Lotus dusts off the Esprit badge for a new V8 hybrid hunting Ferrari and Lamborghini

Lotus is reviving the Esprit name for a hybrid V8 supercar with nearly 1,000 hp, aimed at Ferrari and Lamborghini territory.

The Lotus Esprit may be coming back in a very different era, but with the right idea for the faithful. The name, dormant since 2004, is being prepared for a new supercar, and the talk now is no longer about a pure electric car as expected, but about a hybrid with a V8.

The Type 135 project was originally conceived as an electric successor to the Emira. Now, according to preliminary reports, Lotus has taken a different route: a petrol V8 with electrification. Combined output is set to approach 1,000 hp, with the bulk of it coming from the internal combustion engine.

For Lotus, this is a significant pivot. The brand built its reputation on lightness, precision and driver engagement, not on a race for the biggest battery pack. So a hybrid V8 feels like a more emotional answer for the Esprit than a fully electric setup. Especially if the engine really does sit behind the driver, as in the original mid-engined Esprit.

Direct benchmarks reportedly include the Lamborghini Temerario and the Ferrari 849 Testarossa. In other words, the new Lotus is no longer playing the niche sports car for a small circle — it is aiming squarely at the territory of expensive hybrid supercars. The expected price is around $300,000.

Precise specifications have not been released. The 0–60 mph time, weight, electric range, transmission type and battery details all remain unknown. But from Lotus it is reasonable to expect a focus on aerodynamics, weight reduction and chassis tuning, not just a headline power figure.

If the project reaches production in this form, the Esprit will be more than just the return of an old name for Lotus. It will be an attempt to prove that the brand can enter the hybrid supercar era without losing its character. Because people buy an Esprit not for a slick interface and a big screen, but for the moment when the car feels alive again.