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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.
Motor 1
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Motor 1
The Lotus Emira Could Ditch Its V-6 for a V-8
The Emira might be the last great Lotus you can buy , but it might get even better before production is supposed to cease in 2027. In a recent earnings call, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng said that the brand is "currently investigating the feasibility of the V-8." He didn't offer any specifics about the potential powertrain, according to Autocar . Lotus offers the Emira a Toyota-sourced, supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 engine or a turbocharged 2.0-liter Mercedes-AMG four-cylinder. The Emira V-6 makes 400 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque, and any potential V-8 will likely deliver well above that. Photo by: Lotus Lotus Cars Europe CEO Matt Windle told the publication that the company likely hasn't "exploited" the Emira's full potential, so it's "looking at all the options," and it certainly has them. Mercedes already provides a four-cylinder engine to Lotus, and it could easily supply a few V-8 engines for an even meaner Emira. Lotus revealed the Emira in July 2021, but it didn't go on sale in the United States until 2024 . The company had to pause shipments here in early April due to tariffs, which forced it to announce that it would lay off up to 270 people due to the "volatile and evolving market conditions, including the US tariffs." According to the Autocar report, Windle said the company has yet to restart shipments to America, even though the US and UK recently agreed to lower tariffs. 21 Source: Lotus Check Out More Lotus News: Lotus Emira With Yellow Exhaust Tips Pays Tribute to an F1 GOAT Lotus Delays Electric Sports Car, Hybrid Emira Could Happen Get the best news, reviews, columns, and more delivered straight to your inbox, daily. back Sign up For more information, read our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . Source: Lotus Share this Story Facebook X LinkedIn Flipboard Reddit WhatsApp E-Mail Got a tip for us? Email: tips@ Join the conversation ( )
Times
19-05-2025
- Automotive
- Times
King Charles goes green with Lotus EV for countryside use
The King has added to his impressive car collection by ordering a £120,000 high-performance Lotus electric vehicle. The Lotus Eletre, described as a 'hyper-SUV' that combines high-end performance with green credentials, is destined for one of Charles's country estates. He is already the proud owner of a stable of luxury cars, including a cherished Aston Martin DB6 Mk2 Volante, a 21st birthday present from his mother, the late Queen Elizabeth. However, the King, who has long been a champion of environmental causes, is understood to have ordered the car, which is painted the traditional royal claret, according to The Sun. The Lotus Eletre, which costs about £120,000, has a 280-mile range. It has a dual-motor powertrain producing 905 horsepower and can accelerate from 0
Car and Driver
08-05-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
2026 Lotus Emira Review, Pricing, and Specs
Overview The 2026 Lotus Emira coupe is a modern take on the archetypal raw, essential sports car experience. Featuring a mid-engine layout with a choice of either a Toyota-based supercharged V-6 or an AMG-sourced turbocharged four-cylinder (both are good for 400 horsepower) and a compact but highly evolved rear-drive chassis, its competition heritage is palpable. Though the Emira wears fully modern bodywork, and its interior furnishings have evolved in step with modern technology and conveniences, the Emira still prioritizes the act of driving enjoyment above all else. Sadly, Lotus says the current Emira is the last of its gasoline-powered models before the automaker goes all-electric. Get one while you can. What's New for 2026? The Emira carries over virtually unchanged, but with the addition of the Emira Clark Edition. Decorated in Lotus' unmistakable green and yellow motif, the Clark Edition is limited to 60 examples. It commemorates the six decades since Jim Clark's record-breaking 1965 racing season, where he took home the Formula 1 title and won the Indy 500, among other victories. Details include a driver's seat in red leather and suede to match Clark's race car, and a passenger seat finished in black. A wood gear knob stands as a nod to the Type 38 Clark drove when he won the 1965 Indy 500. Pricing and Which One to Buy The price of the 2026 Lotus Emira is expected to start around $103,000 and go up to $153,750 depending on the trim and options. First Edition Turbo Four $103,000 (est) V-6 $103,000 (est) Jim Clark Special Edition $153,750 (est) 0 $50k $100k $150k $200k $250k There's no getting around the appeal and exclusivity of the new Emira Clark Edition. But unless you've got cash to burn or a cagey plan to preserve it for future generations (or for profit), you can get the same performance from the standard V-6 model. True, the AMG-powered Emira First Edition is tempting, but it's paired with an automatic, whereas the V-6 offers a manual. And in a car this raw, it seems forgoing the thrill of shifting for yourself would be a grave error. Engine, Transmission, and Performance The mid-engine Emira can be had