Lotus Esprit Dropping Lexus V8 For Homegrown Heart: Report

Talk of an in-house Lotus V8 has been given a boost this week with reports that the British brand has confirmed plans for a new V8 engine.

According to US website Autoblog, Lotus insiders have detailed plans for the reported 4.8 litre V8, which is expected to replace the 5.0 litre Lexus engine originally announced for the next-generation Esprit.

The report claims that an entry-level version of the naturally-aspirated V8 will develop upwards of 425kW, with a higher-tuned flagship model delivering more than 460kW.

Reports earlier this year described a similar scenario, with a lightweight 4.8 litre V8 delivering around 410kW and an "Esprit R" version boosting power to 450kW.

For now, Lotus has offered no official word on plans to move away from the Lexus arrangement that was announced late last year, relying on a supercharged version of the IS F's 5.0 litre V8 to produce a hefty 462kW.