Lotus to build its own engines

22 June 2011

Lotus-built 562bhp 4.8-litre V8
For Esprit supercar in 2013
Elan delayed by four years

The forthcoming Esprit will now be getting a Lotus-built engine

Latest News

Lotus plans to build its own engine – a 562bhp 4.8-litre V8 earmarked for the Esprit supercar that's due in 2013.

The company currently sources its engines from Toyota and it was mooted that the V8 engine in the Lexus IS-F would be used for the Esprit.

However, customer clinics carried out by Lotus revealed potential buyers were uncomfortable with the idea of £100,000 Lotuses with Toyota engines.

It's thought that the Lotus V8 engine could be cut in half to make a 2.4-litre, four-cylinder engine for the Elise replacement in 2014.

Lotus also says its new Elan – part of an ambitious five-model product plan revealed at the Paris motor show last year – will now not be on sale until 2017. The Porsche 911 rival was expected in 2013.

The company has also revealed that it'll make a new Ethos city car in 2014. It has been co-developed with Proton and will be sold as a Lotus in Europe.