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2028 Lotus Esprit V8 Hybrid: 1,000bhp Supercar to Bring Back the V6 and V8 Era

Lotus is preparing a dramatic return to the world of combustion-powered supercars, with the upcoming Lotus Esprit expected to combine a high-performance V8 engine with hybrid technology, more than 1,000bhp and a target weight of just 1.5 tonnes. A new V6-powered version is also planned, giving the revived Esprit range a lighter and potentially more accessible alternative to the flagship V8.

Codenamed Type 135, the new Lotus supercar is scheduled to launch in 2028 and will sit between the Emira and the all-electric Evija in Lotus’s performance-car lineup. More importantly, it represents a major change in direction for the British sports-car manufacturer, which had previously planned to transition its entire range to electric power by 2028.

Instead, Lotus is embracing a mixed powertrain strategy that combines internal-combustion engines, hybrid technology and fully electric propulsion.

Lotus Esprit V8 Hybrid Targets 1,000bhp

The headline figure for the new Lotus Esprit is expected to be a peak output of more than 1,000bhp. Power will come from a turbocharged V8 engine paired with an electric motor and an 800-volt electrical architecture.

Despite the complexity of the hybrid system, Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng has confirmed that the company is targeting a vehicle weight of approximately 1.5 tonnes for the V8 model.

That is an ambitious goal for a supercar using a V8 engine, hybrid hardware, high-voltage electrical components and an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission.

“Achieving that target with an 800V architecture, a hybrid system, a V8 engine and electric motor in [the car] just is not easy,” Feng said during Lotus’s second-quarter earnings call.

For Lotus, however, reducing weight is more than a technical exercise. It is central to the company’s identity.

The new Esprit is therefore being engineered around the principle that electrification should enhance performance without sacrificing the lightweight, driver-focused character traditionally associated with Lotus.

Formula 1 Technology Could Make the Hybrid System Much Lighter

One of the biggest challenges facing Lotus engineers is the weight of the electric motor.

According to Feng, a conventional 150kW electric motor typically weighs between 75kg and 95kg. Lotus claims it has applied technology derived from Formula 1 development to reduce that figure dramatically.

The company’s target is an electric motor weighing just 20kg.

If achieved, that would represent a substantial reduction in hybrid-system mass and could help Lotus maintain the agility expected from a car carrying a V8 engine and electrification hardware.

The combination of low weight and more than 1,000bhp could also give the new Esprit an exceptional power-to-weight ratio.

That figure may ultimately prove more important to Lotus than outright horsepower, particularly because the company is attempting to differentiate the car from heavier, increasingly electrified supercars.

New Lotus Esprit Will Also Get a V6 Hybrid

The V8 will not be the only engine available for the new generation of Lotus supercars.

Lotus has confirmed that a V6 hybrid powertrain will also be offered, providing a lighter and potentially less expensive version of the car.

The V6 has previously been announced for the next-generation model replacing the Lotus Emira, but its application in the flagship Type 135 marks an important expansion of the combustion-engine strategy.

Both the V6 and V8 engines are being developed by Horse, the powertrain company jointly owned by Geely and Renault.

For buyers who want the Lotus driving experience without the full weight and cost associated with the V8 hybrid system, the V6 could become the more interesting version.

It could also allow Lotus to position the Esprit more effectively against a wider selection of Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and McLaren models.

Why Lotus Chose a Hybrid Instead of a Plug-In Hybrid

Perhaps one of the most interesting decisions behind the new Lotus Esprit is the choice of a conventional hybrid system rather than a plug-in hybrid.

Many modern supercars have moved toward plug-in hybrid technology to deliver enormous combined power and meaningful electric-only driving capability. Cars such as the Ferrari 296 GTB, Lamborghini Temerario and Aston Martin Valhalla demonstrate how quickly electrification has become integrated into the supercar segment.

Lotus is taking a different approach.

By avoiding a large plug-in battery, Lotus can reduce battery mass and eliminate some of the additional hardware required for external charging.

The result should be a more compact and lightweight hybrid system.

That fits perfectly with Lotus’s traditional engineering philosophy: use technology where it improves the driving experience, but avoid carrying unnecessary weight.

