Lotus has announced that it will return to the supercar segment with an internal combustion engine in 2028. The company will present a new V8 hybrid as part of a declared strategy to move away from electric vehicles. However, the English brand does not completely abandon the “future” language: it has in fact released an image of the rear of the car that recalls the 100% electric Theory 1 concept of 2024, while reinterpreting it in a decidedly more traditional key thanks to two large exhaust tips.
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Lotus prepares a new V8 hybrid
It is a message that sounds like a rekindling towards the “classic” driving experience, but with the promise of the new hybrid architecture hoping to maintain performance and efficiency at a contemporary level. The operation also takes on a strong symbolic value, because the last V8 sold by Lotus dates back to 2004, when the company definitively stopped production of the Esprit. Precisely for this reason, the new supercar will inevitably reignite comparisons with one of the most iconic models in its catalog. It will be difficult for the public not to read this new proposal as a “spiritual successor” of that era.
Debut by the end of 2028
Not by chance, Lotus itself has emphasized that the project will look at production processes and the philosophy of extreme weight reduction typical of cars of the past. CEO Feng Qingfeng has in fact linked the operation to the rebellious spirit of Colin Chapman. On the technology side, the car will be hybrid but not plug-in, a choice motivated by the need to contain weight. In a market where many supercars have pushed towards PHEV solutions to balance power and sustainability, Lotus therefore chooses another path. That is, to remain lighter and more performant, while giving up plug-in charging.
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Synergy with Mercedes-AMG?
The specific V8 has not been confirmed, but the possible connection with the Mercedes-AMG engine ecosystem is not a minor clue. Lotus today already uses a turbocharged four-cylinder AMG on the Emira and could extend the agreement to the biturbo V8 associated with recent work on a new evolution of the “M177,” with targeted modifications for performance and delivery smoothness. Meanwhile, in the coming weeks Lotus will also present an update of the Emira ICE to strengthen its “driving” character with a positioning more oriented towards weight and power. The project code-named Type 135, which was initially linked to an electric version later canceled, becomes the basis of the new supercar.
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