Horse Powertrain has unveiled the W40, its first V8 engine, developed for high-performance hybrid vehicle applications. The 4.0-litre engine produces over 500kW of peak power and 800Nm of maximum torque, and will be paired with the company's newly developed 8LDCT eight-speed dual-clutch hybrid transmission.
The W40 weighs approximately 200kg and is designed for longitudinal vehicle layouts. Its applications include sports cars, pick-up trucks and off-road vehicles.
The engine features twin top-mounted turbochargers in a hot-V configuration, with direct fuel injection and a shortened intake path for the turbochargers. Horse Powertrain said the design incorporates lightweighting measures and technologies from across its existing powertrain portfolio.
HORSE 8LDCT Hybrid Transmission Specifications
Alongside the W40, Horse Powertrain has developed the 8LDCT, an eight-speed wet dual-clutch hybrid transmission designed to work with the V8 engine.
The transmission supports a maximum torque input of 1,050Nm and features a pre-fill time of less than 50 milliseconds and a shift response time of less than 20 milliseconds. Its hardware includes a built-in silicon carbide control system and power module, along with a variable-displacement mechanical pump.
The company has developed the transmission as an integrated component of its hybrid powertrain offering, with the W40 and 8LDCT designed to operate together in high-performance vehicle applications.
W40 V8 And 8LDCT To Debut In Lotus Type 135
The W40 engine and 8LDCT transmission will make their global debut as an integrated powertrain in the upcoming Lotus Type 135, the British manufacturer's first supercar.
Matias Giannini, CEO of Horse Powertrain, said the W40 had been developed with hybrid integration as a core requirement, rather than as an adaptation of an existing standalone engine. He added that the powertrain combines the company's engine development capabilities with its hybrid transmission technology.
Feng Qingfeng, CEO of Lotus, said the partnership would bring Horse Powertrain's V8 engine and hybrid transmission technology together with Lotus's expertise in lightweight engineering and chassis dynamics. The Type 135 is intended to combine power output and torque delivery with efficiency and vehicle dynamics.