Lotus Promises 1000-HP V-8 Hybrid Supercar, Extends Emira's Life

This appears to be coming from Lotus themselves, the Type 135. Also looks like the Emira will hang around longer than originally planned. And seems to confirm the Emira 420 that was accidentally leaked on the UK version of the site. Will any of this actually happen? Who knows. The Sports 420 version probably will, that's not much of a stretch.

Lotus Promises 1000-HP V-8 Hybrid Supercar, Extends Emira's Life

Other changes include a gas-electric range-extended Eletre for Europe, but EVs look unlikely for the U.S.

www.roadandtrack.com

 

[MTV]

Lotus need to get some movie placement again with the whole range and get Lotus front and centre in peoples minds, like the did with the Bond film and Pretty Woman.
Its not that people don't like or consider Lotus, they have just totally forgotten about them.

 

[Lotustoronto]

Or the platform they go with e.g. a V6 hybrid arrangement, cant support a manual, which is more than likely not guaranteed. They wont put the R&D into making it work in a single platform, low volume car. If they can make the auto work like a proper sports auto (think PDK), then they'll do it.

After Mini canceled the manual, BMW seems to be heading that way and rumours the next GT3 will be PDK only (in Europe), it is entirely possible that emissions regs will truly kill off the manual trans. This was highlighted in the Doug Demero podcast I heard yesterday. Maybe we are at the end of the road for the manual. Would be sad if true.

 

[FlashingBlade]

Yes, it may well be the trade of for being able to keep ICE engines around longer. I imagine manuals will exist somewhere for some cars but they'll become increasingly rare.