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NZ Autocar
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- NZ Autocar
Lotus Emira could swap V6 for hotter V8
Lotus is poised to offer a V8 option for its Emira sports car as the company looks to expand the appeal of its sole ICE model. But it is also a response to the fact that the V6 will not pass upcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations. CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors on the company's recent earnings call that 'We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8'. Check out the NZ Autocar review of Lotus Emira V6 First Edition here. At the moment Lotus offers V6 and four-cylinder turbo options for the Emira. Both generate almost 300kW but Feng ruled out boosting the power of the V6. That's because it won't meet upcoming emissions regulations. The Emira is built in Lotus's plant in Hethel and last year hit a sales record of 5272 deliveries. New CEO of Lotus Cars in Europe, Matt Windle, said: 'The US is an incredibly important market for the car. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward.' And he added the company is looking at powertrain options, stating it Emira hadn't realised its full potential. AMG could supply Hethel with a V8. Whether or not it would fit into Emira's compact mid-engined frame is unclear. Lotus hasn't had an eight-cylinder offering in its line-up since Esprit V8 in 2004. Meantime, the company has halted shipments of British-built Emira to the US after the new 25 per cent tariff was applied in April. And America accounts for one-fifth of all Lotus sales. Ditto Eletre SUV and Emeya saloon EVs that are built in China. The US recently agreed to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent but Windle has yet to restart trade across the Atlantic. He said 'There's product that's ready to ship but what we don't want to do is jump the gun…' Lotus had intended to replace the ICE-powered Emira with an electric sports car but it is currently assessing the market before giving it the green light. 'Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet,' said Windle.
Auto Blog
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- Auto Blog
Lotus Might Switch Out the Emira's V6 for This Monster Motor
The British sports car maker may tap its friends at AMG for one of their cooler creations. The British/Chinese unite with the Germans In spite of the brand's mantra of 'simplify, then add lightness' philosophy, British sports car manufacturer Lotus may have a trick up its sleeve to make its most prolific gas-powered car compliant with new, stricter vehicle emissions regulations in a key region where it sells cars. According to a new report from Autocar UK, the Colin Chapman-founded brand may turn to its new engine partners, Mercedes-AMG, to provide a new V8 powertrain that can be stuffed behind the seats of the Emira. During the company's recent earnings call, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng said that the Geely-owned company is committed to offering a high-performance version of the Emira sports car, and that it is 'currently investigating the feasibility of the V8' from AMG. Previous Pause Next Unmute 0:00 / 0:10 Nissan's revolutionary self-driving tech hits Japan's streets Watch More 2024 Lotus Emira I4 First Edition — Source: Lotus Emissions, emissions, emissions If you spend a lot of time noodling around car configurators online, you would know that Lotus currently offers Emira buyers a choice between two engines that live behind the seats. The first is a 2-liter turbocharged inline four-cylinder called the M139, supplied by Mercedes-AMG and used in various models, including the SL43, C43, and C63 S E Performance. The second motor is a 3.5-liter supercharged V6 sourced from Toyota, which has been used in past Lotus cars. Although Lotus claims that both engines produce upwards of 400 horsepower, the CEO felt that upgrading and boosting the power of the Toyota supercharged V6 would not be a good idea, since the antiquated unit wouldn't comply with the Euro 7 emissions rules set to take effect in 2026. 2024 Lotus Emira I4 First Edition — Source: Lotus Originally, Lotus intended to phase out the V6 and solely offer the AMG turbo-four. However, the sudden popularity of the six-pot in the United States, an important market for the Brits, surprised Lotus execs. 'The US is an incredibly important market for us for the [Emira],' Lotus Cars Managing Director and Lotus Europe CEO Matt Windle told Autocar in a statement. It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward,' Autoblog Newsletter Autoblog brings you car news; expert reviews and exciting pictures and video. Research and compare vehicles, too. Sign up or sign in with Google Facebook Microsoft Apple By signing up I agree to the Terms of Use and acknowledge that I have read the Privacy Policy . You may unsubscribe from email communication at anytime. Although he didn't confirm that a V8 was coming to the Emira, he said that the automaker is 'looking at all the options' for more powerful powertrains, adding that 'there are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines.' He also noted that the mid-engined Emira is a 'very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full potential already.' The idea for a faster Emira came from a US dealer If Lotus were to manage to adapt the Emira chassis to shoehorn the 4-liter AMG V8 also found in the Aston Martin Vantage and DBX, it would mark the first time in nearly 21 years that it offered a V8-powered car in its lineup. The last V8-powered Lotus was the Series 4 Espirit V8, which was sold from 1996 to 2004, powered by Lotus's own 3.5-liter twin-turbo type 918 V8. 2024 Lotus Emira I4 First Edition — Source: Lotus However, the inklings of a more powerful version of the Emira came during Lotus's earnings call on the suggestion of Kevin Coelho, a self-identified Lotus investor and California-based exotic car dealer, who asked if the company had any plans to make a 'hardcore' Emira in the tune of Porsche's 911 GT3RS, with 'a high revving V6, manual transmission, lightweight,' adding, 'I think that would do amazingly well here in the US market.' In response, Feng spoke through an interpreter who noted that 'almost 50%' of Emira sales are to US customers, adding that it is 'very clear that our US consumers would prefer an engine or model with a higher horsepower and higher RPM.' Final thoughts I got a chance to drive an Emira about a few months ago, and I found its 4-cylinder turbo AMG engine to be more than adequate as a loud, peppy powertrain that makes the 3,200-pound beast feel like a nimble beast around the course that was set up. But knowing the kind of customer that is attracted to Lotus, it should be noted that the V6 is the only engine option that can be equipped with a manual transmission option. While I would personally configure my [figurative] Emira with a DCT because I anticipate bumper-to-bumper traffic, offering the choice is the difference here. It's not just the engine, it's also the gearbox, and for American buyers with the money to buy a Lotus, that's where their hearts decide.