with one of two powerplants. A Toyota-sourced supercharged 3.5-liter V-6 carried over from the outgoing Evora GT makes 400 horsepower and 310 pound-feet of torque. It pairs with either a six-speed torque-converter automatic or a six-speed manual transmission. A turbocharged four-cylinder sourced from Mercedes-AMG makes the same 400 horsepower but boosts torque output to 354 pound-feet. It feeds the rear wheels through an eight-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the only gearbox pairing. Unlike most other modern sports cars, the Emira forgoes electric power steering for a hydraulically assisted setup that provides unsurpassed feel and feedback. During our initial test drive, we praised the Emira's balanced handling and brilliant steering, and we marveled at its commitment to driver involvement. The Emira is at once more refined than the Evora GT it replaces and just as quirky; the manual transmission's lever action needs smoothing out, and the brakes are grabby and difficult to modulate smoothly. 0–60-MPH Times At our test track, a manual First Edition test car hit 60 mph in 4.3 seconds and completed the quarter-mile run in 12.7 seconds at 111 mph. That's pretty quick, but the 718 Cayman GTS, which has a similar horsepower rating and mid-engine layout, managed to do it in 3.8 seconds. View Photos Lotus Fuel Economy and Real-World MPG The EPA hasn't released any fuel economy information for the 2026 Emira yet, but the current model earned ratings of 16 mpg city, 24 mpg highway, and 21 mpg combined. Selecting the six-speed manual transmission takes a 2-mpg penalty in each metric. For more information about the Emira's fuel economy, visit the EPA's website. Interior, Comfort, and Cargo With a simple design and seating for two, the Emira's interior is both minimalistic and intimate. The driver faces a squared-off steering wheel and a 12.3-inch digital gauge cluster. The material quality looks upscale, far better than in previous Lotus models, and we're glad to see physical switchgear for the climate controls. Likewise, the automaker also attempts to make its latest sports car easier to get in and out of by making the door sills narrower and the door openings larger than they were in the Evora GT. Other practical improvements include a pair of cupholders in the center console and storage bins in the doors that can each allegedly accommodate a half-liter bottle. There are also 7 cubic feet of cargo space behind the seats and another 5 cubes in a storage bay behind the engine. View Photos Lotus Infotainment and Connectivity The Emira's infotainment system runs through a 10.2-inch touchscreen mounted in the middle of the dashboard. Apart from controls on the steering wheel, there is a knob on the center console to adjust volume and play or pause audio; otherwise, there are no physical controls for the infotainment system. Along with 12-volt and USB charging ports, the sports car features standard Apple CarPlay and Android Auto smartphone functionality. Safety and Driver-Assistance Features Breaking with Lotus tradition, the Emira is offered with a host of optional driver-assistance technology. For more information about the Emira's crash-test results, visit the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) websites. Key safety features include: Available automated emergency braking Available lane-departure warning Available adaptive cruise control Warranty and Maintenance Coverage Lotus doesn't provide spectacular coverage compared with other expensive sports car makers. While its limited warranty aligns with those of many competitors, both its short powertrain plan and lack of complimentary maintenance are disappointing. Limited warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles Powertrain warranty covers three years or 36,000 miles No complimentary scheduled maintenance Specifications Specifications 2024 Lotus Emira First Edition Vehicle Type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe PRICE Base/As Tested: $107,500/$107,500 Options: none ENGINE Supercharged DOHC 24-valve V-6, aluminum block and heads, port injection Displacement: 211 in3, 3456 cm3 Power: 400 hp @ 6800 rpm Torque: 310 lb-ft @ 3500 rpm TRANSMISSION 6-speed manual CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: control arms/control arms Brakes, F/R: 14.6-in vented, cross-drilled, grooved disc/13.8-in vented, cross-drilled, grooved disc Tires: Goodyear Eagle F1 Supersport F: 245/35ZR-20 95Y LTS R: 295/30ZR-20 101Y LTS DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 101.4 in Length: 173.7 in Width: 74.6 in Height: 48.3 in Passenger Volume: 49 ft3 Cargo Volume: 12 ft3 Curb Weight: 3279 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 4.3 sec 100 mph: 10.3 sec 1/4-Mile: 12.7 sec @ 111 mph 130 mph: 18.3 sec 150 mph: 28.3 sec Results above omit 1-ft rollout of 0.2 sec. Rolling Start, 5–60 mph: 4.7 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 8.1 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 6.8 sec Top Speed (mfr's claim): 180 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 149 ft Braking, 100–0 mph: 293 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 1.00 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 20 mpg EPA FUEL ECONOMY Combined/City/Highway: 20/17/26 mpg C/D TESTING EXPLAINED More Features and Specs
