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.

 

[Six Speed Stephen]

In the call, they don't specifically say the V8 will be for the Emira. Just that they have no further power increases planned for the V6 and are investigating the V8.

Could be the V6 power for the Emira with facelift/special editions/colin-chapman bespoke for the rest of it's lifecycle.

V8 could be for the New Model 2 if that's a supercar.

Would certainly love to see a V8 Emira, but would much rather see a Lotus supercar with a V8.

 

[Lotustoronto]

In the call, they don't specifically say the V8 will be for the Emira. Just that they have no further power increases planned for the V6 and are investigating the V8.

Could be the V6 power for the Emira with facelift/special editions/colin-chapman bespoke for the rest of it's lifecycle.

V8 could be for the New Model 2 if that's a supercar.

Would certainly love to see a V8 Emira, but would much rather see a Lotus supercar with a V8.

Not the way I heard it in the call... It was specifically a question if Lotus was going to make an Emira that competes with GT Porsches. I believe the reference was V8 is being tested and developed. Couple that with a "facelift" to the Emira in 2027 and that makes complete sense to bring in the "GT" variant at that time. Why else haven't we seen a carbon bucket seat in an Emira yet? People would buy that for sure.

As for the future "model 2" that we don't know if it is Hybrid, ICE or BEV, I have an opinion that it will be Lotus' super car. They are certainly missing the more affordable halo car at the moment. Evija is 2M GBP... not exactly attainable. I expect to see Emira move into the 150K USD mark with the facelift Emira if it gets the V8. Also expect any Lotus Supercar (Theory 1 esque) to be priced in the 500K USD mark and making 1,000 BHP.

 

[Tomwa]

I think a number like "1,000 hp" only makes sense if its another EV.

But regardless, Lotus is not generally in the business of making extreme hyper cars. The Evija rubbed me the wrong way at its first announcement because it was like Lotus had given up any notion of the brand heritage and were just chasing the opportunity to be 'the most ridiculous' without much care for how they got there.

You could argue Lotus of the past clearly wasn't successful. Or that their efforts with cars like the Esprit were more in line with their contemporary competitors. Given where their competition is today, they have to step up to meet them.

I am not sure I subscribe to either of those arguments as reasons that Lotus must participate in phallic member measurement exercises.

They will not be doing more HP variants of the V6, so, yes in the Emira platform if they want a "Porsche GT car competitor" they have to explore other options for additional power, and, given the GT cars are also about 'sounds and excitement' they need an option that is not just putting more power into the i4.

I doubt we will really see a V8. happy to be proven wrong, but it just does not seem like there are enough good options at a cost that most consumers would be agreeable to pay.

Is 520 Hp enough? Non Manual? Carbon options. at GT3 RS 250k pricing? ooo...probably not huh?

 

[Blackthought_]

I think a number like "1,000 hp" only makes sense if its another EV.

But regardless, Lotus is not generally in the business of making extreme hyper cars. The Evija rubbed me the wrong way at its first announcement because it was like Lotus had given up any notion of the brand heritage and were just chasing the opportunity to be 'the most ridiculous' without much care for how they got there.

You could argue Lotus of the past clearly wasn't successful. Or that their efforts with cars like the Esprit were more in line with their contemporary competitors. Given where their competition is today, they have to step up to meet them.

I am not sure I subscribe to either of those arguments as reasons that Lotus must participate in phallic member measurement exercises.

They will not be doing more HP variants of the V6, so, yes in the Emira platform if they want a "Porsche GT car competitor" they have to explore other options for additional power, and, given the GT cars are also about 'sounds and excitement' they need an option that is not just putting more power into the i4.

I doubt we will really see a V8. happy to be proven wrong, but it just does not seem like there are enough good options at a cost that most consumers would be agreeable to pay.

Is 520 Hp enough? Non Manual? Carbon options. at GT3 RS 250k pricing? ooo...probably not huh?

Yeah this is how I’m feeling about this news about the v8 etc. it’s definitely cool they are looking at options but Think about the pricing of the Emira nowadays and add in a V8 and you are talking Porsche GT3 or 4RS money which will likely put it out of reach for many of us. That with the fact that they can’t sell Emiras at the current price I cant imagine a buyer ready to throw down that crazy amount money when you consider the other options at that new price point. I’d want them just to focus their time, money, and energy into fixing the current issues on the Emira! Ha

 

[SuperSlow]

I wish they’d go the other way and make a new Elise / Exige platform. Carbon tub, ND miata engine with some spice added.