Lotus is expected to introduce a new V8-powered supercar in 2028, positioning it above the Emira in the brand’s two-door range. While the production car is expected to draw heavily from the 2024 Theory 1 concept, new renderings imagine a more aggressive direction based on the Emira.

Created by automotive designer Khyzyl Saleem, the unofficial renderings retain the Emira’s basic shape but add substantial aerodynamic and visual changes. They are not presented as an official preview of Lotus’s upcoming model, but instead suggest how a higher-performance derivative could look.

More aggressive front-end design

The imagined car keeps the Emira’s standard headlights, while almost every other part of the nose receives an update. A distinctive hood is paired with a carbon-fiber splitter and revised air intakes influenced by the Theory 1 concept.

The Emira’s restrained styling suits its position as a sports car available with four- and six-cylinder engines. The rendering takes a considerably more dramatic approach, reflecting the more powerful character expected from a V8-powered model.

Large side air intakes and redesigned side skirts add further visual emphasis. Along with making the bodywork appear more aggressive, those changes give the concept a stronger aerodynamic focus than the standard Emira.

Reworked rear aero

Saleem’s design also replaces the Emira’s rear treatment with additional aerodynamic hardware. The rendering features a new decklid spoiler and a custom diffuser incorporating two large venturi tunnels.

Lotus has not yet identified the source of the upcoming supercar’s V8 engine. Reports have suggested Mercedes-AMG as the most likely supplier. The automaker recently introduced a 4.0-liter twin-turbocharged flat-plane-crank V8 that could suit a mid-engined application, although its use in the Lotus has not been confirmed.

The V8 is expected to be paired with a conventional hybrid system. One possibility mentioned in the source is an electric motor driving the front axle, a layout also associated with the Chevrolet Corvette Grand Sport X. Details about the system and the upcoming Lotus remain limited.

The new model will follow Lotus’s move toward offering hybrid vehicles after the company placed significant emphasis on electric models such as the Emeya and Eletre. Until more official information emerges, the Emira-based renderings provide an unofficial interpretation of how a more extreme Lotus supercar could be styled.