For a company whose famous philosophy has long revolved around reducing mass rather than simply adding power, the decision makes considerable sense.

Lotus Esprit Design Inspired by the Theory 1

The new Lotus supercar will draw heavily from the Lotus Theory 1 concept unveiled in 2024.

The Theory 1 was designed as an electric supercar concept focused on lightweight construction and driver engagement rather than simply pursuing hypercar-level performance.

Its influence is already visible in Lotus’s preview imagery of the production car.

The rear-end design appears closely related to the Theory 1, although the production version adds a particularly important visual feature: two large exhaust outlets.

That detail provides an unmistakable indication that the upcoming car will have an internal-combustion engine at its heart.

Lotus design chief Ben Payne has confirmed that the Theory 1 received an extremely positive response, making it a logical source of inspiration for the production model.

The Theory 1 measured 4,490mm in length and used a carbonfibre tub to reduce weight.

Lotus previously claimed that approximately 85% of the technology showcased by the concept was ready for production, raising expectations that some of its most radical ideas could appear in the Type 135.

Could the New Lotus Esprit Have Three Seats?

Another potentially controversial feature could be the adoption of a central driving position.

The Theory 1 used a McLaren F1-style three-seat configuration, with the driver positioned centrally and two passenger seats located behind and to either side.

Lotus CEO Feng Qingfeng has suggested that the arrangement could be offered on the production car.

There is also a practical reason for considering the configuration.

A centrally positioned driver would eliminate the need to engineer separate left-hand-drive and right-hand-drive driver positions, potentially simplifying production for a global market.

Whether Lotus ultimately adopts the three-seat layout remains to be seen, but it would certainly give the new Esprit a distinctive identity in an increasingly crowded supercar market.

Eight-Speed Dual-Clutch Gearbox for the Lotus Supercar

Power will be transmitted through an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission designed specifically to cope with the enormous torque generated by the hybrid V8.

Lotus says the gearbox will be engineered to handle high torque while keeping weight as low as possible.

This focus on transmission mass is another indication that Lotus is approaching the Type 135 differently from manufacturers that have accepted significant weight increases in pursuit of electrification.

The combination of a high-output V8, electric assistance and a lightweight dual-clutch transmission could produce extremely rapid acceleration while retaining the mechanical character Lotus believes its customers value.

Lotus Is Reconsidering the Future of the Internal-Combustion Engine

The Esprit is more than a new model for Lotus. It is a symbol of the company’s strategic reversal.

Geely originally intended Lotus to become an electric-only manufacturer by 2028. However, that strategy was abandoned in 2024 as the transition to EVs proved more difficult than expected, particularly in the luxury and performance segments.

According to Feng, customers in the luxury market continue to value the emotional character of large combustion engines.

The result is a new Lotus strategy based on multiple powertrain technologies rather than a single solution.

That means Lotus can continue developing electric cars while simultaneously investing in combustion engines and hybrid systems.

The upcoming Esprit sits at the centre of that strategy.

The Esprit Will Become Lotus’s New Combustion Halo Car

The new Type 135 will effectively become Lotus’s flagship internal-combustion sports car.

The all-electric Evija remains an extraordinary technical showcase, but production volumes are extremely limited, with only around eight to 10 examples reportedly being produced each year.

The Esprit is intended to occupy a much more commercially significant position.

Feng described the Type 135 as a model that will bridge the gap between the Emira and Evija, combining the mechanical driving character associated with the Emira with technology capable of challenging the performance benchmark established by the Evija.

It will also be built at Hethel in Norfolk alongside the Lotus Emira, strengthening the role of the company’s historic British manufacturing site.

The Lotus Emira Will Continue With Combustion Power

The arrival of the new Esprit does not mean the end of the Emira.

Lotus has confirmed that the current combustion-powered sports car will receive further development.

An updated Emira is expected next year, with Lotus promising that it will be the most powerful and lightest version of the model yet.

A more substantial update will follow later in the decade, with the Emira expected to adopt the Horse V6 engine.

This gives Lotus an increasingly clear hierarchy: the Emira as the more accessible sports car and the Esprit as the company’s flagship combustion-powered supercar.

Lotus Wants Sports Cars to Drive Future Growth

The new strategy also has a significant commercial objective.

