2029 Lotus Esprit to Get Hybrid V6 Alongside 1,000 HP V8
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Lotus is preparing to bring back the Esprit name with a new supercar known internally as Type 135. The new model was originally planned as an electric sports car, but Lotus has changed direction and is now developing it around hybrid combustion power.
The biggest update is that the new Lotus Esprit is expected to offer a hybrid V6 alongside the already confirmed hybrid V8.
Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng confirmed the V6 plan during an investor call, according to Autocar. The V6 will give buyers another powertrain choice while helping Lotus maintain its focus on low weight and sharp driving dynamics.
New Lotus Esprit gets V6 and V8 hybrid power
The flagship version of the new Esprit will use a hybrid V8 expected to produce more than 1,000 hp. Lotus says the Type 135 is planned for delivery in 2028, although the car is already being referred to as the 2029 Lotus Esprit in some reports.
The V6 will sit below the V8 in the range. Lotus has not yet confirmed the complete specifications of the Esprit V6, but the engine is expected to be closely related to the new hybrid V6 being developed for the updated Emira.
That engine uses a turbocharged 3.0 litre V6 with an integrated electric motor. In the upcoming Emira, the system is reported to produce up to 536 hp and 516 lb ft of torque. Those figures have not been confirmed for the Esprit, so the final output could be different.
Lotus wants to keep the Esprit lightweight
Adding hybrid technology to a supercar usually means adding weight. Lotus knows that problem very well, and the company is putting considerable effort into keeping the Type 135 light.
Autocar reports that Lotus has set a target weight of around 1.5 tonnes for the V8 version. That is an ambitious target considering the car will use an 800 volt electrical architecture, a hybrid system, a V8 engine and an electric motor.
Lotus says it is using an ultra lightweight electric motor to help solve the problem. The company claims a typical 150 kW electric motor weighs between 75 kg and 95 kg, while its Formula 1 inspired unit weighs about 20 kg.
This approach fits directly with the philosophy established by Lotus founder Colin Chapman. Lightweight engineering has remained an important part of the brand identity, and Lotus wants the new Esprit to deliver the same focus despite the added complexity of hybrid technology.
Hybrid V8 could produce more than 1,000 hp
The V8 will be the headline powertrain for the new Lotus Esprit.
Lotus has confirmed that the Type 135 will use a hybrid V8 with more than 1,000 PS. Earlier reports put the combined output at around 986 hp, while newer Lotus information says maximum power will exceed 1,000 hp.
The V8 is being developed with Horse, the powertrain company jointly owned by Renault and Geely. The engine will work with an eight speed dual clutch transmission designed to handle high torque while keeping weight under control.
Lotus has also confirmed that the car will use a hybrid system rather than a plug in hybrid setup. That decision helps reduce weight because the car does not need the larger battery and additional charging hardware required by a plug in hybrid system.
Why Lotus is bringing back the V6
The V6 is not simply a cheaper way to sell the Esprit. Lotus says the hybrid powertrain will help the company meet tightening global emissions regulations while preserving its lightweight engineering and track focused driving character.
The move also reflects Lotus changing its approach to powertrains.
The company had previously planned to move towards an all electric range by 2028. That strategy has since changed as Lotus responds to customer demand and changing conditions in the global luxury car market. The company now plans to use a mixture of electric and combustion powertrains.
For a car like the Esprit, that change makes some sense. An electric supercar can be brutally quick, but Lotus has always sold the idea of mechanical involvement and lightweight engineering. The V6 and V8 hybrids give the company a way to keep a combustion engine in the flagship sports car while still using electrification.
The Esprit will sit between the Emira and Evija
Lotus sees the Type 135 as a car that will fill the gap between the Emira and the Evija.
The Emira remains Lotus’s combustion powered sports car, while the Evija sits at the extreme end of the company’s performance range as an electric hypercar. The new Esprit is intended to bridge those two models.
Feng Qingfeng has described the Type 135 as a car that will retain the mechanical character associated with the Emira while using hybrid V8 technology to move closer to the technical benchmark established by the Evija.
That makes the Esprit an important model for Lotus. It is not just another sports car. It will become the company’s flagship combustion powered performance model.
Lotus Esprit V6 and V8: What we know so far
| Detail | Lotus Esprit V6 | Lotus Esprit V8 |
|---|---|---|
| Internal code | Type 135 | Type 135 |
| Powertrain | Hybrid V6 | Hybrid V8 |
| Engine source | Horse | Horse |
| Expected engine technology | Turbocharged V6 with electric motor | Hybrid V8 with electric motor |
| Confirmed output | Not yet confirmed | More than 1,000 PS |
| Transmission | Not confirmed | Eight speed dual clutch |
| Hybrid type | Hybrid | Hybrid |
| Plug in charging | Not expected | Not expected |
| Target launch | 2028 | 2028 |
| Production location | Hethel planned | Hethel planned |
The V6 figures remain unconfirmed for the Esprit, so it is too early to treat the Emira’s 536 hp and 516 lb ft figures as Esprit specifications.
Production is planned at Hethel
The new supercar is expected to be built alongside the Emira at Lotus’s historic Hethel facility in Norfolk, UK. This is significant for Lotus because the company is also keeping combustion powered sports cars at the centre of its future product strategy.
The Type 135 name was originally associated with an electric sports car intended to replace the Emira. Lotus later changed that plan and repurposed the Type 135 project for the new hybrid supercar.
The Esprit name itself has not been fully confirmed by Lotus, although it remains strongly expected. The original Esprit ended production in 2004, and Lotus has already indicated that the name remains closely connected to its performance heritage.
