Lotus Emira V8 in Testing & Other News

Okay so today's Lotus Technology group investor call happened this morning.

Here are some updates:

- Hybrid Plugin Macan Competitor 2026Q1 China, Q3 ROW
- Facelift 2027 Lotus Emira I4 with power increase
- Lotus Emira V6 Discontinued
- Lotus Emira V8 Euro 7 Compliant powertrain in investigation/testing/development.

Thanks @Lotustoronto for being our live discord blogger


Disclaimer: I'm basing this off recollections from someone else from the call, I haven't had time to listen to the full call myself, but some things may be inaccurate, and a lot of info has been missed too, I recommend you listen to the call yourself, the QA starts at 21 minutes in.

 

[EZcheezy]

manual V8 lotus with OEM carbon and a facelift sounds pretty sweet.

i may trade in when the time comes

 

[cyanmauve]

manual V8 lotus with OEM carbon and a facelift sounds pretty sweet.

i may trade in when the time comes

Unfortunately, I think even if Lotus did come out with it, it would be a miss in the market.

It’s going to be really hard to have a NA V8 that fits with enough displacement to match the performance of the existing powertrains. They will have to eliminate the rear cargo area, or cut into the cabin, or both.

If the N.A V8 doesn’t have more power than the i4 turbo or V6 supercharged, what’s the point? And it will cost significantly more, have no doubt. I don’t think there’s a market for the car with a significant price increase.

A $150k Emira with a V8 is a bit of a no-man’s land in the performance car world. It would have to be a really, really exceptional drivetrain to get big money in any volume.

It would move it into Z06 territory, which would absolutely crush it 0-60 and on the track. I’m not sure how it would fare against the 911, and it’s almost too much for a car that isn’t a true exotic.

 

[Teshoo Lama]

Even with a 25% tariff I think Lotus ICE cars can still compete in the US. When you account for VAT and luxury car tax, plus higher base pricing, UK and US prices are still comparable.

To make this work, the V8 speculation makes sense. I could see a small Ricardo V8 in the back, with a front-end redesigned to accommodate a frunk, pitched at junior McLaren prices. I don't see it happening, but it would be a reasonable strategy in my view.

It's a crying shame the Evija wasn't a V12. They would've had the perfect halo car.

 

[Eagle7]

Here's the problem.... Porsche wasn't exactly snoozing on the back porch when the tyranny of EV mandates began to collapse. They saw it coming and were preparing. The only Porsche I've ever loved, the 917, and this may be a dream come true...



The Evija needs a V12. The Emira needs a stunning V6, not a V8. Those V6 engines are out there; look and listen to an Alfa Romeo Quadrifoglio. Look at the V12 Gordon Murray had built for his cars. How about a V6 version of that? Get serious Geely, the competition isn't sitting around waiting to see what your plans are. If you want to compete in a very hotly contested segment of the market, you're going to have to go all-in. Either that or step back and go for the $60k-$100k segment. Right now it looks like you're in the middle of the stream with one leg on one horse, and the other on a different horse. It doesn't take a genius to figure out what that's going to lead to. Eletre and Emeya-shmeya. Put Carr in charge of vehicle body design. He gets it. He understands what makes a Lotus a Lotus.

 

[B r I a n]

Lotus: Are you a Diver?

 

[freefall_junkie]

Lotus: Are you a Diver?

I watch this and can't help thinking FFS Lotus spend less time on this type of marketing twaddle and more on sorting out your customer care

 

[geoffbland]

Lotus: Are you a Diver?

Mmmm... I watched that and felt slightly embarrassed to be a Lotus driver. Kind of cringey but that might just be me - as a Brit we tend to be reserved - not `in your face` as this ad was.

 

[FlashingBlade]

I cant see a V8 in the current gen 1 Emira. It would require too much retooling of the engine compartment and rear sub frame assembly. It would be a potential option for a gen 2 should it ever happen and given Lotus have an existing arrangement with Mercedes, might be possible and would help move the Emira up a market segment.

However, I'd prefer to stick with a V6 and maybe add electrical assistance like the Artura. Lotus wont develop their own engine so it'll depend upon whats available as a customer to another manufacturer. The existing engine has more potential as jubu and Komo-tec have shown so that could be an option (unless the engine is being discontinued by Toyota).

Personally, I'd love a high revving 6 over an 8

 

[PatrickJS]

what if the v8 was already planned so its been in development

 

[Eagle7]

what if the v8 was already planned so its been in development

We were previously told unequivocally that the Emira was going to be discontinued in 2028. In fact, we were told it was the last ICE Lotus, ever.

 

[FlashingBlade]

We were also told there would be an Emira S and Emira R and they never materialised.

 

[Nick in Sydney]

In fact, we were told it was the last ICE Lotus, ever.

Based on Lotus's current financial losses, the Emira still might be the last ICE Lotus ever!

 

[Beachbum]

Based on Lotus's current financial losses, the Emira still might be the last Lotus ever!

Corrected that for you

 

[FlashingBlade]

Audi are also bringing the R8 back with a V8, potentially the one from the new Lambo, that would place the emira in a VERY challenging market sector

 

[seriously]

This only works if Lotus can drop in an existing power plant in. They are not going to be developing any custom hybridization, etc. And it would have to post Corvette-like numbers to be taken seriously at the high price I assume they will ask. I think it's within the realm of possibility, but I don't see a strong business case for it. I mean how many could they sell at what kind of profit? It doesn't drive sales of other cars.

MAYBE Lotus will miscalculate again and assume that a halo Emira will drive electric car sales (which it won't) and we'll get a limited production run before they see that strategy doesn't work.

 

[OppositeLock]

Lotus screws up and makes really cool cars that are a horrible business decision. If such a thing happens, I'd love to pick one up and cherish it forever

 

[seriously]

Lotus screws up and makes really cool cars that are a horrible business decision. If such a thing happens, I'd love to pick one up and cherish it forever

Honestly, the Emira is kind of a ballsy mistake (by Geely). And I'm glad they did it.

 

[VulcanGrey]

I cant see a V8 in the current gen 1 Emira. It would require too much retooling of the engine compartment and rear sub frame assembly.

They did it with the V6 in the Exige. Longer wheelbase, new rear subframe and rear bodywork. Emira V8 would probably need a longer rear subframe and body. Something like this?

or

 

[FlashingBlade]

That was because they were using the Elise chasis as a test bed for the Evora though, so the parts already existed. The rear subframe of the exige V6 is that of the Evora.

 

[VulcanGrey]

That was because they were using the Elise chasis as a test bed for the Evora though, so the parts already existed. The rear subframe of the exige V6 is that of the Evora.

The Exige V6 rear subframe is different than the Evora. The Emira 4cyl rear subframe (aluminum) is different than the Emira V6 rear subframe (steel). The bodywork is different between the Emira, Evora, and Exige V6. My point is that they know how to adapt their modular technology to change the rear subframe. The more difficult part would be sourcing the engine and even more difficult would be a transaxle that has appropriate dimensions for the desired wheelbase.