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.