Lotus plans to launch a new hybrid supercar powered by a V8 engine in 2028, internally codenamed Type 135. Originally intended as the all-electric successor to the Emira, the pure-electric project has now been scrapped. This marks Lotus’s return to V8-powered supercars after a 22-year hiatus since the discontinuation of the Esprit in 2004. A teaser image of the car’s rear reveals design cues borrowed from the Theory 1 electric hypercar concept unveiled in 2024, along with two large-diameter exhaust pipes. Lotus stated that to achieve extreme lightweighting, the vehicle will use a hybrid system rather than a plug-in hybrid setup. While most supercar manufacturers have shifted toward plug-in hybrid architectures, Lotus remains committed to its lightweight-first philosophy. The company has not disclosed the specific supplier of the V8 engine. Currently, the Emira uses a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine supplied by Mercedes-AMG. There are indications that Lotus may adopt AMG’s M177 4.0-liter twin-turbo V8—already used in models like the Aston Martin—which has recently been re-engineered with race-derived flat-plane crankshaft technology. In the Mercedes-Benz S-Class, this engine produces 530 horsepower and 750 N·m of torque, and AMG engineers are reportedly pushing its output beyond 650 horsepower for this application. The new model is expected to be built in Europe, though it remains unconfirmed whether production will take place alongside the Emira and Evija at Lotus’s Hethel facility in Norfolk. Design work was carried out at the Coventry Design Centre, which also developed the Theory 1 concept. If more elements from the Theory 1 are retained, the production car could feature a three-seat layout reminiscent of the McLaren F1. Measuring 4,490 mm in length, the Theory 1 is positioned as a more accessible supercar, with its carbon-fiber monocoque and 85% of its technology already ready for series production. Additionally, Lotus will unveil a mid-cycle update for the combustion-engine Emira in the coming weeks, describing it as “the most powerful and lightest Emira ever.” The company previously indicated that, to comply with the Euro 7 emissions regulations taking effect in 2027, the updated Emira might adopt a plug-in hybrid system. As part of its strategic realignment, while advancing the production of the Eletre X SUV, Lotus aims to increase plug-in hybrid models’ share to 60% of its global sales in the near term.