Lotus Type 135 2028: V6 and V8 hybrid engines, weight target and release timeline
Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng confirmed the Type 135 will offer both V6 and V8 hybrid variants, targeting a curb weight around 1,500 kg despite an 800V hybrid architecture.
The upcoming Lotus Type 135 will get not one but two hybrid powertrain options — a V6 and a V8. That’s the key new detail since the May announcement, when the company only confirmed a V8 producing more than 1,000 hp. Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng confirmed both versions during an earnings call on August 27. The production supercar is scheduled for 2028.
The flagship Type 135 is meant to stay unusually light for a modern electrified car. Lotus is aiming to keep the V8 version’s curb weight around 1,500 kg despite the hybrid system and 800V architecture. One way to get there is a new 150 kW electric motor: according to Feng, a conventional unit in that class weighs 75–95 kg, while the one developed for Lotus weighs just 20 kg — a difference of roughly 73–79%. Lotus is also developing an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission with Horse for handling high torque.
The V6 version remains far less detailed — Feng didn’t disclose its output, weight or where it will sit in the Lotus lineup. Horse Powertrain already has a compact 3.0-liter V6 called the W30, weighing 160 kg and capable of up to 400 kW — roughly 544 hp — and 700 Nm, though those figures can’t be directly applied to the Type 135 yet. That engine has previously been linked to a future update of the Lotus Emira.
Lotus is developing the powertrain together with Horse Powertrain. One correction to note here: the company is no longer simply a joint venture between Renault Group and Geely — Aramco also holds a stake.
The Type 135’s shift from an originally electric concept to a hybrid V8 was revealed back in spring. The strategy is now clearer: the V8 will remain the technological flagship, while the V6 will let Lotus expand the lineup without the weight penalty of a full electric battery. Management explains the choice plainly — traditional supercar buyers still value the sound of a combustion engine and mechanical feel, while battery weight remains a limiting factor for electric models.
It’s still too early to call the car the new Lotus Esprit. Autocar reports the historic name remains a strong candidate, but the company hasn’t confirmed it. Until 2028, the project officially remains the Type 135.