Geely V8: Revving Up the Adventure with Lotus Esprit Off-Road SUV

The Next-Generation Lotus Esprit: A V8 Powertrain Revolution

The upcoming next-generation Lotus Esprit is set to make waves in the automotive world with its innovative V8 powertrain developed by Horse, a powertrain company jointly owned by Geely and Renault.

In an exclusive interview with Automotive News, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng revealed that the company is shifting away from sourcing petrol engines from other automakers. Currently, the Emira model utilizes a four-cylinder petrol engine from Mercedes-AMG and a V6 from Toyota.

Feng confirmed that the upcoming mid-engined Lotus supercar, known as the Type 135, will be equipped with a V8 engine from Horse. He emphasized that this V8 engine is being developed from scratch, allowing Lotus to focus on enhancing its volume and weight.

Speculation suggests that the new supercar may revive the iconic Esprit name, retired in 2004. While Feng did not confirm this, he hinted at a potential return due to its strong legacy and continued appeal among customers.

Aside from the Esprit, Feng mentioned that the new V8 engine will also be used in other Geely brands, including some off-road SUVs. However, Lotus will be the exclusive brand to feature the V8 engine in a sports car.

The Emira was initially intended to be the final petrol-powered Lotus model, but due to underwhelming sales of the company’s EVs and strong demand for internal combustion engine sports cars, the upcoming replacement will once again be petrol-powered.

The successor to the Emira will boast a V6 hybrid drivetrain from Horse, likely related to the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 developed for Geely’s plug-in hybrid 4×4 ute.

According to Feng, the AMG four-cylinder engine will not see a follow-up, as the Emira replacement will exclusively feature a six-cylinder engine, catering to customer preferences.

Reports from AutoExpress suggest that the hybrid V6 Emira replacement could potentially debut as early as 2027.

Both the upcoming Emira and Type 135 supercar are integral parts of Lotus’s new Focus 2030 plan, which includes a more realistic sales target of 30,000 cars per year. Despite only producing 6520 vehicles in 2025, significantly below the initial goal of 150,000 in its Vision 18 strategy, Lotus remains optimistic about its future.

Initially aiming for an all-electric future by 2030, Lotus has adjusted its strategy to incorporate hybrid technology following customer demand for petrol-powered vehicles. Feng acknowledged that the company may have moved too quickly towards electrification and made the necessary shift towards hybrid solutions.

For more information on Lotus’s latest offerings, explore the Lotus showroom today!