I remember there was a debate for a while: Should the Lotus Emira have a V8? I’d say no. That is not the point of the Lotus, which is meant to be lightweight, agile, and able to carve canyons with the best of them. What is the V8 for?<\/p>\n
While Lotus never gave us an Emira with a V8 (looks like I’m right!), Lotus is not against V8 engines. This week, Lotus teased a hybrid V8-powered supercar: the Type 135.<\/p>\n
Type 135 is a codename, of course. People believe it’s the predecessor of the Espirit, since Lotus renewed the trademark for the name in 2023. Lotus only gave us a rear view, but you can see the sultry curves of the Emira and the Evija’s aerodynamic, aggressive design. Combined, the Type 135 looks beautiful.<\/p>\n
Nobody knows anything about the engine beyond that it’s a V8 that produces around 986 horsepower. I guess we don’t need to know much more to know this is gonna be a beast. Car and Driver pointed out that the Lamborghini Temerario’s V8 “only” produces 789 horsepower, up to 907 with the axial-flux motors. The Ferrari 849 Testarossa’s V8 produces 819 hp, up to 1,036 hp with its three electric motors. The Lotus’ upcoming supercar definitely fits within these stats.<\/p>\n
However, it may take some controversial changes to do so.<\/p>\n
To produce that kind of power, the Lotus Type 135 will likely be a bit heavier than the usual lineup, which is known for its lightweight design. That’s because it may need a heavier battery, like the aforementioned supercars, to achieve similar performance, likely a 6.5-kWh battery.<\/p>\n
While the teaser was just a few seconds, the Lotus community was immediately outraged. Heavier? Hybrid?!<\/p>\n
Some of my favorite comments:<\/p>\n
The backlash makes sense. Lotus vehicles are known as “driver’s cars.” They are supposed to be simple, analog, visceral. The handling is unlike anything you’ll ever experience anywhere else. Adding a battery does seem to defeat the purpose just a bit.<\/p>\n
Still, a V8 Lotus? Some can’t help but be excited. One of the main issues with Lotus vehicles? The lack of power. You’re going to get to 60 mph pretty quickly, but you’re not going to be a true speed demon or anything. Lotus vehicles are not about that. But a hybrid V8 changes that whole schtick.<\/p>\n
It’s polarizing, sure, but it’s quite interesting. I can’t wait to see where this is headed. It’s not like I have to buy one. I’ll stick to my Elise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
I remember there was a debate for a while: Should the Lotus Emira have a V8? I’d say no. That … <\/p>\n