Image Courtesy: Lotus
A few years after committing to an all-electric future, Lotus Cars is reversing course and bringing combustion engines back into its lineup. The company has announced a new roadmap called “Focus 2030,” which will see internal combustion, hybrid, and electric powertrains coexist across future Lotus vehicles.
The move reflects changing realities in the global automotive market, where demand for fully electric performance cars has cooled compared to earlier expectations. Lotus, which is owned by Geely, said hybrid technology will play a major role in its future lineup, particularly for high-performance models. The strategy update arrives as automakers worldwide reassess aggressive EV-only timelines, as reported by Reuters
One of the key technologies in the company’s new direction is Hybrid-X, currently used in the Chinese-market Eletre X SUV. Lotus says the system will also underpin the upcoming Type 135 supercar, expected to debut in 2028. The car is planned as a new flagship model and is expected to feature a hybrid V8 powertrain producing nearly 1,000 horsepower.
The Type 135 will mark a significant moment for Lotus. The company has historically been associated with lightweight sports cars focused on handling rather than outright power. Its last V8-powered supercar, the Esprit, ended production more than two decades ago. The new model suggests Lotus is attempting to blend its traditional driving identity with the performance expectations of the modern luxury market.
Lotus also confirmed that an updated version of the Emira, currently its last gasoline-powered sports car, will be revealed in the coming weeks. The company described it as the “most powerful and lightest Emira” yet, signaling continued interest in enthusiast-focused combustion models even as electrification expands.
The broader business strategy behind the shift is equally notable. Earlier plans under Geely projected annual sales targets of 150,000 vehicles, an ambitious number for a brand that has historically operated at much smaller volumes. Lotus has now scaled that figure back to around 30,000 units annually by the end of the decade.
The revised targets suggest the company is prioritizing profitability and sustainable growth over rapid expansion. It also reflects broader uncertainty across the automotive sector, where manufacturers are balancing regulatory pressure, fluctuating EV demand, and the high costs of developing next-generation vehicles.
For Lotus, the return of combustion engines does not mean abandoning electric cars altogether. Instead, the company appears to be moving toward a mixed strategy, one that mirrors the approach increasingly adopted by several performance and luxury automakers trying to keep both regulators and traditional enthusiasts satisfied.
