Lotus Bringing Back V8 Power After 20 Years: 1,000 PS Hybrid Supercar

Lotus Cars has confirmed that it is working on a new generation of V8-powered performance cars, marking the return of eight-cylinder engines to the brand after more than two decades. The last Lotus road car to feature a V8 engine was the iconic Lotus Esprit V8, production of which ended in 2004.

Lotus To Bring Back V8 Powered Cars

The global automotive industry is steadily moving toward electrification, and even high-performance and luxury manufacturers are investing heavily in electric and hybrid technologies. Lotus has been part of this transformation, shifting its focus toward battery-electric vehicles under its "Focus2030" and broader long-term electrification strategy.

However, the company is now preparing to reintroduce combustion performance in a more advanced form. Lotus is expected to launch the Lotus Type 135 in 2028, and reports suggest that it could feature a high-performance hybrid powertrain with a V8 engine mounted in a mid-engine layout.

This would make it the first Lotus V8-powered model since the Esprit. The upcoming supercar is expected to produce more than 1,000 PS, placing it firmly in the hypercar category. Lotus is likely to reveal additional technical details later this year.

Engineering and design work will be led from the United Kingdom, while a significant portion of research and development is expected to take place in China. Although Lotus remains a British manufacturer headquartered in UK, the company is majority-owned by Geely Holding Group.

Geely has provided Lotus with new investment and access to global engineering resources, enabling the brand to expand into new segments and technologies. One possible source for the new powertrain is HORSE Powertrain, a joint venture formed by Geely and Renault Group.

HORSE recently showcased a new 3.0-litre twin-turbocharged engine architecture at the Beijing Auto Show, designed to support advanced hybrid applications and potentially scalable to V8 configurations. Another possibility is sourcing engines from Mercedes-AMG, which already supplies high-performance V8 engines to models such as the Aston Martin Valhalla.