Lotus confirms 2028 V8 hybrid supercar with over 1000PS

Key takeaways

• 2028 Lotus Type 135 V8 hybrid supercar packs over 1,000PS
• Focus 2030 replaces Lotus' previous all-electric strategy with multi-powertrain mix
• Australian Lotus Type 135 pricing and timing yet to be confirmed

Lotus has confirmed an all-new V8 hybrid supercar for 2028, walking back its earlier plan to become an all-electric brand. The 2028 Lotus Type 135 will produce more than 1,000PS from a V8 hybrid powertrain and be built in Europe. It anchors Focus 2030, the company's revised multi-powertrain strategy announced this week.

Focus 2030 ends Lotus' all-electric pivot

Lotus had previously positioned the current Emira as its final combustion-powered car. That position is gone. Under Focus 2030, the brand will pursue a mix of internal combustion, plug-in hybrid and battery-electric vehicles, targeting roughly 60% PHEV and 40% BEV across its electrified portfolio in the short term.

Lotus Emira

CEO Qingfeng Feng framed it as a return to roots. "Lotus was born from the rebellious spirit of Colin Chapman, and that is not lost today," he said. "We are obsessed with engineering, obsessed with performance and obsessed with building drivers' cars."

The strategy rests on four pillars: brand reinforcement, multi-powertrain flexibility, deeper collaboration with majority shareholder Geely Holding Group, and tighter financial discipline. Lotus is guiding to a steady ramp of 30,000 annual sales as its line-up stabilises.

2028 Lotus Type 135 V8 hybrid supercar

The Type 135 is the headline product. Lotus describes it as the brand's first ever supercar, with an all-new V8 hybrid powertrain producing over 1,000PS and European production. Only a shadowy teaser image has been released, with full design, pricing and specs to follow later this year.

Lotus has tucked a wink into that teaser, too. Brighten the image and the words 'NICE TRY' appear where the number plate would sit, a barely-veiled jab at anyone who had written off the brand's combustion future.

A V8 marks a major return for Lotus. The brand's last V8 road car was the Esprit, which ended production in 2004. Continuity for the Lotus Emira has also been confirmed, with an update arriving in the coming weeks billed as the most powerful and lightest Emira yet.

For Lotus fans here, the message is simple. The V8 is back, the Emira lives on, and the brand has stopped trying to be something it is not.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 2028 Lotus Type 135?

The Type 135 is Lotus' first supercar, due in 2028 with a V8 hybrid powertrain producing more than 1,000PS. It will be manufactured in Europe.

How powerful is the Lotus Type 135 hybrid V8?

Lotus has confirmed the Type 135 will produce over 1,000PS, which is roughly 986hp or 735kW. Full specifications are yet to be released.

When will the Lotus Type 135 launch in Australia?

Lotus has not confirmed an Australian launch date or local pricing for the Type 135. More details are expected later in 2026.