The Advertiser
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Lotus may return to V8 power for the first time in over two decades
The Lotus Emira could become the first model from the Geely-owned performance car brand to offer V8 power since the Esprit V8 was axed in 2004. Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation. "We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8," Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV. It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW. Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6. The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market. But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3, came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations. Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG). "The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward," he said. "It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options. "There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it." It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV. Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume. But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products. US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent. Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market. "Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet," he said. MORE: Everything Lotus Emira Content originally sourced from: The Lotus Emira could become the first model from the Geely-owned performance car brand to offer V8 power since the Esprit V8 was axed in 2004. Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation. "We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8," Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV. It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW. Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6. The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market. But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3, came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations. Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG). "The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward," he said. "It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options. "There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it." It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV. Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume. But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products. US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent. Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market. "Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet," he said. MORE: Everything Lotus Emira Content originally sourced from: The Lotus Emira could become the first model from the Geely-owned performance car brand to offer V8 power since the Esprit V8 was axed in 2004. Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation. "We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8," Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV. It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW. Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6. The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market. But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3, came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations. Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG). "The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward," he said. "It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options. "There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it." It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV. Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume. But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products. US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent. Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market. "Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet," he said. MORE: Everything Lotus Emira Content originally sourced from: The Lotus Emira could become the first model from the Geely-owned performance car brand to offer V8 power since the Esprit V8 was axed in 2004. Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation. "We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8," Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV. It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW. Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6. The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market. But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3, came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations. Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG). "The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward," he said. "It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options. "There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it." It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV. Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume. But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products. US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent. Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market. "Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet," he said. MORE: Everything Lotus Emira Content originally sourced from:
7NEWS
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- 7NEWS
Lotus may return to V8 power for the first time in over two decades
The Lotus Emira could become the first model from the Geely-owned performance car brand to offer V8 power since the Esprit V8 was axed in 2004. Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation. 'We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8,' Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV. It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW. Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6. The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market. But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3, came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations. Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG). 'The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward,' he said. 'It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options. 'There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it.' It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV. Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume. But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products. US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent. Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market. 'Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet,' he said.
West Australian
23-05-2025
- Automotive
- West Australian
Lotus may return to V8 power for the first time in over two decades
The Lotus Emira could become the first model from the Geely-owned performance car brand to offer V8 power since the Esprit V8 was axed in 2004. Autocar reports Lotus is investigating the installation of a Mercedes-AMG-sourced petrol V8 to replace the V6 in the Emira, the automaker's last internal combustion-engined (ICE) model, because it won't meet upcoming Euro 7 emissions legislation. 'We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8,' Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors during the company's recent earnings call. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now . Introduced in 2022, the Emira was intended to be Lotus' final ICE model, and is currently sold alongside two electric vehicles (EVs): the battery-powered Emeya large sedan and Eletre large SUV. It's available with an AMG-sourced turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 268kW of power and a Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-litre petrol V6 producing 298kW. Lotus previously said it was committed to releasing a higher-output version of the Emira, after initially planning to phase out the V6. The V6 has proved popular in the US, the world's biggest sports car market. But Mr Feng's confirmation that Lotus is now considering a V8 for the Emira, which came in response to a question from a dealer about an even lighter and more powerful version of the mid-engined coupe to rival the Porsche 911 GT3 , came after he ruled out boosting the power of the V6 because it won't comply with Euro 7 regulations. Speaking with Autocar, Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle didn't confirm the Emira would receive V8 power, but did say the company was investigating more powerful options from its current engine supplier (Mercedes-AMG). 'The US is an incredibly important market for us for the car [Emira). It always has been. So we're looking at the market demand for the product going forward,' he said. 'It's a very, very competent product that we probably haven't exploited to its full already, so we are looking at all the options. 'There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we're looking at it.' It's unclear how extensive – and therefore expensive – the engineering and development programs would be for the Emira to receive AMG's 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8, which also powers the Aston Martin Vantage sports car and DBX SUV . Last year the Emira posted a sales record of 5272 units, accounting for 20 per cent of the brand's total volume. But Emira exports to the US ceased after the country's 25 per cent import tariff took effect in April, and US sales of the Eletre and Emeya were halted after North America imposed a 125 per cent tariff on Chinese-made products. US exports of the British-built Emira are yet to recommence following the recently agreed deal between the UK and US to lower tariffs on UK-built goods to 10 per cent. Mr Windle told Autocar that Lotus' original plan to eventually replace the Emira with an electric sports car has yet to be signed off as the company continues to assess the EV market. 'Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don't really know the answer to that yet,' he said. MORE: Everything Lotus Emira
