Horse Powertrain has unveiled a new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine producing 670 hp, which will power Lotus’ upcoming Type 135 hybrid sports car.
Geely and Renault’s joint venture, Horse Powertrain, has introduced a powerful new hybrid-ready V8 engine developed for the next generation of high-performance sports cars.
The newly revealed 4.0-litre powertrain produces an impressive 670 horsepower and 800 Nm of torque, with the upcoming Lotus Type 135 expected to become its first application.
Named the Horse W40, the engine represents a major expansion of the company’s powertrain development capabilities. Horse Powertrain was previously known for producing four-cylinder engines and compact range-extender systems.
However, the company has recently moved towards larger and more powerful engine configurations, including a 3.0-litre V6 showcased at the 2026 Beijing Auto Show.
The W40 features a twin-turbocharged V8 configuration with a longitudinal layout. Its two turbochargers are positioned between the cylinder banks, creating a design commonly referred to as a hot-V arrangement. This setup helps shorten the intake path and improve packaging efficiency.
Despite its considerable performance capabilities, the engine weighs approximately 200 kilograms. This makes it relatively lightweight compared with some competing V8 powerplants, including Mercedes-Benz’s 4.0-litre M177 engine, which weighs around 209 kilograms.
The engine generates 500 kW, equivalent to approximately 670 hp, alongside 800 Nm of maximum torque. It is designed to work with Horse Powertrain’s newly developed eight-speed dual-clutch transmission, known as the 8LDCT.
The transmission uses a wet dual-clutch system and features a pre-fill time of less than 50 milliseconds. Its gear-shifting response takes under 20 milliseconds, while the complete system can accommodate peak torque inputs of up to 1,050 Nm.
The first vehicle expected to receive this powertrain combination is Lotus’ upcoming Type 135 sports car. The British performance brand has recently adjusted its previous electric-only ambitions and is exploring hybrid technology for future performance models.
Lotus has previously indicated plans to introduce a V8-powered plug-in hybrid sports car in 2028, targeting an overall output exceeding 1,000 hp. The company is also aiming to keep its weight below 1,800 kilograms to preserve the responsive handling and driving characteristics associated with the brand.