Lotus is preparing a car that could throw the brand straight back into the hottest tier of supercars. The company has revealed new details of the Type 135 flagship due in 2028: after confirming a hybrid V8 with more than 1,000 hp, Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng has now confirmed a more affordable V6 version as well. Most tantalising of all, the legendary Esprit name is edging closer to a comeback, although Lotus has not officially assigned it to the production car.
But four-figure power is only half the story. Lotus wants to preserve the quality on which its reputation was built for decades: low weight. The V8 version is targeting about 1,500 kg despite its hybrid system and 800-volt electrical architecture. Together with Horse, the company is developing an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission designed to handle high torque. Lotus is also working on ultra-light electric motors, while all-wheel drive remains one option under consideration; in that case, electric drive could power the front axle.
The V6 remains far more mysterious. Horse already has the new 3.0-litre twin-turbo W30, capable of up to 544 hp and 700 Nm, but Lotus has not confirmed that Type 135 will use this exact specification unchanged. So it is still too early to write those figures into the future supercar's spec sheet. The suspense remains.
Type 135 has become one of the key symbols of the new Focus 2030 strategy. The project was originally conceived as a fully electric sports car, but Lotus made a sharp change of course and switched to a hybrid powertrain. The production car is expected in 2028 and is set to become the brand's new flagship. And if the Esprit name really does return with it, this will be the first new Lotus to wear the legendary badge since production of the previous model ended in 2004.
