The Lotus Esprit name is moving back into serious supercar territory if the latest powertrain details are any guide.
Autocar has linked the reborn Esprit, reportedly codenamed Type 135, with a hybrid V8 package aimed at challenging Ferrari’s 849 Testarossa.
The headline figure is the combustion engine itself, a new twin-turbo V8 said to contribute 662 hp before the hybrid system is counted.
At a glance
- The new Lotus Esprit is expected to use a hybrid V8 powertrain with a combined output of more than 1,000 hp.
- Its W40 combustion engine is a 4.0-litre twin-turbo hot-vee V8 developed by Horse Powertrain.
- Autocar reports that an entry-level V6 hybrid version is also expected, though pricing and launch timing haven’t been confirmed.
A hot-vee V8 at the centre of the Esprit
Autocar has identified the internal-combustion element as Horse Powertrain’s new W40 engine.
It’s a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 using a hot-vee layout, with the turbochargers positioned between the cylinder banks.
That packaging is familiar in modern high-performance engines because it can shorten the path between exhaust ports and turbochargers, though the confirmed details here are limited to the layout and output.
Horse Powertrain claims the W40 weighs 200 kg and will be among the most power-dense engines on the market.
The engine is said to produce 662 hp and 590 lb-ft of torque, giving the petrol unit more than half of the expected total output of the hybrid system.
Hybrid hardware and transmission
The V8 will be paired with an 8-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, also being developed by Horse Powertrain.
That transmission includes an integrated electric motor and is capable of handling up to 774 lb-ft of torque.
Media reports have pointed to a total hybrid output of more than 1,000 hp, a figure that would place the Esprit far above the traditional lightweight sports car template that defined Lotus for decades.
The move also suggests a more direct play for the modern hybrid supercar space, where electrification is now as much about response and performance as it is about efficiency.
A possible V6 entry point
The Esprit is also expected to be offered with an entry-level V6 hybrid powertrain developed by Horse Powertrain.
No output, pricing or availability details for that variant have been confirmed.
If it reaches production alongside the V8, the V6 would give Lotus a broader spread within the range while leaving the twin-turbo eight-cylinder model to carry the flagship brief.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | Lotus |
|---|---|
| Model | Esprit, reportedly codenamed Type 135 |
| Positioning | Hybrid supercar aimed at Ferrari’s 849 Testarossa |
| Combustion engine | Horse Powertrain W40 4.0-litre twin-turbo V8 |
| Engine layout | Hot-vee twin-turbo configuration |
| Engine output | 662 hp |
| Engine torque | 590 lb-ft |
| Claimed engine weight | 200 kg |
| Hybrid output | More than 1,000 hp, per media reports |
| Transmission | 8-speed dual-clutch automatic developed by Horse Powertrain |
| Electric integration | Electric motor integrated into the transmission |
| Transmission torque capacity | Up to 774 lb-ft |
| Expected additional variant | Entry-level V6 hybrid developed by Horse Powertrain |
For a brand so closely associated with agility and restraint, the next Esprit is shaping up as a very different kind of Lotus, one built around hybrid force, compact powertrain engineering and a clear ambition to compete at the sharp end of the supercar market.
