The Lotus Emira is one of the greatest sports cars on sale today. In a landscape filled with talk of “mobility” and software, there’s something refreshingly honest and excellent about a V6, a manual transmission, a reasonably light chassis, and expert suspension tuning. With the Porsche 718 going electric, this British sports car could coast to success on its laurels, but it doesn’t sound like Lotus is resting. The Emira could get rowdier in the future, as Autocar reports that Lotus Group CEO Feng Qingfeng told investors, “We are currently investigating the feasibility of the V8.”
See, Lotus is in a bit of a weird spot right now. The pivot to largely electric models has been hampered by developments like tariffs on Chinese-built EVs, and while AMG’s two-liter four-cylinder engine was eventually meant to take the place of the Toyota-built 3.5-liter V6 offered in the Emira, it’s not available with a manual gearbox and sports car people like selecting their own ratios.
Not only is the V6 the more successful engine in America, the Emira is the most successful current Lotus in America, which means the brand has a decision to make if it wants a punchier variant. It can boost the output of the V6 in America, it can try to make do with the four-cylinder, or it can go on the hunt for another engine option. It seems like the brand’s chosen to do the latter.
Of course, the announcement of the feasibility study raises questions around what V8 Lotus might want to use. See, the Emira is set up with a transverse layout, meaning the engine’s oriented sideways across the car with the transaxle hanging off the side of it. Engine length is a huge consideration in transverse applications, and while some manufacturers have used transverse V8s before including Volvo with a Yamaha-built unit, they’re typically installed in larger cars or, in the case of GM’s LS4, designed with length in mind.
Still, if the Emira has enough length in its engine bay for the M139 AMG four-cylinder engine and enough width for the Toyota 2GR-FE V6, odds aren’t terrible that the engineers in Hethel will be able to shoehorn some sort of V8 in there. If it comes to fruition, the result could be the first V8-powered Lotus since the final iteration of the Esprit more than 20 years ago.
While Autocar reports that Lotus Europe CEO Matt Windle stated “There are some opportunities with the current supplier of engines, so we’re looking at it,” I wouldn’t automatically assume that’s only referring to AMG. See, Toyota’s also an engine supplier, and something like the 2UR-GSE naturally aspirated five-liter V8 from the Lexus LC 500 could be an interesting option.
Of course, this is all in its early stages now. There’s still a good chance that a V8 Emira might not happen, but the fact that it’s under consideration is enough to raise a few eyebrows. If Lotus gets it right and pairs a V8 with a manual transmission in a sports car that costs roughly Porsche 911 money, the result could be one of the all-time greats.
Top graphic image: Lotus
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A V8 Emira would have me rushing to the nearest dealer with a deposit cheque in hand!
Call it the Emirates and sell thousands of those in Dubai
That Lexus V8 would finally get a chassis worthy of it. That would be killer.
V8’s fit in Fieros and the Emira is essentially a British Fiero.
Not quite enough space for a V8? Sounds like a perfect use case for a W8!
I mean, the chassis was originally designed for it.
350 Chevy with fuel injection. The obvious choice.
Toyota should help them and strong arm Yamaha into building them an engine. Just because I think that would be neat. I get an intriguing sense of symmetry from that.
Edit: Volvo could probably lend moral support too. I forgot the Geely connection.
Pictured: Lotus and every other car manufacturer that committed to going “all-electric”.
https://media1.tenor.com/m/2jlqEjFHiaMAAAAd/mad-annoyed.gif
Maybe they are hoping McLaren will donate some?
A v6 barely fits, and they want a v8? Small v8 died outside of supercars, big is the way most went since then. Like a Ford mod motor is like a bbf from the 70s in size. It’s a great motor but you don’t need 500hp on cheap parts on a lotus. People who want that can just buy a mustang.
Can’t be that hard, can it? V8 comes in 162cc and 236cc cans.
You probably can put two right in the Emira’s cup holders!
The I4 should come from Toyota. Or better yet, they could use the G16-GTS I3 from the GR Corolla/Yaris
The V6 should also remain Toyota, even if they can’t keep using the 2GR. If they can’t do that for some reason, use the LS-based V6
The V8 should be either a Toyota V8 or one of GM’s LS variants.
Also, Can Edelbrock PLEASE sell the 2GR supercharger to the public on their own? Edelbrock supplies the Lotus supercharger, but it’s not available from them directly.
Put that supercharher into every 2GR equipped Toyota.
GR Sienna
GR Camry
GR Avalon
GR Highlander
ES-F
RX-F
hell yeah 😀
The problem with throwing a Lexus V8 into the Emira is you’d get a 70ish horsepower bump which would barely be enough to make it faster than the V6 or 4 cylinder since the engine and cooling mass would offset any performance gains.
The gains in sound and feel would more than make up for that
Perhaps, but if it sounds anything remotely close to the LC500, then it will be totally worth it regardless of performance gains.
The current V6 does not meet Euro 7 regulations so continuing with the V6 isn’t an option. (I also doubt it will meet EPA Tier 4 which starts in 2027). They need a new engine and being a small manufacturer it only make sense to have one engine for both the EU and USA.
Isn’t this like shopping for a Rolex while the bank is currently trying to repossess your house?
Fake it till you make it
Or bringing your mistress/pool boy to your divorce proceedings.
Lotus and Toyota engines go away back, so a Toyota V8 would not be out of the question, and it would be pretty freakin’ awesome!
Powerful and reliable!
LS AND A TREMEC LS AND A TREMEC LS AND A TREMEC LOTUS PLSSSS
Maybe an Aisin 6-speed would be better.
Tremecs are heavy, and the shift quality is awful. This is according to other Euros that had considered using American manual transmissions in some of their high power offerings.
This sounds like cope from Euros who can’t develop a manual that handles that much power with ease.