Lotus to unveil new V6 and V8 hybrid supercars by 2028
Image: Lotus
Lotus plans to introduce a new supercar in 2028 under the codename Type 135. The vehicle will be produced at the Hethel facility alongside the Emira model and, according to Autocar, will be available in both a hybrid V8 and a V6 version.
According to CEO Feng Qingfeng, the sports car manufacturer, now part of China’s Geely group, aims to maintain the British brand’s lightweight philosophy. The V8 version is expected to achieve a target weight of 1.5 tons. The use of a hybrid powertrain is intended to help meet global emission standards while preserving driving dynamics.
The development of the engines is carried out by Horse, a company jointly owned by Geely and Renault. The V8 engine is also set to be used in an as-yet-undescribed SUV from another Geely brand. To reduce weight, Lotus is opting for a hybrid system rather than a plug-in hybrid one, allowing the battery to be smaller in size.
A technical challenge lies in reducing the weight of the electrified powertrain. Feng Qingfeng explained that achieving the target weight with an 800-volt architecture, a hybrid system, and the V8 engine is not easy. As a solution, an extremely lightweight electric motor is planned, which, thanks to the use of Formula 1 technology, is expected to weigh only 20 kilograms.
The reborn Lotus Esprit will offer the choice of V8 hybrid AND V6 power https://t.co/CatdgTOGVv pic.twitter.com/tcsLAc9woy
— Autocar (@autocar) August 27, 2026
The total power of the hybrid vehicle is expected to exceed 1000 HP (736 kW). According to Autocar, the car will be equipped with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission designed for high torque while minimizing weight. “The Type 135 will fill the gap between the Emira and the Evija, preserving Emira owners’ emotional connection to Lotus’s driving dynamics, while also using V8 hybrid technology to approach the technical standards set by the Evija,” said Feng Qingfeng.
According to the report, the new supercar is designed based on the all-electric Theory 1 concept introduced in 2024. Design chief Ben Payne told Autocar that the design serves as a guide and has been well received. Lotus has already released a teaser image showing a glimpse of the rear end. A three-seater layout with the driver in the middle might eliminate the need to develop left-hand and right-hand drive versions.
Lotus’s current strategy involves diversifying its powertrain options. The mid-engine sports car Emira, introduced in 2021, was originally supposed to be the brand’s last internal combustion engine vehicle. However, the purely electric models that followed—Evija (hypercar), Eletre (SUV), and Emeya (sports sedan)—did not perform as well in the market as expected. Demand for electric vehicles in the premium and luxury segments is generally not very high, a situation Lotus addressed in 2026 with a plug-in hybrid version of the Eletre. Now, more partially electric models are set to follow.
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Thomas Langenbucher is an expert in electromobility with experience in the automotive and financial industries. Since 2011, he has been covering electric vehicles, sustainable technologies, and mobility solutions for ecomento.de. Learn more.
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