Lotus cars has confirmed one of the most talked-about moves in the world of high-performance motoring: the launch of a hybrid supercar with a V8 engine and over 1.000 hp, known internally as Lotus Type 135. The project is part of the firm's new strategic plan, called Focus 2030, and represents a clear shift from the total electrification that the brand had announced a few years ago.
This new model will arrive in 2028 and will be made in europewith a starring role for Lotus's historic UK facilities. With this project, the brand aims to recapture some of its most passionate and sporting essence, maintaining its DNA of lightweight, driver-focused cars, but adapting to a context dominated by electrification and emissions regulations.
Focus 2030: From full electrification to a multi-energy strategy…
The launch of the Type 135 is part of Focus 2030Lotus's new business plan aims to strengthen its competitiveness, improve profitability, and adapt to the changing market. The initial goal of becoming a fully electric brand by 2028 has been shelved, giving way to a more flexible roadmap.
With the Focus 2030, Lotus adopts a multi-energy strategy It combines internal combustion engines, plug-in hybrids (PHEVs), and pure electric vehicles. The stated goal is to achieve an approximate 60% sales share for plug-in hybrid models and 40% for fully electric vehicles, leaving a significant market share for combustion-engine sports cars in very specific segments.
This change responds to a fairly realistic diagnosis: The transition to electric cars is not progressing at the same pace. in all countries and in all segments. Lotus assumes that, in Europe, China or North America, the needs and regulations are different, so it will apply an approach adapted to each market, without imposing the same technological solution for everything.
In the old continent, the brand wants to take advantage of its history in competition and its image of high-level British engineering to position itself as a key player in the niche of high-performance electrified sports cars, but without abandoning that dose of excitement and mechanical noise that is traditionally associated with Lotus.
A hybrid V8 supercar with over 1.000 hp…
Lotus prepare the new Lotus Type 135, an hybrid hypercar Developed from the ground up to become the most advanced model in its range, the British brand confirms a power output exceeding 1.000 hp thanks to a high-performance hybrid system paired with a V8 engine. With this configuration, the future Type 135 will directly enter the segment of the most exclusive and powerful supercars on the market.
Various industry sources suggest that the combustion engine could be a 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8 from Mercedes-AMGSimilar to the one used in the Emira, this engine would work in conjunction with an advanced plug-in hybrid system developed by Lotus to improve performance and efficiency. The model will also utilize a new carbon fiber chassis focused on lightness, aerodynamics, and the dynamic handling of a true racing car. hybrid supercar.
In terms of design, the future Lotus Type 135 will maintain a look very similar to the Theory 1 Concept prototype. The rear features split taillights and exhaust outlets integrated into the bumper, reinforcing a futuristic and aggressive aesthetic. Lotus assures that, despite exceeding 1.000 hp, the model will remain true to Colin Chapman's philosophy, prioritizing lightness, precision, and cornering efficiency to offer a driving experience worthy of a genuine Lotus. sports car new generation.
X-Hybrid: the technological foundation of the new supercar…
One of the technical pillars of Focus 2030 is the new technology X-HybridThis high-performance hybrid system, already debuted by Lotus in the Eletre X, the plug-in hybrid variant of its electric SUV, combines a 900V electric architecture with up to 952 hp and 935 Nm of maximum torque.
Thanks to this architecture, the X-Hybrid system allows a electric range of up to 350 km and a combined range exceeding 1.200 km, figures that are especially relevant for markets like Europe, where the fast-charging network still varies significantly between countries. Furthermore, the 70 kWh battery can charge from 20% to 80% in about 8-9 minutes at high-power charging stations.
In terms of dynamics, Lotus complements this mechanics with a 48V active anti-roll systemIt features a twin-chamber air suspension with dual-valve shock absorbers and six-piston Brembo brakes. All of this is designed to maintain the brand's typical handling even in heavier vehicles, such as large SUVs.
Although Lotus has not officially confirmed that the Type 135 uses this same architecture, it has made it clear that the The supercar will benefit from the experience accumulated with X-Hybrid and the technology developed for the Eletre X. It is reasonable to expect an evolution of this system, adapted to a lighter chassis and a much more radical approach on the track.
Manufacturing in Europe and a focus on the European market for Lotus' growth…
Lotus will manufacture the future Lotus Type 135 at the historic Hethel plant in the United Kingdom, thus reinforcing its identity as a European manufacturer of sports cars high-performance. The brand will continue developing its most exclusive models in Europe to preserve the value associated with British engineering and the "made in Europe" label, an aspect especially valued among customers in the premium segment.
Europe will also play a central role in the Focus 2030 plan's commercial strategy. Lotus aims to enhance its racing heritage and technological reputation with a range of internal combustion, hybrid, and electric engines adapted to the new regulations. The future hybrid hypercar The V8 engine will allow the brand to maintain its traditional mechanical and sonic character while meeting increasingly stringent emissions requirements in the European Union and the United Kingdom.
The Focus 2030 plan also sets the company's global growth targets, aiming for sales of around 30.000 units annually. While China will be key for premium electrified vehicles and North America for high-performance sports cars and SUVs, Europe will remain essential for the brand image. In this context, the Lotus Type 135 It will act as a halo model intended to reinforce the international visibility of the range and attract new customers to the British firm.
Current range and coexistence of technologies…
While the launch of the Type 135 is being prepared, the Lotus' current range in Europe It will continue to rely on three clear pillars: the combustion-engine Emira, the family of electric vehicles (Electric, Emeya y avoid) and the new plug-in hybrid Eletre X variant. The Lotus Emira, which was initially presented as the last combustion-engine Lotus, will remain in production and it will also receive an upgrade to become the most powerful and lightest Emira ever made.
The Chinese automaker aims to strengthen its offering of purely combustion-engine sports cars, targeting European customers who still value manual transmissions, the sound of the engine, and a more direct driving experience. Simultaneously, it will continue to develop its all-electric range, comprised of the Eletre, Emeya, and Evija. These models are based on an 800V architecture that enables fast charging and competitive ranges, and have served as an entry point for new customers to the brand, particularly in markets like China.
The Eletre X, a plug-in hybrid version of the SUV, is expected to arrive in Europe in the last quarter of 2026With up to 952 hp and over 1.200 km of combined range, it falls into the "Super SUV" category and serves as a rolling laboratory for X-Hybrid technology that will later be transferred to other models.
Geely, a key partner in Lotus' new phase…
The backing of the Chinese group Geely This is a determining factor in this new phase. Since the conglomerate took control of Lotus, the brand has had access to greater financial resources, shared technical platforms, and more efficient supply chains—essential for competing in such a demanding global market.
Under Focus 2030, design and the Sports car engineering will remain rooted in the United KingdomWhile R&D and some production for high-volume models will rely on China's industrial capabilities. This combination aims to maintain Lotus's distinctive character while improving the scale and profitability of the business.
Lotus and Geely management insist that the British firm's contribution is "irreplaceable" within the group, and that the new plan is proof of their commitment to providing it with the necessary resources. compete in the electrified supercar segment against rivals such as Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin or McLaren.
With the announcement of the Type 135, the continued production of the Emira, and the expansion of its hybrid and electric range, Lotus makes it clear that it is not willing to abandon purely emotional sports cars, but neither is it willing to ignore the demands of the European and global markets. The future hybrid V8 supercar with over 1.000 hp is shaping up to be the calling card of this new era, in which tradition and technology will have to coexist under the same bodywork.
Source - Lotus
Images | Lotus
