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Lotus confirms new hybrid V8 Esprit supercar as part of ‘Focus 2030’ plan
Updated: Today 00:02
► New Lotus ‘Type 135’ hybrid V8 supercar confirmed
► Part of ‘Focus 2030’ plan to get brand back on track
► Image metadata label says ‘Esprit teaser’
Lotus has announced Focus 2030 – a plan that aims to whip the brand back into shape after years of mission creep and a lack of profitability. The crux of that plan is the official announcement of the Type 135: a hybrid V8 supercar that’ll be named Esprit.
The Type 135 name follows Lotus’ usual internal codenaming structure; Type 130 was the Evija hypercar, Type 131 was Emira and Type 132 became the Eletre, for example. At one point, Type 135 was meant to be a small electric sports car designed to succeed the Emira, before Lotus announced this new Focus 2030 plan.
The confirmed use of the Esprit name for the production model has actually been revealed by accident. Full disclosure: ‘Esprit’ isn’t mentioned once in the media release supplied by Lotus regarding its Focus 2030 plan, simply naming the upcoming hybrid V8 supercar as the Type 135.
However, when the press release was supplied to us, four versions of the same dark teaser image were originally supplied with the release in different aspect ratios depending on media requirement. As illustrated above, three of the filenames are named ‘Lotus_Type_135_Teaser_[aspect ratio]’. But the fourth gives the game away, being named: ‘07007_Esprit_Teaser_Comp04_RS_FinalArt_9x16.’ Someone in Lotus communications is almost certainly getting fired for letting that slip early.
Not much else is confirmed about the new Esprit, aside from that it will use a hybrid V8 powertrain that develops more than 1000 metric horsepower and it’s planned for production in 2028. From the looks of the official teaser image (which we have brightened up to provide a clearer view of the car), it seems to take some inspiration from the Theory 1 concept car – particularly when it comes to material usage and the rear light shape.
Lotus also confirms the new supercar will be produced in Europe – though doesn’t specifically mention Lotus’ home of Hethel in Norfolk as the production location.
As part of the wider Focus 2030 plan, Lotus says it will work closer with its partner Geely Holdings Group to strengthen economies of scale and simplify some supply chains to reduce costs. Lotus UK and Lotus Technology will also be merged into one entity now, too, which Lotus says will bring benefits like ‘unifying the brand, streamlining governance, reducing costs and accelerating engineering integration for next-generation performance vehicles.’
Daniel Li, executive vice chairman of Geely Holding Group and chairman of the board of directors for Lotus Technology, says: ‘Geely has believed in Lotus from the beginning, and that belief has not wavered. We’re committed to giving Lotus the resources it needs to compete at the highest level.’
Lotus says the Eletre, Emeya and Evija will remain ‘a core pillar of the business,’ but also points to the rollout of its new ‘X-Hybrid’ powertrain system being rolled out to the Eletre as another source of potential growth. This 900-volt range extender powertrain uses a 70kWh battery pack and develops up to 939bhp, good for a 3.3sec 0-62mph time and driving range claims north of 745 miles.
The first Eletre X-Hybrid models will arrive towards the end of 2026 in Europe.
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