New Delhi: UK car manufacturing company Lotus has introduced their 2027 Emira sports facelift model along with a plug-in hybrid powertrain to coordinate with Euro 7 norms. The carmakers will use Hyper Hybrid technology to make necessary upgrades in the Lotus Emira.
The Lotus Emira is equipped with 2 2-litre twin-turbo and another 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine options, which offer the driver two distinct variants, giving buyers the flexibility to choose the car according to their needs. They can have a twin-turbo setup or a robust 3.5-litre V6 petrol engine. Alongside the hybrid, a larger AMG-sourced V8 is also on offer
Lotus Emira engine option
Lotus India currently sells the Emira with two engine options. First is turbo versions, for this they use a Mercedes-AMG 2.0-litre, four-cylinder unit in two outputs 365 hp, 430Nm and 406hp, 480 Nm. The second is the V6 trims, which feature a 3.5-litre supercharged Toyota motor producing 406hp and 420Nm. Now Lotus India provides both powertrains with the sports cars in India.
Emira V8 launch chances
Both powertrains, however, face an uncertain future. The Mercedes engine is set to be axed by 2027 under EU7 norms, while the Toyota V6 cannot be upgraded to meet new standards. Despite this, the six-cylinder remains popular in the United States, Lotus’ biggest sports car market.
This has led the firm to consider a larger option, a 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-AMG, also found in the Aston Martin Vantage. If adopted, it would mark the first V8-powered Lotus in more than two decades, since the Esprit V8 was dropped in 2004.
Lotus back off from all electric in 2028
Lotus has scrapped its plan to go fully electric by 2028, with CEO Feng Qingfeng confirming that hybrids will now take priority. Future models will combine turbocharged combustion engines with plug-in hybrid systems, offering ultra-fast charging and a claimed range of around 1,094km. The move is tied to closer cooperation between Lotus Technology in China and Lotus Cars, according to Autocar UK.
The shift comes as EV sales growth slows. In its latest earnings report, Lotus posted a net loss of $313 million, over Rs. 2,760 crore for the first half of 2025. The company also announced plans to cut 550 jobs in the UK last month, blaming changing global policies, tariffs and wider uncertainty in the automotive market.
Inputs from Ahsan Khan