Words: Richard Edwards
Published 13 May 2026
Lotus has announced a new supercar is on the way. The Type 135, due in 2028, will pair a V8 engine with the Sino-British brand’s proprietary hybrid technology to produce more than 746kW. It is expected to be built in Europe, though Lotus is keeping further details close to its chest until later this year.
The tease comes as part of Focus 2030, a broader strategy reset from the Geely-owned brand that marks a notable course correction from its earlier all-electric trajectory.
CEO Qingfeng Feng says the plan is rooted in the company’s founding principles: “We are obsessed with engineering, obsessed with performance and obsessed with building drivers’ cars.”
What X-Hybrid tells us about Type 135
While Lotus has not released powertrain specifics for the Type 135, its X-Hybrid system, already launched on the Eletre SUV, offers a strong indication of the engineering direction.
In the Eletre, X-Hybrid pairs a four-cylinder engine with electric motors on a 900V architecture, producing up to 710kW and 935Nm of torque. A 70kWh battery provides up to 350km of EV-only range and a combined range exceeding 1200km. Charging from 20 to 80 percent takes nine minutes in optimal conditions.
The chassis hardware is serious too: a 48-volt active anti-roll system, dual-chamber air suspension with dual-valve dampers reacting in two milliseconds, and six-piston Brembo brakes. Lotus says the system delivers sustained performance with minimal degradation, quoting a drop from 3.3 seconds to 3.5 seconds for the 0-100km/h sprint at 10 percent battery.
The Type 135 will step up significantly from the Eletre’s four-cylinder setup to a V8 hybrid, suggesting Lotus sees its supercar as a different proposition entirely from the SUV application.
Chinese deliveries of the Eletre X-Hybrid have begun, with more than 1000 pre-orders placed in the first month. European deliveries are expected from Q4 2026.
Emira update imminent
The mid-engine Emira is confirmed to continue, with an updated version due in coming weeks. Lotus says it will be the most powerful and lightest Emira built, reaffirming its commitment to UK manufacturing and combustion-powered sports cars.
Multi-powertrain future
Lotus is now targeting an approximate 60/40 split between plug-in hybrid and battery-electric sales across its electrified range, with the transition to full electrification to be led by customer demand rather than forced by the brand.
The full BEV lineup remains in place: the Eletre SUV, Emeya GT sedan, and Evija hypercar, all built on 800V architecture. Lotus says battery-electric development continues alongside the hybrid push.
Behind the scenes, Lotus is merging its UK operations and Lotus Technology into a single entity, a move expected to complete later this year. The company is targeting a ramp to 30,000 annual sales, with China as the primary volume driver, Europe trading on heritage, and North America anchored in sports cars with SUV expansion into Canada.
