Lotus Shifts Gears: Future Sports Cars to Feature Novel Hybrid Engines from Geely-Renault Partnership

Daily Car

18/05/2026

Lotus is reportedly set to move away from its current engine suppliers, Mercedes-AMG and Toyota, for its future sports car lineup. The British automaker is expected to adopt new hybrid powertrains developed by Horse Powertrain, a joint venture between Lotus' parent company, Geely, and Renault. This strategic shift aims to bring greater control over development and potentially reduce long-term costs.

Key Takeaways

Lotus Emira's successor, due in 2028, will reportedly feature a 3.0-liter twin-turbo hybrid V6 from Horse Powertrain.
A new V8 hybrid supercar, potentially reviving the Esprit name, is also planned for 2028 with over 986 hp.
The new V6 engine is claimed to be the world's lightest and smallest hybrid V6.

A New Heart for Lotus

Lotus' upcoming Emira successor, slated for a 2028 release, is rumored to be powered by a new 3.0-liter twin-turbo V6 engine developed by Horse Powertrain. This engine, codenamed W30, is designed specifically for hybrid applications and boasts impressive figures even before hybrid assistance, producing up to 536 hp and 516 lb-ft of torque. Notably, it weighs only 160 kg (353 pounds), making it potentially the lightest V6 engine available.

160 kg

That reported weight is what could make Horse Powertrain's W30 the world's lightest and smallest hybrid-ready V6.

The Horse Powertrain Advantage

Horse Powertrain, a collaboration between Geely and Renault, has developed this compact V6 through modular engineering based on existing four-cylinder technology. The engine is designed to integrate seamlessly with a four-speed hybrid transmission, supporting both mild and full-hybrid configurations. This partnership allows Lotus to keep its powertrain development within the Geely corporate ecosystem, offering tighter control and likely cost efficiencies compared to sourcing from external manufacturers like Toyota and AMG.

Lotus powertrain sourcing shift

Area	Current approach	Future approach
Suppliers	Mercedes-AMG and Toyota	Horse Powertrain
Ownership link	External manufacturers	Within Geely-Renault joint venture
Hybrid setup	Existing sourced engines	V6 paired with four-speed hybrid transmission
Strategic benefit	Less direct development control	Tighter control and likely lower long-term cost

Future Supercar Aspirations

Lotus is also reportedly preparing a new V8 hybrid supercar, expected to revive the iconic Esprit nameplate around 2028. This supercar is anticipated to share architecture with the new V6 and could deliver over 986 hp with electric assistance. Crucially, the new Esprit is expected to be manufactured at Lotus' historic Hethel factory in the UK, securing the future of the brand's home base.

Customer Demand Drives Change

Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng highlighted that customer demand, particularly from the US market where the V6 version of the current Emira is the best-seller, heavily influenced the decision to pursue a new V6 hybrid. This move ensures Lotus continues to cater to enthusiast preferences while embracing advanced, efficient powertrain technology for its future models.