Lotus is planning to offer a V-6 option for the upcoming Esprit supercar, alongside a hybrid V-8, according to the automaker’s CEO. The V-6 option will join the planned hybrid V-8, which is expected to produce roughly 1000 horsepower. This move reflects the company’s commitment to lightness, a principle that has guided Lotus since its founding by Colin Chapman, who famously emphasized the importance of building lightweight cars.
The reveal and launch of the revived Esprit are both planned for 2028, with more details of the model expected soon. The Esprit, internally known as Type 135, will feature a hybrid V-6 option, allowing Lotus to comply with tightening global emissions regulations.
Engine Options
The hybrid V-6 option will preserve the essential Lotus DNA of lightweight engineering, according to Feng Qingfeng, the brand’s CEO. The V-6 will likely be the same hybrid V-6 planned for the updated Emira. In the Emira, the powertrain consists of a turbocharged 3.0-liter V-6, paired with an automatic transmission and an integrated electric motor. The powertrain is reportedly good for up to 536 horsepower and 516 pound-feet of torque.
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The hybrid V-6 is being produced by Horse, a joint venture company owned by Renault and Lotus’s parent company, Geely. The hybrid V-8 is also being produced by Horse, and is poised to produce a combined output of at least 986 horsepower and will pair with an eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox. Lotus is putting considerable effort into keeping the powertrain’s weight down, despite the higher cylinder count of the V-8 hybrid.
Production and Plans
The Type 135 was originally planned as an electric successor to the Emira before changing market conditions forced Lotus to alter its plans. The full reveal and start of production for the revived Esprit are both planned for 2028.
The Type 135 will fill the gap between the Emira and Evija, preserving the emotional connection Emira owners have with the Lotus mechanical handling, while leveraging V-8 hybrid technology to approach the technical benchmark set by the Evija, according to Qingfeng.
