Which Lotus has a Toyota engine?
The Lotuses most famously powered by Toyota engines are the Elise and Exige, which used Toyota’s 1.8-liter inline-4 powerplants (notably the 2ZZ-GE with VVTL-i) and related variants.
The question touches on a long-running collaboration between Lotus and Toyota, a relationship that helped define the driving character of Lotus’s lightweight sports cars for years. Here, we outline which Lotus models benefited from Toyota powertrains and how the engine lineup evolved over time.
Which Lotus models used Toyota engines
The following list highlights the primary models widely recognized for using Toyota-sourced powerplants, along with the general engine family involved.
- Lotus Elise — early and many subsequent generations used the Toyota 1.8-liter inline-4 engine family, starting with the 2ZZ-GE (VVTL-i) and later variants within the 2ZR-FE/2ZR-FAE family.
- Lotus Exige — the sportier variant of the Elise shared the same Toyota-based 1.8-liter engine lineup, including the turbocharged or supercharged versions that traced back to the 2ZZ-GE lineage and its successors.
In practice, these two models constitute the core of Lotus’s Toyota-powered era, with engine variants evolving over time within the same 1.8-liter family. Other Lotus models have pursued different powertrain partnerships and setups as the company diversified its engineering sourcing.
Historical context of the collaboration
The Toyota-Lotus engine partnership began in the late 1990s as Lotus sought reliable, high-revving powerplants suitable for ultra-light chassis. Toyota supplied multiple 1.8-liter inline-4 engines that enabled the Elise and Exige to deliver characteristic responsiveness and light weight—key elements of Lotus’s sports-car philosophy.
Origins and early years
The Elise debuted with a Toyota-based 1.8-liter engine, the 2ZZ-GE, known for its VVTL-i variable valve lift. This partnership allowed Lotus to keep the Elise’s weight down while achieving strong performance and rev-happy character from a compact powertrain.
Engine evolution through the 2000s
As generations progressed, the Elise and Exige migrated through engine iterations within Toyota’s 1.8-liter inline-4 family, moving from the 2ZZ-GE toward related variants in the 2ZR-FE/2ZR-FAE lineage. The core driving experience— agile, communicative steering and a light footprint—remained tied to the Toyota-sourced powerplants era.
Summary
For many years, the Elise and Exige were the flagship Lotus models most closely associated with Toyota engines, delivering a defining blend of lightness and rev-happy performance grounded in Toyota’s 1.8-liter inline-4 powertrains. The partnership shaped Lotus’s engineering approach during that era, even as the company explored other powertrain partnerships in later years.
Which Lotus uses a Camry engine?
Lotus Evora
What do the Lotus Evora and the Toyota Camry have in common? Surprisingly, the same engine. Both cars are powered by Toyota's 3.5-liter V6 (2GR- FE).
Does the Lotus Emira have a Toyota engine?
Yes, the Lotus Emira offers a supercharged 3.5-liter V6 engine sourced from Toyota, which is the same engine used in previous Lotus models like the Evora. It is also available with a Mercedes-AMG sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine.
- Toyota V6 engine: A supercharged version of Toyota's reliable 2GR-FE V6 engine is an option for the Emira. This engine was also used in previous Lotus models.
- Mercedes-AMG engine: The other engine choice is a turbocharged 2.0-liter inline-four from Mercedes-AMG.
- Engine configuration: The Toyota-sourced V6 can be paired with either a manual or a torque converter automatic transmission, while the Mercedes-AMG engine is available with a dual-clutch transmission.
What Lotus cars have Toyota engines?
The Lotus models with Toyota engines include the Emira, Evora, and Exige. The Emira uses a supercharged 3.5-liter Toyota V6 engine, while the Evora and Exige both use the same 3.5-liter V6 engine from Toyota, which is supercharged in certain versions. The Elise also uses a Toyota engine, a 1.8L 4-cylinder engine.
Lotus models with Toyota engines
- Lotus Emira: Uses a supercharged 3.5-liter Toyota 2GR-FE V6 engine.
- Lotus Evora:
- The standard Evora uses a 3.5-liter Toyota 2GR-FE V6 engine.
- The Evora S is equipped with a supercharged version of the same engine.
- Lotus Exige:
- The Series 3 Exige uses the Toyota 2GR-FE V6 engine, with supercharged versions also available.
- Lotus Elise: Uses a 1.8-liter Toyota 4-cylinder engine.
Does Lotus Eexige use a Toyota engine?
It features a naturally aspirated 1.8 L 16-valve DOHC Toyota/Yamaha engine that is rated at 190 hp (142 kW; 193 PS) with the Toyota engine designation of 2ZZ-GE.
