Lotus is planning to revive the Esprit, after the model last rolled off the production line back in 2004. The new ‘Type 135’ Esprit will be the first V8 Lotus offered since 2004, with a V6 option also available.
In a welcome return for the V8, the hybrid powertrain will produce approximately 735kW and paired with an eight-speed dual clutch gearbox. Weight of the car is reported to be kept to around 1500kg. The hybrid V6 is likely to be the same powertrain that’s planned for the updated Emira. This is a 3.0 Litre V6 that’s paired with an automatic transmission and integrated electric motor, with outputs of around 400kW and 700Nm. The new engines will be produced by Horse, the joint venture company owned by Renault and Geely.
The Type 135 was originally planned as an electric successor to the Emira, however changing market conditions forced Lotus to alter its plans and move back to combustion engines. Lotus’s wider Focus 2030 strategy formally commits the brand to a mix of combustion, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric models instead of an EV-only lineup.
The Esprit will sit between the Emira and Evija in the model line-up. Full reveal and start of production for the revived Esprit are planned for 2028.
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