Lotus Emira: The "Last Combustion Lotus" That Got a Reprieve
It launched billed as the final petrol-engined Lotus before an all-electric future. Two years later, the company changed its mind entirely — and the Emira isn't going anywhere.
Illustration for editorial purposes
Why Lotus Reversed Its All-Electric Plan
When the Emira launched in 2021, Lotus was explicit that it would be the brand's final combustion-engined production car, with the company planning to sell electric vehicles exclusively from 2028 onward. That plan has since been scrapped entirely. Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng admitted the company had overestimated how quickly buyers would switch to electric sports cars, explaining that performance-car customers specifically "purchase performance cars... in pursuit of driving thrills, of entertainment" — something a smooth, silent EV powertrain doesn't deliver in the same way a characterful combustion engine does, however outdated that preference might look on paper.
Generations at a Glance
| Version | Years | Engine | Gearbox | Body | 0–60mph | Top Speed | Price New (UK) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emira V6 (First Edition/SE) | 2021–present | 3.5L supercharged V6 (Toyota-sourced), 400bhp | 6-speed manual, 6-speed automatic optional | Coupe | 4.2s | 180mph | from approx. £81,000 |
| Emira Turbo/Turbo SE (four-cylinder) | 2023–present | 2.0L turbocharged four-cylinder (AMG-sourced), 360bhp | 8-speed dual-clutch automatic | Coupe | 4.3s | 171mph | from approx. £75,000 |
A New 536bhp V6 Is Replacing the Current Engines
Rather than ending production, the Emira is being kept alive with an entirely new powertrain. Both the current Toyota-sourced supercharged V6 and the AMG-sourced turbocharged four-cylinder are being phased out in favour of a single new V6, developed by Horse — a joint venture between Lotus parent Geely and Renault — capable of up to 536bhp and 516lb-ft of torque while weighing just 160kg. Feng specifically cited American buyers as the reason the four-cylinder option is being dropped entirely rather than carried over, noting the V6 has consistently been the Emira's strongest seller in that market. The switch is driven partly by tightening Euro 7 emissions rules the current engines can't meet, and partly by Lotus's broader reversal on electrification strategy.
What This Means for Lotus's Historic Factory
The Emira's continued production is also good news for Hethel, Lotus's historic Norfolk factory, which will keep building the car rather than winding down combustion manufacturing as originally planned. Hethel will additionally take on assembly of a new V8 hybrid supercar from 2028 onward — widely expected to revive the Esprit name, covered on our dedicated Esprit page — cementing the site's future as a genuine combustion and hybrid production centre rather than a facility being phased out in favour of Lotus's China-built electric models.
How Much Does a Lotus Emira Cost Today?
Current pricing for the outgoing engines starts from approximately £75,000 for the Turbo four-cylinder and £81,000 for the V6, with used examples already available from under £60,000 as the model has been on sale since 2022. As Lotus's best-selling sports car on an annual basis, and now confirmed to continue rather than end, the Emira looks a considerably safer used and long-term purchase than it did when it was expected to be a short-lived, five-year-only model — buyers no longer need to weigh "last of its kind" collectibility against the practical reality of a car that's continuing well beyond its originally planned lifecycle.
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Sources: evo, Lotus press materials.