Lotus Emira Will Swap to a New Hybrid V-6 SetupGreg Pajo - Car and DriverThe Lotus Emira will get overhauled with a new hybrid V-6 powertrain, the company's CEO confirmed to Autocar.The turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6 will pair with an automatic gearbox featuring an integrated e-motor, built by Horse Powertrains, a joint venture between Renault and Geely.The new engine is capable of up to 536 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque, far more than the Toyota V-6 and Mercedes-AMG turbo four it will replace.Yesterday, Lotus announced a pivot from its plans for an electric supercar codenamed the Type 135, instead revealing that the low-slung two-door will pack a new V-8 hybrid powertrain with nearly 1000 horsepower. Now, it appears the Lotus Emira sports car will also go hybrid, with Autocar reporting that an updated Emira will arrive soon with a V-6 hybrid setup.Greg Pajo - Car and DriverThe plans to launch a hybridized Emira were confirmed to Autocar by Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng, who also revealed that the new powertrain will become the only choice going forward for Lotus's sports car. That means it will replace both the supercharged V-6, sourced from Toyota, and the turbocharged four-cylinder, supplied by Mercedes-AMG, currently found in the Emira. The Toyota V-6 was already on the chopping block, as it does not meet upcoming European emissions regulations.The new hybrid setup will instead be produced by powertrain manufacturer Horse, a company founded in 2024 as a joint venture between Renault and Lotus's parent compan,y Geely. The heart of the powertrain will be a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, paired with a four-speed automatic transmission with an integrated electric motor.The Horse W30 engine and 4LDHT transmission.Horse PowertrainsThe switch to a hybrid setup will bring a big power bump. The Horse W30 V-6 can produce up to 536 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque on its own, before factoring in some extra oomph from the transmission-mounted e-motor. The current Toyota V-6 churns out 400 hp and 310 pound-feet, while the Mercedes-AMG four-pot is good for 400 hp and 354 pound-feet.AdvertisementAdvertisementWhile the hybrid assembly will likely increase the Emira's weight, Horse Powertrain says the V-6 itself weighs just 353 pounds, claiming that it's around 22 pounds lighter than all other V-6s on the market and only slightly heavier than most 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines. The Horse 4LDHT transmission, including oil, is listed at 439 pounds.Along with the weight penalty, there's another factor that may cause concern for enthusiasts. The W30 seems to be paired exclusively with the automatic gearbox, and the removal of the Toyota V-6 would also suggest the death of the six-speed manual transmission.The new hybrid powertrain would likely kill off the six-speed manual transmission.Greg Pajo - Car and DriverStill, this move is a reversal from Lotus's previously announced plan to go all-electric, which would have included an electric replacement for the Emira that was originally set to be developed in collaboration with Alpine. But Lotus decided there wasn't enough of a market for an electric sports car (and Alpine is also apparently reengineering its electric-only A110 replacement to fit combustion engines).Apparently, the focus on six-cylinder engines for the Emira was driven by the United States. "They told us that they love the V-6 engine, and actually the V-6 version is our best-seller in the U.S. market," Feng told Autocar.AdvertisementAdvertisementWe'll see if American enthusiasts still love the V-6 once it's electrified and sold exclusively with an automatic. More details on the updated Emira powertrain should emerge over the course of the next year.➡️ Skip the lot. Let Car and Driver help you find your next car.Shop New Cars Shop Used CarsYou Might Also LikeGift Guide: Best Ride-On Electric Cars for KidsFuture Cars Worth Waiting For: 2025–2029