Lotus has confirmed that a new V8 hybrid supercar — officially known as the Type 135 — is coming in 2028, and it may well carry one of the most celebrated names in British motoring history: the Esprit.
The last time Lotus housed a V8 engine was in 2004, when Esprit production came to an end after a remarkable 28-year run. Twenty-two years on, the eight-cylinder is making its return — and this time it arrives with hybrid assistance and a power output exceeding 1,000PS. The V8 is supplied by Horse Powertrain, the Renault-Geely joint venture, and has been developed to work in concert with electric motors in a full hybrid configuration — chosen specifically to preserve the lightweight, driver-focused character that defines every Lotus.
As for the name: Lotus has not confirmed it. But when a teaser image filename contains the word “Esprit,” it is difficult to draw any other conclusion. The original car, sinuous, mid-engined, effortlessly iconic, gave Lotus its greatest chapter in road car history. A worthy successor, built at Hethel in Norfolk alongside the Emira, would be something genuinely special.
The Type 135 will sit above the Emira as Lotus’ ICE halo model. It draws visual inspiration from the Theory 1 concept revealed in 2024, and early teaser imagery of the rear suggests a design language that is elegant rather than aggressive — refined, purposeful, and unmistakably Lotus.
Full details are expected before the end of 2026, with the car set to make its debut in 2028. For those who believe that the greatest driving machines are built around the combustion engine — and that Lotus has always known how to make one sing — the wait promises to be very much worth it.
Contact H.R. Owen Lotus to register your interest early.
