V8 and V6 versions of the Esprit
Lotus recently announced that the Esprit will receive two engine options. The first was a V8 hybrid, which was confirmed right off the bat. The V8 hybrid sounds exciting, but it might be a step in the wrong direction based on the brand’s history of lightweight sports cars.
The thing is, Lotus itself has set a goal of going under 3,306 lbs (1,500 kg), and it even received some flak for a misunderstanding with its CEO, who stated that sports cars over that weight target “are mediocre.” Since then, a ton of news has swirled around the brand’s newest souped-up supercar with boatloads of power. Now, sources are reporting that the new 2028 Esprit will have a smaller engine option, a V6 hybrid.
Lighter, More Affordable, More Lotus
Taking a look at the brand’s history, Lotus’ solution to going faster was getting lighter first, adding power maybe never. Now that it’s under new management, that ethos is shifting slightly. Perhaps in a bid to break away from its lightweight, low-power niche and punch above its weight, the brand has been leaning more into the concept of adding horsepower and being done with it.
Hardcore fans may disagree, and I think that Lotus may be doing something right by offering a version of its incoming Esprit with a V6 alongside a V8. Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng told company investors this in an earnings call that happened on August 27, 2026, and was reported on by Autocar.
A V6 hybrid could mean that Lotus will be using the same powertrain as the Emira, which has a 3-liter engine displacement, twin turbos, a lightweight electric motor, and likely around the same power figures at 536 horsepower and 536 ft-lbs of torque. Peak combined power figures for the new Esprit are said to push around the 1,000 horsepower mark for the V8 version, and somehow that seems like a wrong move for a brand like Lotus.
The V6 Hybrid version is definitely going to be lighter than the V8 by a good margin, which leaves Lotus with a lot of breathing room for the weight goal and emissions constraints. The powertrain is under Geely. Horse creates the V6 and V8 engines, and it was also said that the brand faced a lot of challenges to try and keep the weight down as much as it can, especially for the V8 version.
Cars & Bids
Started From Scratch
Rewinding a bit, the Type 135 project was initially going to be an all-electric supercar. However, Lotus had to go back to the drawing board after realigning itself with what made the brand special in the first place.
Lotus is also one among many brands that have revised their views on electrification. Internal combustion engines are going to stay in the near future, and enthusiasts and long-time fans can breathe a sigh of relief.
Now, it’s just a waiting game to see how well the Geely Group is able to remain faithful to the Lotus ethos. We’re holding our breath for the launch, which is set to happen in 2028. A V6 version of a sports car isn’t always good news, but I guess this is one of the rare exceptions that actually makes complete sense for the brand.
