It’s safe to say that the upcoming Lotus Type 135—rumored to bring back the iconic Esprit name—is one of the most anticipated models from the British sports car brand in decades, mainly because it’s officially described as its first supercar.
We already knew that the Type 135 will feature a V8 hybrid powertrain with a system output of over 986 horsepower (1,000 metric horsepower), but now we get to learn more details about the V8 gas engine and eight-speed dual-clutch transmission that sit at the heart of the new Lotus.
New 4.0-Liter V8 Is One of the Most Power-Dense V8s on the Market
Horse Powertrain
Dubbed Horse W40, the new engine has a displacement of 4.0 liters and has been designed for integration with a new eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, the Horse 8LDCT. Both the engine and the gearbox are designed and built by Horse Powertrain, the powertrain manufacturer jointly owned by Renault Group (45%), Geely (45%), and Saudi Aramco (10%).
Given that Lotus’ parent company Geely owns almost half of Horse Powertrain, it’s easy to explain why the sports car maker is relying on the powertrain supplier for the engine and transmission of its new supercar. Mind you, Horse Powertrain has never built a V8 engine before—this is its very first production-ready V8. Hopefully, that won’t be a problem.
Horse Powertrain
Reading the spec sheet of the Horse W40 hybrid V8 engine sounds great, though. According to Horse Powertrain, the 4.0-liter engine is one of the most power-dense V8 solutions available on the market today, weighing just 441 pounds (200 kilograms) and peaking at over 670 horsepower (500 kilowatts) and 590 pound-feet (800 Newton-meters). That’s what the V8 engine makes on its own, i.e. not counting electric motor assistance.
Lotus’ powertrain supplier also claims the engine has the ability to deliver “exceptional low-end torque along with high peak power”—although no RPM details were released. Horse Powertrain claims this makes the hybrid V8 engine ideal for sports cars, pickup trucks, and off-road vehicles.
The Horse W40 engine is designed for longitudinal layouts and features twin top-mounted turbochargers in a “hot-V” configuration. The turbochargers feature a shortened intake path, with the engine also getting advanced direct fuel injection systems and benefiting from extensive lightweight construction techniques.
Eight-Speed DCT Designed to Take Up to 774 Lb-Ft of Torque
Horse Powertrain
The Lotus Type 135’s V8 hybrid system will work together with the new Horse 8LDCT transmission, which has been specifically developed for this engine. The eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox is said to feature a sports car-grade wet dual clutch, which enables “a world-class pre-fill time of under 50 milliseconds and delivering a shift response of under 20 milliseconds.”
The transmission also features a built-in silicon carbide control system and power module, along with a variable-displacement mechanical pump, all of which enable it to support a peak torque input of up to 774 lb-ft (1,050 Nm).
The HORSE W40 V8 engine and 8LDCT hybrid transmission represent significant advances in powertrain engineering, combining exceptional power and torque density with a highly integrated design. By bringing these technologies together with Lotus’ expertise in lightweight engineering and chassis dynamics, we aim to deliver a new generation of supercar performance, combining outstanding power, efficiency, and the precise, engaging driving experience that defines Lotus.
Both the Horse W40 hybrid V8 engine and the Horse 8LDCT transmission will make their world debut in the Lotus Type 135, which is expected to debut sometime in 2028. A V6 hybrid powertrain is reportedly also in the works.