Lotus Esprit launch date
Lotus plans to reveal the new Type 135 and begin deliveries in 2028. More details are expected to emerge before the production car arrives.
The company has already released an official image showing the rear of the new supercar. The design takes inspiration from the Lotus Theory 1 concept, although the production car adds large exhaust outlets that make its combustion powertrain obvious.
For now, Lotus has not announced the final price, complete specifications or the exact V6 output.
What to expect from the new Lotus Esprit
The revived Lotus Esprit is shaping up to be a very different car from the electric supercar that was originally planned under the Type 135 name.
The important points are:
- A hybrid V6 is planned alongside the hybrid V8.
- The V8 is expected to produce more than 1,000 PS.
- Lotus is targeting a weight of around 1.5 tonnes for the V8 version.
- The V6 is expected to use technology related to the new hybrid V6 planned for the Emira.
- The V8 will use an eight speed dual clutch transmission.
- The powertrain is being developed with Horse.
- Lotus plans to build the car at Hethel alongside the Emira.
- The new model is planned for launch and delivery in 2028.
- The Esprit is intended to sit between the Emira and Evija.
- The final V6 power figures and pricing are still to be announced.
The new Esprit could therefore become one of the more interesting combustion supercars of the decade. Lotus is adding hybrid technology, but the company is clearly trying to avoid letting the extra hardware turn the car into a heavyweight.
That is probably the real story behind the new Esprit. The V8 may grab the headlines with its four digit power figure, but the lighter V6 could be just as important for keeping the Lotus driving experience intact.
Sources and References
Official sources
- Lotus Cars Official Website
Lotus Cars Official Website
Official Lotus website covering its cars, technology and company updates. - Lotus Press and Newsroom
Lotus Press Newsroom
Lotus’s official press and news section for company and product announcements. - Lotus Investor Relations
Lotus Investor Relations: Focus 2030 and Type 135
Official corporate announcement confirming the Type 135 hybrid V8 and planned 2028 launch.
Major automotive sources
- Car and Driver
Car and Driver: 2029 Lotus Esprit V6 Report
US automotive publication reporting the new hybrid V6 alongside the V8. - Car and Driver: 2029 Lotus Esprit Guide
Car and Driver: 2029 Lotus Esprit
US focused model guide covering the expected Esprit powertrain, pricing and positioning. - Autocar UK
Autocar: New 2028 Lotus Esprit V6 and Hybrid V8
Detailed reporting on the V6, V8, weight target, Hethel production and Lotus’s revised powertrain strategy. - Auto Express
Auto Express: Lotus Type 135 Hybrid Supercar
Additional reporting on the Type 135, hybrid V8, lightweight construction and expected performance. - Autocar: Lotus Emira Hybrid V6
Autocar: Lotus Emira Hybrid V6 Powertrain
Useful supporting source for the new 3.0 litre hybrid V6 expected to be related to the Esprit’s V6.
2029 Lotus Esprit: Frequently Asked Questions
Here are the key things to know about the upcoming Lotus Esprit, its hybrid V6 and 1,000 PS plus hybrid V8.
Yes. Lotus is planning a hybrid V6 for the new Esprit, internally known as Type 135. The V6 will join the already confirmed hybrid V8 and give buyers another powertrain option. Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng confirmed the V6 plan during an investor call.
Lotus has confirmed that the Type 135 hybrid V8 will produce more than 1,000 PS. Earlier reports suggested around 986 hp, but newer Lotus information indicates that maximum output will exceed 1,000 PS.
Lotus has not confirmed the complete specifications of the Esprit V6. However, the engine is expected to be closely related to the hybrid V6 being developed for the updated Emira. That powertrain uses a turbocharged 3.0 litre V6 with an integrated electric motor.
Lotus has not announced the final power output of the Esprit V6. The related hybrid V6 planned for the Emira is reported to produce up to 536 hp and 516 lb ft of torque, but those figures should not be treated as confirmed Esprit specifications.
Lotus is targeting a weight of around 1.5 tonnes for the V8 version. The company is working to control the extra weight normally associated with hybrid systems by using lightweight components, including an ultra lightweight electric motor.
No. The new Esprit is expected to use a hybrid system rather than a plug in hybrid setup. This approach helps Lotus reduce weight by avoiding the larger battery and additional charging hardware normally required by a plug in hybrid system.
The hybrid V8 is planned to use an eight speed dual clutch transmission. Lotus is developing the powertrain with Horse, the powertrain company jointly owned by Renault and Geely.
Lotus plans to reveal the Type 135 and begin deliveries in 2028. Some reports refer to the model as the 2029 Lotus Esprit, but Lotus has stated that the new model is planned for launch and delivery in 2028.
Production is planned at Lotus's historic Hethel facility in Norfolk, UK. The new supercar is expected to be built alongside the Emira.
The Type 135 is intended to sit between the Emira and Evija. The Emira is Lotus's combustion powered sports car, while the Evija is the company's electric hypercar. The Esprit is intended to bridge the two with a hybrid powertrain and a strong focus on driving dynamics.
The hybrid V6 will help Lotus meet tightening global emissions regulations while maintaining the brand's focus on lightweight engineering and track focused driving dynamics. It also gives the Esprit a second powertrain option alongside the high output hybrid V8.
The original Type 135 plan called for an electric sports car intended to replace the Emira. Lotus later changed the plan because of changing market conditions and is now developing the Type 135 around hybrid combustion power.
No. Lotus has not yet announced the final price of the new Esprit. The company also has not confirmed the complete V6 specifications or its final power output.
