The Lotus Emira sports car may soon be offered with a V8 engine option as the British manufacturer seeks to broaden the appeal of its only combustion-powered model. During a recent earnings call held by Geely, the parent company of Lotus, CEO Feng Qingfeng mentioned, “We are currently investigating the feasibility of a V8.”
- The Emira V6’s popularity in the US market has led to the evaluation of a V8 engine
- AMG’s 4.0-litre V8 is under consideration as a potential replacement for the V6
- The upcoming Lotus V8 would mark the brand’s first since the Esprit was discontinued in 2004
Lotus Emira V6 to Be Phased Out
Emira V6 Replacement Due to Euro 7 Emission Norms
In various markets, Lotus currently offers both supercharged V6 and turbocharged four-cylinder options for the Emira; however, in India, only the four-cylinder variant is available, starting at Rs 3.22 crore. Feng confirmed that boosting the output of the current 400hp, 3.5-litre V6 engine is off the table, as the Toyota-sourced unit will not meet the forthcoming Euro 7 emissions regulations. Initially, Lotus planned to phase out the V6 in favor of a Mercedes-AMG supplied four-cylinder engine; however, the enduring popularity of the six-cylinder in the U.S., the largest sports car market, has prompted discussions about introducing a larger engine.
“The U.S. is an incredibly important market for us regarding the Emira. It always has been. So we’re examining the market demand for the product going forward,” stated Matt Windle, the new CEO of Lotus Cars in Europe. While Windle did not confirm the V8 plans, he indicated that the company is exploring various powertrain options, emphasizing that the Emira is a very competent product yet to be fully exploited in the market.
Mercedes-AMG V8 Under Consideration for Emira
Emira’s Compact Frame May Require Adjustments to Accommodate the AMG V8
Lotus may utilize AMG for the V8 engine option. Windle noted, “There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we’re looking at it,” without explicitly naming the Mercedes division. The AMG 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 is currently supplied to Aston Martin for models such as the Vantage and DBX. However, it is uncertain how much modification the compact frame of the mid-engined Emira would require to fit the larger engine.
If the new V8 variant comes to fruition, it will be Lotus’s first since the discontinuation of the Esprit V8 in 2004 after an eight-year production run.
Lotus Emira Tariff in US and India
Lotus Halts Shipments to the US Amid Tariff Disputes
The Emira, manufactured at Lotus’s plant in Hethel, UK, achieved a record sales figure of 5,272 deliveries last year. However, the company suspended shipments of the British-built Emira to the U.S. following the imposition of a new 25 percent tariff in April. This interruption affected a market that constituted around one-fifth of Lotus’s total sales, which equates to approximately 1,000 units. Furthermore, Lotus halted sales of the Eletre SUV and Emeya sedan EVs in the U.S. after the U.S. implemented a 145 percent tariff on Chinese-built items. Nevertheless, a recent agreement between the UK and the U.S. to reduce tariffs on UK-manufactured goods to 10 percent is beneficial for Lotus; however, shipments have yet to resume as further clarifications are pending.
Lotus intended to replace the combustion-powered Emira with an electric sports car but is currently assessing the market viability before proceeding with that plan. “Is the market ready for an electric sports car? I don’t really know the answer to that yet,” Windle remarked.
Potential Price Reduction for Lotus Emira in India Due to UK FTA
In light of the recent India-UK free trade agreement, the price of the Lotus Emira in India (currently starting at Rs 3.22 crore) may see a reduction. Notably, Mini India announced a price protection program for its Cooper S model, produced at the brand’s Oxford plant in the UK, aimed at relaying benefits from any future price reductions to customers.
All prices are ex-showroom, India.
