Lotus Hybrid V8 2026: Geely-Renault’s Horse Powertrain Reveals 670 hp W40 for the Type 135 Supercar

Horse Powertrain, the joint venture between China’s Geely and France’s Renault Group, has revealed the HORSE W40, its first production-ready V8 engine. The 4.0-litre unit produces more than 500 kW (around 670 hp) and will make its debut in the Lotus Type 135, the British brand’s first supercar.

The engine was unveiled in London on 10 November 2026. On 11 November 2026, Lotus Technology confirmed its partnership with Horse Powertrain to supply an integrated hybrid V8 powertrain for the Type 135, pairing the new engine with the HORSE 8LDCT, an eight-speed hybrid dual-clutch transmission.

The Details

The W40 is designed for longitudinal installation. Its twin turbochargers sit on top, between the cylinder banks, in a “hot-V” layout, and it uses direct fuel injection, extensive lightweighting and a shortened turbo intake path for quicker response. Horse Powertrain describes it as a hybrid-first design, engineered from the outset to work with the 8LDCT transmission.

One standout figure is weight: around 200 kg, according to the official release. CarNewsChina compared that with the roughly 209 kg Mercedes-Benz M177 4.0-litre V8.

The Type 135 is a mid-engined hybrid V8 supercar that will sit between the Emira sports car and the all-electric Evija hypercar in the Lotus line-up. Neither official release gives a launch date. However, CarNewsChina notes that Lotus has previously said it will launch a V8 plug-in hybrid sports car in 2028 with more than 1,000 hp and a kerb weight below 1.8 tonnes.

Specifications

Item	Specification
Engine	HORSE W40 – 4.0-litre V8, longitudinal layout
Induction	Twin turbochargers in a hot-V layout, direct injection
Peak output	Over 500 kW (around 670 hp), engine only
Maximum torque	800 Nm
Engine weight	Around 200 kg
Transmission	HORSE 8LDCT – eight-speed hybrid dual-clutch with wet clutch
Response	Pre-fill time under 50 ms; shift response under 20 ms
Max transmission torque input	1,050 Nm
Other technology	Built-in silicon carbide (SiC) control system and power module; variable-displacement mechanical pump
First application	Lotus Type 135

What the Executives Said

Matias Giannini, CEO of Horse Powertrain, said the W40 “marks another landmark achievement” for the company’s engineering teams and was designed from the outset for integration with the 8LDCT. Feng Qingfeng, CEO of Lotus, said the company was “excited to partner with Horse Powertrain” and that the partnership combines the engine’s power and torque density with Lotus’s lightweight engineering and chassis expertise to deliver a new generation of supercar performance.

The W40 is a major step for Horse Powertrain, which was previously known for four-cylinder engines and small range extenders and showed a 3.0-litre V6 at the Beijing Auto Show in April 2026. Headquartered in London, the company employs more than 19,000 people across 18 plants and five R&D centres, and lists 25 customers including Renault Group, Geely Auto, Volvo Cars, Proton, Nissan and Mitsubishi Motors.

What It Means for Kuwait and the GCC

The V8 holds a special place for sports-car enthusiasts in Kuwait and across the Gulf, and this news shows the format is not disappearing in the electric era. Instead, it is returning in hybrid form, combining sound and performance with greater efficiency. It also underlines the growing role of Chinese engineering in the supercar world, following achievements such as the Yangwang U9 Xtreme’s 503 km/h record in Abu Dhabi and the continued rise of Chinese brands in the 2026 sales charts.

Lotus has not yet announced when the Type 135 will go on sale or how much it will cost, including in Kuwait and the wider GCC. We will follow any official announcement about its arrival in the region.

Sources: Horse Powertrain, “Horse Powertrain develops new hybrid V8 powertrain” (London, 10 November 2026); Lotus Technology via GlobeNewswire (11 November 2026); CarNewsChina (11 November 2026).