The V8 powering the forthcoming Lotus 'Esprit' will pack more than 671bhp and 590lb ft of torque, according to supplier Horse Powertrain.
It confirmed its new ‘W40’ engine will be used in the forthcoming Type 135 – the codename for Lotus’s new supercar, which is strongly tipped to adopt the famed Esprit moniker.
The W40 is a 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 arranged in a ‘hot-vee’ layout, with the turbines placed between the engine’s two cylinder banks. Such a design is typically more compact than the alternative, which is particularly desirable for a mid-engined car such as the Esprit.
To that end, Horse claims the W40 to be among the most power-dense engines on the market, matching the headline power figures with a weight of 200kg.
The Esprit is set to pack significantly more than 671bhp in total. Lotus has previously claimed it will produce north of 1000bhp and CEO Feng Qingfeng singled out the 1036bhp Ferrari 849 Testarossa as its main rival.
Horse’s eight-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, also due to feature in the Esprit, packs an additional electric motor and is capable of supporting torque outputs of up to 774lb ft.
That is an exact match for the output of the old McLaren P1, hinting at the Esprit’s performance potential.
The Esprit will fill the gap in Lotus’s range between the Emira sports car – powered by turbo four-cylinder and V6 engines – and the limited-run Evija, its electric hypercar.
Entry-level versions of the Esprit will offer a V6 hybrid powertrain, which has also been developed by Horse.
Although neither company has yet confirmed specifics, this is expected to employ the ‘W30’ twin-turbocharged engine, which is alone capable of putting out 536bhp and 516lb ft.
With the help of an electric motor, it's likely to produce north of 700bhp to rival the 819bhp Ferrari 296 GTB and McLaren’s forthcoming McL 820.
