The next-generation Lotus Esprit supercar will be powered by a new V8 developed by Horse, the powertrain company jointly owned by Geely and Renault. Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng confirmed the engine to Automotive News, ending years of speculation about what would sit behind the driver in the Type 135, the mid-engine supercar codenamed after one of Lotus's internal project sequences.
For performance car buyers tracking where the industry is heading, this development matters. It signals that petrol-powered sports cars are not going away, even as electrification consumes the mainstream market.
From Mercedes Engines to Geely's Own V8
Lotus currently sources its petrol engines from outside. The Emira runs either a Mercedes-AMG four-cylinder turbo or a Toyota-derived V6. Both powerplants were borrowed arrangements, not Lotus technology.
The new V8 changes that. Horse is developing it from scratch, which means Lotus will have a proprietary engine for the first time in decades. Mr Feng noted the team will pay close attention to the engine's dimensions and weight, acknowledging that a mid-engine layout is far less forgiving of a heavy, wide powerplant than a front-engine car.
The nameplate itself remains unconfirmed. Mr Feng stopped short of saying "Esprit", but called it a "logical legacy connection" and a car that "is still in the hearts and minds of many of our customers." That is about as close to a confirmation as you will get from a CEO before a formal reveal.
The Emira Replacement Takes a Different Path
Along with the Esprit-type supercar, Lotus is also building a direct replacement for the current Emira. That car will not use the new V8. Instead, it will be powered by a V6 hybrid drivetrain from Horse, likely based on the 3.0-litre twin-turbo V6 that Horse is developing for Geely's own plug-in hybrid 4x4 ute programme.
Mr Feng was direct about the decision to drop the four-cylinder option entirely: "People prefer the V6." The current AMG-sourced four-pot will not be carried forward. Reports from European media suggest the hybrid V6 Emira could appear as early as 2027.
This is a meaningful upgrade in character. A V6 hybrid powertrain, built around Geely's own engineering rather than a borrowed Mercedes unit, suggests a more cohesive and purposeful machine.
A V8 in Off-Road SUVs Too
The new Horse V8 will not be exclusive to Lotus sports cars. Mr Feng confirmed it will power "some off-road SUVs" within the broader Geely empire, though he was careful to note that Lotus will be the only brand using the V8 in a sports car context.
This is relevant for Australian buyers watching Geely's expanding footprint here. Geely has been telegraphing a ladder-frame ute for Australia, benchmarked against the Ford Ranger and Toyota HiLux. Whether that ute or its siblings will ever receive the V8 is unknown, but the confirmation that the engine exists and will find its way into off-road-oriented vehicles is notable.
Geely's Chief Executive for Australia, Alex Gu, told media recently the brand will introduce a ute locally but is working to ensure it matches the character of the market's dominant players.
Why Lotus Walked Back Its EV Ambitions
The Emira was announced in 2021 as the last Lotus with a combustion engine. That commitment has been quietly reversed. Mr Feng acknowledged the brand "did act too fast" and that "is why we made a change and decided to go hybrid."
Lotus's fully electric models, the Eletre SUV and Emeya performance sedan, have failed to hit their sales targets. The company produced just 6,520 vehicles in 2025 against a Vision 18 strategy that targeted 150,000 annual sales. The revised Focus 2030 plan sets a more realistic 30,000 vehicles per year.
That recalibration is not a retreat. It is an acknowledgment that performance car buyers, who choose a Lotus specifically because of how it drives, have not warmed to the EV versions. Hybrid powertrains give Lotus a way to retain the driver engagement that defines the brand while still meeting tightening emissions regulations in key markets.
What This Means for Buyers Watching Lotus
If you have been watching the Lotus space and wondering whether the brand still makes cars that feel like Lotuses, the answer is yes, and it is getting more ambitious. A bespoke V8 supercar and a V6 hybrid sports car represent a programme of real scope for a company that was nearly destroyed by its own EV pivot.
The Type 135 supercar is still some years away. The Emira replacement is closer, with 2027 timing reported. Pricing for either car in Australia has not been confirmed, but the current Emira starts above $160,000 here, so the new hybrid V6 model will not be a budget proposition.
For buyers who want a combustion or hybrid sports car that is genuinely developed by engineers who care about driving, Lotus's new trajectory is encouraging. Carseekers will continue tracking local pricing and availability as details firm up.
Horse: The Engine Maker Behind Multiple Brands
Horse Powertrain is a joint venture established by Geely and Renault to develop internal combustion and hybrid engines for use across multiple brands. It was set up partly in response to growing demand for electrification alternatives, particularly in markets where full EVs remain impractical.
The partnership gives both companies a way to amortise engine development costs across a wider vehicle range. For Geely, it means that the engines underpinning its ute and off-road SUV programmes share DNA with a Lotus supercar. That is an unusual but not unprecedented position in the industry.
Renault's brands, including Alpine, are also expected to benefit from Horse's engine development in the coming years.
Should Australian Buyers Care About Any of This?
Directly, probably not yet. Lotus is a low-volume brand in Australia and neither the new supercar nor the Emira replacement has a confirmed local launch date or price.
Indirectly, the trend matters. The same engineering ecosystem that will power the next Esprit is the one Geely is drawing on for its ute and SUV ambitions. And Geely's track record in Australia, through brands like MG, LEVC and Zeekr, suggests it knows how to translate global engineering into locally relevant products.
The other takeaway is simpler: if you assumed combustion engines were finished in performance cars, this week's news from Lotus suggests you should reconsider.
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The finer details
Your questions answered.
Will the new Lotus Esprit come to Australia?
Lotus has not confirmed Australian availability or timing for the Type 135 supercar. Given that the current Emira is sold here, there is a reasonable expectation the Esprit-type car will follow, but no official announcement has been made.
What engine will the next Lotus Esprit use?
The Type 135 will use a bespoke V8 developed by Horse, the powertrain joint venture between Geely and Renault. It is being developed from scratch, meaning Lotus will have a proprietary engine for the first time in decades.
Is Lotus still making petrol cars after the Emira?
Yes. Despite announcing the Emira as its last petrol car, Lotus has reversed that plan. The Emira replacement will use a V6 hybrid from Horse, and the upcoming supercar will use a V8. The brand shifted away from its all-EV commitment after EV models underperformed.
What is Horse Powertrain and who owns it?
Horse Powertrain is a joint venture between Geely and Renault, established to develop combustion and hybrid engines for multiple brands. Its V6 and V8 engines will be used across Geely, Renault and Lotus vehicles in the coming years.
Will Geely's off-road SUV use the same V8 as the Lotus Esprit?
Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng confirmed the Horse V8 will power some off-road SUVs within the Geely group, though only Lotus will use it in a sports car. Whether Australian Geely products will receive the V8 has not been confirmed.
When will the Lotus Emira replacement arrive in Australia?
European reports suggest the V6 hybrid Emira replacement could debut as early as 2027. Australian arrival, pricing and specs have not been confirmed, but the current Emira starts above $160,000 locally, so expect a similar or higher entry point.
