Lotus Esprit V8 Packs 671bhp Hot-Vee Punch Into Mid-Engine Supercar Fury
Marcus Vance
2 minutes read
Lotus Esprit V8 has finally found its heartbeat. Supplier Horse Powertrain confirms the W40 engine will produce more than 671bhp and 590lb ft in the forthcoming Type 135 supercar. Strongly tipped to wear the legendary Esprit badge, this mid-engined machine slots between the Emira and the electric Evija.
Lotus Esprit V8 Hot-Vee Layout Explained
Horse calls the W40 a hot-vee, with its turbochargers tucked between the two cylinder banks. That layout keeps the package compact, which is gold dust in a mid-engined chassis. At 200kg, the unit ranks among the most power-dense engines on the market. Still, the real magic sits in the throttle response, where boost arrives with a clean, unflinching shove.
Tuners have already pushed a 911 past 800 horsepower, as the Brabus 800 Porsche 911 Turbo S proves. Lotus wants to go considerably further. Horse also mates its eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox to an electric motor, capable of handling 774lb ft of torque.
| ⚙️Engine / Powertrain | 4.0L Twin-Turbo Hot-Vee V8 (W40) |
| 🐎Power Output | 671 bhp (est. 1,000+ bhp in flagship form) |
| ⚡Peak Torque | 800 Nm (590 lb-ft) |
| ⏱️0-60 mph (0-100 km/h) | 0-60 mph in under 2.5s (est.) |
| 🚀Top Speed | 200+ mph (est.) |
| 🔄Drivetrain / Gearbox | 8-Speed Dual-Clutch with Electric Motor / Mid-Engine RWD (est.) |
| 💰Starting Price / Est. | $350,000 (est.) |
Hybrid Esprit Variants Could Hit 700bhp
Entry-level versions will adopt a V6 hybrid, reportedly built around the twin-turbo W30 unit that makes 536bhp and 516lb ft alone. Add an electric motor, and output should comfortably top 700bhp. That figure aims squarely at the Ferrari 296 GTB and McLaren’s forthcoming McL 820.
Purity Must Survive the Power Race
On paper, the numbers read like a dream. In reality, the real test is whether Lotus keeps the steering feedback and chassis composure that made the original Esprit a legend. Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng has promised over 1,000bhp for the flagship. I want a car that rewards precision, not just a dyno sheet.
Follow every development on Auto News Magazine, where we will be testing this one the moment it arrives.
Marcus Vance
Senior Track & Performance Editor at Auto News Magazine. Veteran automotive journalist specializing in chassis dynamics, apex telemetry, track-day specials, and high-revving mechanical purity.
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