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Lotus has confirmed it is planning a plug-in hybrid version of the Emira sports car as well as an ‘upgrade’ to the V6 model as part of a facelift timed to comply with the Euro 7 emissions regulation change in 2027.

Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told analysts on the company’s second quarter results call the model would gain the same ‘Hyper Hybrid’ technology scheduled to be rolled out first in an SUV model later this year, expected to be the Eletre.

The current four-cylinder turbocharged Emira, which uses a Mercedes-AMG powerplant, appears to on the chopping block amid the EU7 makeover. The V6 uses a Toyota engine but Lotus has previously said that can’t be upgraded to meet the EU7 regulations.

The inclusion of plug-in hybrid technology in the Emira as part of a closer cooperation between the Chinese-based Lotus Tech division and Lotus Cars in the UK, which focuses on sports cars.

Feng made no reference to the Thursday 28 announcement that Lotus would cut around 40 percent of the workforce in the UK – 550 jobs – but said that the recent decision to combine Lotus Tech with Lotus Cars would bring efficiencies.

“We see big room for efficiency improvements while we consolidate a lot of the functions together, including the technology synergies,” Feng said.

The CEO confirmed his commitment to the UK arm, which had been rocked by news – since denied – that Lotus wanted to move production out of the UK

“We have ambitious goals for the Lotus Cars operation in the future,” Feng said. “We will focus on the very high performance attributes and also high-performance engineering services.”

Lotus’s commitment to the future of the Emira will bring a sigh of relief to those remaining workers at the company’s production plant in Hethel, Norfolk, who faced an uncertain future as the planned electric replacement was halted while sales in the US plummeted on the imposition of higher tariffs in April.

Lotus deliveries in the first half slumped by almost half to 2813 as the company halted Emira exports to its key US market on the tariff increase. Emira deliveries fell 64% to just 891 in the first half. Exports to the US resumed in July after the UK government negotiated cut in the tariffs from 27.5% to 15%

Lotus posted a net loss of $313 million (£230 million) for the first half of 2025, an improvement from the previous half-year performance, when it lost $424 million.

Lotus has pivoted to plug-in hybrids after sales of its electric Eletre SUV and Emeya saloon fell short of ambitious targets amid a wider reluctance among luxury car buyers to move to electric. “We will actively promoting our Hyper Hybrid technology,” Feng said on the call.

Lotus previously tested a plug-in hybrid version of the Evora sports car featuring a 1.2-litre three-cylinder engine mated to an electric motor and 17kWh battery giving a potential range of 35 miles. The so-called 414E never made it to production.

There was some good news for Lotus in that sales of its Eletre and Emeya models rose in the second quarter in China helped by upgraded versions of the Eletre.

Audi has hinted its upcoming concept will take inspiration from the original TT, as well as 1991’s Avus show car and historic racing models.

As previously reported by Autocar, the concept, set for unveiling at the upcoming Munich motor show, will preview an all-new look for the brand under design boss Massimo Frascella. 

Audi CEO Gernot Döllner previously said that the design would be “a bold step for the brand” and that it would “would look to the future and the strengths of Audi design, for clarity and to bring that to the future, not copying the past”.

This is a sentiment that has been echoed in a new video posted to Audi’s social media channels.

The clip states “the legends of yesterday are the blueprint for tomorrow” with the strapline “strive for clarity” while showing images of the TT, the Avus concept and several Auto Union grand prix cars from the 1930s.

Given the timing of the video, with the Munich show opening its doors to the press on 8 September, it's a strong hint at the inspirations behind the concept that is set to be unveiled.

“The absolutely fantastic aspect is that it seems that he [Frascella] somehow had Audi in his mind for his whole career," said Döllner. "Now is the time to let Audi out of the mind of Massimo Frascella."

Production of the Volvo V90 will end in September, the brand has confirmed to Autocar.

It said in a statement that the large estate’s demise was “in accordance” with its “global cycle plan”, with the related S90 saloon having been axed last year to make way for the electric ES90 liftback. That model is due in the UK early next year, but it remains to be seen whether it will spawn a traditional estate.

Asked at the ES90’s unveiling whether Volvo could ditch estates for good, then CEO Jim Rowan replied: “Yeah, because I think it’s changed, right? SUVs have changed with ride height.”

Rowan suggested that the ES90’s raised ride height means it has some crossover with SUVs. Moreover, its hatchback boot and 40:20:40-split rear seats give it similar functionality to an estate.

He added that the XC60 SUV could be repositioned to help fulfil the role of the V90: “Rather than bring a V90, for example, are we better to position [the XC60] in a slightly different way? We have the Black Edition, we have the Cross Country edition. So we then now have different editions of the same base car.”

Rowan’s replacement, Håkan Samuelsson, has yet to hint at any change in tack.

However, Volvo’s estates have proven their popularity in recent years: the V60 and V90 were removed from the UK line-up in 2023, but were reinstated in July 2024 due to popular demand.

Production of the smaller V60 will continue for the foreseeable and “UK customers will still be able to order this model”, according to Volvo UK. It added that buyers interested in the V90 should enquire about stock with itself or their local Volvo dealer.