Lotus Type 135: the future hybrid supercar shows its V8

The engine for Lotus's first supercar was revealed on 10 November 2026. It is a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8, designed for hybrid use by the engine maker Horse Powertrain. It will power the Type 135, due in 2028.

Lotus announced the car on 12 May 2026, with more than 1,000 hp in total. We now know where its engine comes from, how much it weighs and what it produces on its own. The figures in this article come from Horse Powertrain's press release of 10 November, which also quotes the head of Lotus, and from Lotus's own release of 12 May.

Which engine will the Lotus Type 135 use?

It is called the W40. It is the first V8 from Horse Powertrain, a London-based engine maker that already supplies Renault, Volvo and Geely, the Chinese group that is Lotus's main shareholder. This 4.0-litre engine was designed from the start for hybrid use.

According to Horse Powertrain, the V8 alone produces more than 500 kW, around 680 hp, and 800 Nm of torque. It weighs 200 kg, which makes it one of the most powerful V8 engines on the market for its weight, again according to its maker. Its two turbochargers sit in the valley of the V, between the two banks of cylinders, with a shortened intake path.

It will be paired with a new eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox built for hybrid use. It changes gear in less than 20 milliseconds and can take up to 1,050 Nm. The engine and gearbox will make their debut together in the Type 135.

While you wait for the Type 135, you can already drive a Lotus hybrid with Turismo.

How much power, and how much weight?

More than 1,000 hp, according to Lotus. That is the output of the complete car, including its electric drive. The 500 kW of the V8 is only part of that total.

On weight, Lotus is targeting around 1,500 kg for the whole car. Its CEO said so when presenting the brand's results on 27 August 2026, admitting it would not be easy with a V8, a hybrid system and an 800-volt architecture. He mentioned a 150 kW electric motor brought down to 20 kg, when a motor of that power usually weighs 75 to 95.

For now it is only a target. Nothing is known yet about the battery, the 0 to 100 km/h time or the top speed. Lotus has also mentioned a V6 version, without giving figures, and in May promised more details before the end of 2026.

Why a V8 at Lotus?

On 12 May 2026, Lotus presented its plan for the coming years, called Focus 2030. The brand is no longer betting on electric cars alone. Within its electrified range, it is aiming in the short term for around 60% plug-in hybrids and 40% electric cars, and it is keeping the Emira, its petrol-engined sports car.

According to Lotus, the Type 135 will be the next step for its in-house hybrid technology, launched on the plug-in hybrid version of its large SUV, which produces up to 952 hp. To compare that SUV in electric and hybrid form, read our Lotus Eletre or Eletre X guide.

It will be an all-new car, with a mid-mounted engine, and the first supercar in Lotus's history. It is expected to be built in Europe.

What will it look like?

So far, Lotus has only shown it from behind, in the shadows, with a thin strip of red lights. According to evo magazine, it will borrow part of its styling from the Theory 1 concept the brand presented in 2024, especially at the rear. Lotus has not confirmed this.

Will it be called Esprit?

Nothing confirms it. Part of the motoring press already calls it the “new Esprit”, after a famous Lotus sports car. But neither Lotus nor Horse Powertrain uses the name in their press releases. For now, Type 135 is only its internal code name at Lotus.

When will it arrive, and at what price?

Lotus says the Type 135 is due in 2028, with no more precise date. No price has been announced, and the brand has not yet said in which countries it will be sold.

Can you already drive a Lotus with Turismo?

Yes. With Turismo, Lotus's large SUV is available on subscription in its most powerful plug-in hybrid version, the H1000 with 952 hp. Brand new, it is on its way to the dealership and available from November 2026, in Luxembourg as well as in Belgium and France.

What you pay each month varies with your country, the length of the contract and the kilometres you pick. The car's page shows it, with everything it includes. To find out what changes when you subscribe to a plug-in hybrid, read our guide to electric and hybrid leasing.

Our view

A 200 kg V8 producing more than 500 kW is a good start for a Lotus. The brand has always relied on low weight and handling, and its CEO says as much in Horse Powertrain's release. More than 1,000 hp for around 1,500 kg would be remarkable for a hybrid. It remains to be seen whether the car will meet that target, and what it will cost. Lotus has promised to say more before the end of the year.

FAQ: Lotus Type 135

In short

• The engine of the Lotus Type 135, a twin-turbo 4.0-litre V8 from Horse Powertrain, was revealed on 10 November 2026.
• The V8 alone produces more than 500 kW, around 680 hp, and 800 Nm, for 200 kg.
• With its electric drive, the car will exceed 1,000 hp, for a target weight of around 1,500 kg, according to Lotus.
• The Type 135 is due in 2028 and is expected to be built in Europe. The Esprit name is not official.