The mid-engined sports car will be available with a V6 engine and a plug-in hybrid powertrain from 2027

The Lotus Emira has received an indefinite stay of execution. Instead of production coming to an end in 2027, as was originally planned, the troubled British firm's final petrol-powered sports car will be receiving two new powertrains that should allow it to live beyond the end of the decade.

The mid-engined Emira is currently offered with a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine sourced from Mercedes-AMG or a supercharged 3.5-litre Toyota V6. Both versions are available through the Auto Express Buy A Car service, as well as used models that start from less than £60,000.

However the two engines reportedly fall foul of the new Euro 7 emissions regulations that will come into effect at the end of next year.

Instead of letting that be the end of the Emira, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng revealed during the company's Q2 financial results call that the plan is now to give the British-built two-seater a facelift in 2027 and install two new powertrains: a plug-in hybrid set-up and an "upgrade" on the V6 engine. However he didn't disclose any technical details about either.