Lotus to drop Toyota and AMG engines as Emira moves towards hybrid V6 power
Lotus is preparing a substantial technical overhaul for the Emira, with its Toyota V6 and Mercedes AMG four cylinder turbo engines expected to make way for a new hybrid V6 from Horse Powertrain. The move points to a broader change of direction at Lotus, where hybrid technology now looks set to play a central role alongside the brand’s electric ambitions.
Emira in line for a new powertrain
Lotus plans to replace the Emira’s current engine line up with a new 3.0 litre V6 hybrid developed by Horse Powertrain, the company jointly owned by Renault, Geely and Saudi Aramco.
At present, the Emira offers two engines: a 3.5 litre supercharged V6 sourced from Toyota and a 2.0 litre turbocharged unit from Mercedes AMG. The new hybrid V6 is expected to replace both and become the model’s sole powertrain.
Lotus adjusts its electric car strategy
Only a few years ago, Lotus intended to move rapidly towards an all electric range. Softer demand for electric cars, combined with the particular demands of the US market, now appears to have forced a rethink.
As a result, the Emira will remain in production longer than Lotus originally planned. The British sports car was meant to be the marque’s final combustion engined model. Instead, it now looks more like a bridge into the hybrid era.
US buyers keep the V6 alive
The American market matters greatly to Lotus, and the V6 version of the Emira proved especially popular there. That helps explain why the company is not moving straight to an electric successor, but looking instead for a solution that preserves the character of a six cylinder sports car while also helping it meet tighter emissions rules.
One casualty could be the manual gearbox. Horse’s hybrid system is linked to an automatic hybrid transmission, so the disappearance of the Toyota V6 may also mean the end of the Emira’s traditional manual option.
Analysis: Lotus is buying itself time
Lotus is not turning back towards the past. It is adapting to reality. A fully electric sports car may not yet offer a strong enough answer, commercially or emotionally, especially in the United States. A hybrid V6 gives Lotus a way to keep the Emira alive, reduce its dependence on outside engine suppliers and tie the car more closely into the Geely and Renault powertrain ecosystem.
For purists, the biggest blow may not be the change of engine supplier, but the possible loss of the manual gearbox. From a business point of view, though, the logic is clear. Lotus keeps the identity of its sports car intact, then bends it just enough to survive the new rules of the road.
