparently can’t be adapted to comply with Euro 7 regulations.

Photo by: Lotus

An AMG V8-Powered Emira?

Lotus is unlikely to develop a larger engine from scratch and would instead borrow one from a third party. If that’s the case, Mercedes-AMG has been working on a new V8, and it would make sense to shoehorn it into the Emira. The fact that the company’s boss went on record saying it’s a possibility suggests there’s a good chance a V8 fits in the engine bay, even though it was originally designed only for four- and six-cylinder units.

Regardless of the engine it uses, the beefier Emira is highly unlikely to receive a plug-in hybrid setup. With Lotus promising it’ll shed weight, adding an electric motor and battery pack would do the exact opposite. For reference, the current V6-powered model weighs 1,458 kilograms (3,214 pounds) in European specification, with the turbo four-cylinder version weighing slightly less.

Tell us what you think! View Comments

The Lotus Emira's Future Is Safe

A V8 would inevitably add mass compared to the existing models, but the company’s engineers certainly have the know-how to offset the extra weight. Technical specifications aside, the future of the British-built sports car appears secure, with Lotus saying “Emira continuity is confirmed.” This was supposed to be the final ICE model ahead of 2028, when the entire lineup had been planned to go fully electric.

However, that EV goal has since been abandoned, and it appears the Emira will continue for many years to come. Lotus is already installing a combustion engine in a model that was originally intended to be purely electric: the Eletre. The brand’s first SUV has been given a plug-in-hybrid setup with a 2.0-liter four-cylinder engine for a Chinese-market version carrying the questionable name “Lotus For Me.” The 939-horsepower PHEV is coming to Europe in Q4 2026, hopefully with a better name.

2024 Lotus Emira First Drive

54

Motor1's Take: With only a handful of dedicated sports cars left, it’s reassuring to know Lotus has safeguarded the Emira’s future. The fact that it’s getting more power while shedding weight makes the mid-engine performance coupe even more desirable. A pure V8 version would position it as a more affordable alternative to exotic heavyweights from McLaren and Ferrari.

Even if it sticks with one of the existing engines, we’re still eager to see how Lotus plans to take the Emira to the next level after four years on the market.

We've Driven The Emira Multiple Times:

The Emira Is the Last Great Lotus 2023 Lotus Emira I4 First Drive Review: AMG Power Meets British Poise 2024 Lotus Emira First Drive Review: Healthy Addiction The Lotus Emira Turbo SE Is An Intriguing Porsche Alternative: Review

We want your opinion!

What would you like to see on Motor1.com?

Take our 3 minute survey.

- The Motor1.com Team

Share this Story

• Facebook
• X
• LinkedIn
• Flipboard
• Reddit
• WhatsApp
• E-Mail
• copy

GO TO COMMENTS ( ) Got a tip for us? Email: tips@motor1.com View all comments ( )

RECOMMENDED FOR YOU

Every Manual Car You Can Still Buy In 2026

Woman Buys A New Car. Then She Pays It Off Before Her First Payment Is Due–There’s Just One Problem: ‘It’s Insane’

The Lotus Emira Scura Goes Goth

Lotus Is Making A V8 Supercar With Over 1,000 Horsepower

The Most Powerful Lotus Emira Is Only For Australia

Dealership Technician Gets Fired For ‘Over-Quoting’ Customer. Then He Pulls An Uno Reverse: ‘That’s What I Was Taught’

We Asked Every Automaker How Many Customers Went For Manuals In 2025