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.

 

[Lotustoronto]

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

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?

I think it all comes down if the new Emira variant can beat a GT4RS / GT3 on track. If it falls hugely short and doesn't feel exciting, ya it will fail. What they can't do is build another Maserati MC20. Which I am afraid is what they might end up with.

 

[Tomwa]

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

There's supposed to be a new Toyota 4cly on the block. I doubt they'll move to carbon tub manufacturing. They just trained up and increased production capabilities for more Extruded bonded Aluminum chassis the investments, process changes, testing and development required to build a carbon tub chassis just aren't in the cards.

 

[seriously]

How about a BMW v8 and BMW 6 speed?

My dream would be the s65 v8 that revs to 8300 rpm’s, is lightweight and screams like a banshee. Unfortunately the bmw 6 speed is pretty poor.

 

[MickOpalak]

My guess is that the V6 will be retired shortly, they will produce higher horsepower versions of the Turbo 4 for the next several years while at the same time investigating and developing a V8 version to replace the V6. Eventually the “Model 2” will debut at a higher price point as a hybrid.

 

[hellasf1]

Weird territory for Lotus.

I love V8’s and have 2 in my garage TRX and Jeep 392. Heavy but extremely fun pigs for off-road and great daily’s. I’ve had plenty of V8 sports cars not supercars. Absolute blast and always puts a smile on your face but the V6 in the Emira tuned with an exhaust has been epic IMO! It sounds very exotic and fits the character of it perfectly.

V8 in a Emira would be in a market with other competition that they won’t compete well with like the C8 ZO6 or ZL1. Both fantastic record breaking vehicles and if the V8 Emira is in the same ball park with NO MANUAL….It would be a hard market to sell. They will get sales for sure for those that don’t want another C8 that you can get a base from a rental company. You see them a lot more often than you do a Lotus EMIRA but that also means better dealer network and reliability from Chevy than Lotus thou.

Plus if they are looking at a GT3 competitor yes the price will be similar but GT3 never needed a V8 to sell. It’s sells just fine.

Conclusion.
-MT V8 Emira will sell! (If they can keep it to 150k tops! Very little comp in this area for a mid engine v8 with a MT) I would buy one!

-AT V8 Emira will struggle to sell. (More comp in this area and other alternatives with way better performance and reliability and dealer network)

-But until then I’ll enjoy all the time with that I have. Car companies always do this and they should, always getting better and giving us more, something better but you can’t live life chasing the next best thing. Stay present and go enjoy what you have with a smile on your face be thankful for what you have!

#savethemanualwithaV8

 

[Andy H]

My dream would be the s65 v8 that revs to 8300 rpm’s, is lightweight and screams like a banshee

That's a fantastic engine. I had it in my E90 M3 and driving it was always an event. However, it was a really heavy lump and you felt the weight when driving. It doesn't seem like a good match for the Lotus philosophy - albeit, diluted over time. For me, the i4 is the best fit, but then again, I am biased

 

[MickOpalak]

I realize this is a little off topic, but while we're mentioning crazy engine swaps, I'd love to see a 340R with the AMG turbo 4 in it. Maybe tuned to 600hp. Yeah, that's the ticket.

 

[Eagle7]

Lotus should just stop wasting money on all kinds of things except what customers are buying. They should look at their own sales numbers for the Emira; the vast majority were for the V6 with manual trans. Contact Cosworth. They're a U.K. company and their engines are legendary. Have them build a hot little V6 coupled with a strong manual trans for the next generation Emiras. They'd sell.

 

[freefall_junkie]

Lotus should just stop wasting money on all kinds of things except what customers are buying. They should look at their own sales numbers for the Emira; the vast majority were for the V6 with manual trans. Contact Cosworth. They're a U.K. company and their engines are legendary. Have them build a hot little V6 coupled with a strong manual trans for the next generation Emiras. They'd sell.

Manuals seem to have become desirable again at the top end of the market, just look at the GMA T50 and Pagani Utopia, and I can see manuals continuing to sell in sports cars for customers looking for something more analogue in the digital age. A manual Emira with a bespoke compact V8 would be mega, but sadly there is little chance of it happening as the development costs would be huge. Lotus did develop a bespoke V8 for the Esprit of course, but that was a long time ago when manufacturers weren't so hamstrung by emissions compliance.

 

[Racer X]

A V6 made from half of the Cosworth V12 in the T.50? Heaven.

 

[Eagle7]

Manuals seem to have become desirable again at the top end of the market, just look at the GMA T50 and Pagani Utopia, and I can see manuals continuing to sell in sports cars for customers looking for something more analogue in the digital age. A manual Emira with a bespoke compact V8 would be mega, but sadly there is little chance of it happening as the development costs would be huge. Lotus did develop a bespoke V8 for the Esprit of course, but that was a long time ago when manufacturers weren't so hamstrung by emissions compliance.

Manuals have always been the preferred setup for sports. Automatics have their place, but traditionally sports cars with manuals hold their value the most.