Lotus is preparing a new flagship supercar that could produce more than 745kW from a hybrid V8 powertrain, as the British marque moves away from its previously announced all-electric future.

Known internally as the Type 135 and widely expected to revive the Esprit name, the new model is being developed with support from parent company Geely and is set to become the most technologically advanced road car in Lotus’s history.

Lotus CEO Qingfeng Feng has confirmed the car will be powered by an all-new twin-turbocharged V8 engine derived from a recently unveiled 3.0-litre V6 developed through Horse Powertrain, a joint venture between Geely and Renault. The V6 is expected to produce up to 400kW and weighs just 160kg, with the V8 variant likely to deliver substantially more performance when paired with hybrid assistance.

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The move addresses a long-standing challenge for Lotus, which currently relies on externally sourced engines for the Emira sports car. According to Feng, developing an in-house powertrain solution will allow Lotus to achieve the performance targets it previously could not reach.

Rather than a plug-in hybrid setup, the Type 135 is expected to use a smaller battery and energy recovery system similar in principle to Formula 1’s kinetic energy harvesting technology. The system would capture braking energy and redeploy it to boost acceleration and performance.

All-wheel drive is also under consideration, with electric motors potentially powering the front axle while the V8 drives the rear wheels. Advanced torque-vectoring software would allow the system to vary power delivery depending on driving conditions, maximising traction under acceleration while maintaining rear-drive characteristics through corners.

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Lightweight construction remains a key focus. Lotus is expected to combine carbon-fibre and aluminium structures, drawing on lessons learned from the Evija electric hypercar.

The Type 135 will also introduce a new generation of electronic architecture capable of controlling active suspension, continuously variable dampers and active anti-roll systems in real time.

A recently released teaser image suggests the new supercar will adopt a cleaner and more restrained design language than the Evija, with a wide stance, minimalist rear lighting and subtle aerodynamic elements integrated into the bodywork.