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.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
NZ Herald
6 days ago
- NZ Herald
Chiefs defeat Brumbies 37-17
Ryan Bridge speaks to International affairs expert regarding the evacuation of US troops in Iraq. Herald NOW: Daily Sports Update: June 13 2025 Air NZ CEO Greg Foran speaks with Ryan Bridge on Herald NOW after Air India crash Herald NOW: Daily News Update: June 13 2025 I'm in Texas to visit Amazon Web Service's computer chip design lab to see how it's preparing for an AI compute boom and competing with Nvidia. Officials say the Boeing 787 aircraft had 242 passengers and crew on board when the accident occurred. The ute careens out of the off-ramp onto Ngauranga Gorge, clipping a car travelling on SH1. Video / Luke Drabble Footage captures lengthy queues for those heading home from Wellington CBD tonight after a crash on Ngauranga Gorge. Video / NZ Transport Agency Waka Kotahi Animal skulls, flesh-eating beetles and good honest pessimism: the life and work of Bruce Mahalski. Video / Frank Film MetService Severe weather - 12-14 June. Video / MetService Anti-ICE demonstrations continued across several American cities and Finance Minister Nicola Willis criticised the Reserve Bank over Adrian Orr's resignation. Fire and Emergency received a call for a house fire on Bucklands Beach Road at 8.40pm on Wednesday. Video / NZ Herald Emergency services rushed to the South Auckland suburb of Favona after a freight train and truck collided yesterday around 7:45pm. Video / NZ Herald The co-owner of the first PAK'nSAVE on 40 years of serving communities. Behind the scenes at the Smokefree Rockquest Regional Finals in Manawatū.
NZ Herald
12-06-2025
- NZ Herald
Anti-ICE protests continue, and Nicola Willis criticises Reserve Bank
Anti-ICE demonstrations continued across several American cities and Finance Minister Nicola Willis criticised the Reserve Bank over Adrian Orr's resignation.
NZ Autocar
31-05-2025
- NZ Autocar
2024 BYD Dolphin Premium Long Term
The BYD Dolphin is the brand's most affordable machine, an all-electric hatch starting at $39,990 for the Essential. That's $10k cheaper than when it first arrived here. The choice for buyers is whether to go for the Essential value, or pay extra for the $48,990 Premium. This more potent model has recently joined the NZ Autocar line-up, resplendent in its striking pink livery. The difference between variants is more than just specification. Essential comes with a 70kW/180Nm motor but the Premium has double the power, with 150kW and 310Nm of torque. That means 0–100km/h drops from a sedate 12.3sec to a brisk seven seconds in the Premium. Read more 2023 BYD Dolphin Extended review Of more relevance perhaps is the extra range you get with the Premium. The Essential offers a respectable WLTP driving range of 340km from its 44.9kWh Blade battery. Step up to the Premium, and you'll get a larger 60.48kWh battery offering 427km. DC fast charging also improves: the Essential supports up to 60kW, while the Premium can hook up to 80kW chargers. Both models are well specified with BYD's rotating 12.8-inch touchscreen, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a full suite of driver assistance systems and V2L (vehicle-to-load) functionality. The Premium adds extras like heated front seats, wireless phone charging and a panoramic glass roof. There's also a suspension upgrade. Where the Essential uses a torsion beam set-up in the rear, the Premium switches to a multi-link arrangement for improved ride and handling. Upping the spend to the Premium seems justified in our eyes, given you get more than just a few extra creature comforts. The added power, range and dynamic boost are good value for the money. Our GM, Gavin Shaw, has been enjoying the Dolphin for the past month. With his weekly mileage amounting to around 350km, he is getting by with one fast charge a week. He says this takes around 40mins, and it is easy to monitor the process if you are not in the vehicle by using the app. After being an EV skeptic for many years, he has enjoyed the refinement of the power delivery and the ample power of the Premium. Equally impressive for him are the open road dynamics with controlled body roll in bends and a good ride on the highway. His only real bugbear with the Dolphin is the thick A pillar restricting outward vision at some intersections, especially when turning right. While not a fan of the colour combination, he is getting used to the constant comments questioning his supposed lifestyle choice. He says women love the colour combination however. After having spent the past few months being electrically motivated (he was in the Atto 3 prior to this) his view on EVs has changed somewhat. He says he has been pleasantly surprised, particularly as a die-hard enthusiast of petrol power. He reckons that anyone who is hesitant about the idea of an EV should experience one for more than just a quick drive around the block. He reckons the benefits, including the relative ease of refuelling at home, can only be realised with an extended test drive. BYD Dolphin Premium$48,990 / 15.9kWh/100km / 0g/km 0-100 km/h 7.0s Motor 150kW / 310Nm Battery LFP 60.5kWh Drivetrain 1-speed auto / FWD Range 427km
