Lotus To Make A V8 Supercar

Under the wings of Geely, Lotus has embarked on a path that enthusiasts of the pure character of the past might not be too happy about. Several impressive but certainly not featherlight fully electric models have arrived, and in the form of the Eletre, there is even an SUV. Those who want to stick a bit closer to the ‘old Lotus’ can still sign up for the Emira, but that is about it. It even seemed as though it would be the end for fuel-powered models at Lotus after the Emira, but things are turning out differently. There is a plug-in hybrid version of the Lotus Eletre, and more plug-ins are on the way. Now, a V8 supercar is even in the pipeline, the British have announced.

When it comes to a Lotus with a V8, the Esprit immediately comes to mind. The British company Encor is already breathing new life into it, but who knows, Lotus’s own new hybrid supercar might also be a spiritual successor to the Esprit. In any case, it will be an impressive machine, with over 1,000 horsepower. The car, provisionally designated as Type 135, will be unveiled as early as 2028, hit the market that same year, and is expected to be built in Europe. Lotus promises to reveal more about this newcomer later this year.

It remains to be seen where the V8 will come from. There is a good chance that Horse Powertrain will supply it; that is a joint venture between Renault and Geely. During Auto China, Horse Powertrain recently unveiled a brand-new 3.0 V6 that is set to find its way into mild-hybrid and hybrid cars. A larger sibling to that might also be in development. The V6 is already expected to produce 544 hp and 700 Nm of torque. That power unit is also quite light, at just 160 kg.

• Read More: Lotus Set To Put Combustion Engines In Its EVs