Lotus is targeting annual sales of approximately 30,000 vehicles, with sports cars expected to account for around one-third of that volume.

That represents a major shift from the company’s historical sales profile and demonstrates why the continued development of combustion-powered sports cars remains strategically important.

Lotus reportedly sold 6,520 vehicles last year, meaning the company is targeting substantial growth as it expands its lineup across electric SUVs, hybrids and sports cars.

The Esprit will therefore need to be more than an engineering statement. It will have to play an important role in rebuilding Lotus as a globally recognized performance brand.

How Much Will the New Lotus Esprit Cost?

Lotus has not yet announced an official price for the Type 135.

However, Feng has identified the Ferrari 849 Testarossa as a key rival, suggesting that the new Lotus Esprit could enter the market at a price approaching the Ferrari’s £407,617 starting point.

If Lotus can deliver more than 1,000bhp while keeping the V8 model around 1.5 tonnes, the Esprit could offer a compelling alternative to considerably heavier hybrid supercars.

The V6 version should provide a lower entry point, although pricing and final specifications have not yet been revealed.

2028 Lotus Esprit: What We Know So Far

The key specifications and details currently associated with the upcoming Lotus Type 135 include:

  • Expected launch: 2028
  • Model: Lotus Type 135
  • Expected name: Lotus Esprit
  • Powertrain: V8 hybrid and V6 hybrid
  • V8 output: More than 1,000bhp
  • Target weight: Approximately 1,500kg for the V8
  • Electrical architecture: 800 volts
  • Electric motor: Approximately 20kg target
  • Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox
  • Construction: Lightweight architecture with extensive use of advanced materials
  • Design inspiration: Lotus Theory 1 concept
  • Possible seating: Three-seat, central-driving-position layout
  • Production location: Hethel, Norfolk, UK
  • Key rivals: Ferrari, Lamborghini, Aston Martin and McLaren
  • Indicative positioning: Between the Emira and Evija
  • Expected starting price: Potentially around £400,000 for the flagship version

The New Lotus Esprit Could Be the Ultimate Expression of Lotus’s Philosophy

The return of the Esprit name would be significant on its own. The original Lotus Esprit became one of Britain’s most recognizable sports cars and eventually gained a V8 engine before production ended in 2004.

More than two decades later, Lotus appears ready to revive that formula for a radically different era.

Instead of choosing between combustion and electric power, the new Esprit will attempt to combine the two. The V8 will provide the emotional soundtrack and instant performance expected from a traditional supercar, while hybrid assistance will deliver additional power and help Lotus meet increasingly demanding emissions regulations.

The real engineering challenge will be keeping everything light.

A 1,500kg target for a 1,000bhp-plus V8 hybrid supercar would be an impressive achievement, particularly when the industry is moving toward increasingly complex electrified drivetrains.

If Lotus succeeds, the 2028 Esprit could become one of the most interesting performance cars of the decade: a supercar that embraces modern hybrid technology without abandoning the lightweight engineering and driver-focused dynamics that made Lotus famous.

And perhaps that is the most important part of the Esprit’s comeback. Lotus is no longer trying to decide whether its future should be electric or combustion-powered. Instead, it is betting that the future of performance cars will be about using the right technology while keeping the driver at the centre of the experience.

Source: Autocar

News

Alfa Romeo Tonale: Why UK Drivers Are Putting the Journey First This Bank Holiday

A new survey commissioned by Alfa Romeo reveals that British motorists are planning to embrace the open road this August Bank Holiday weekend, with millions of drivers expected to cover billions of miles across the UK.

Around one in three UK adults, or 34%, plan to travel by car over the August Bank Holiday weekend, according to new research from Alfa Romeo. Collectively, motorists are expected to cover an estimated 2.3 billion miles, highlighting just how important the car remains for Britain’s traditional weekend escape.

For many drivers, however, the destination is only part of the attraction. The research suggests that the journey itself is becoming an increasingly important part of the weekend getaway, with scenic roads, driving enjoyment and the freedom to explore influencing how people plan their trips.

More Than Half of Drivers Expect to Travel Further

The August Bank Holiday traditionally provides an opportunity for Britons to leave the cities behind and explore more of the country, and this year’s research suggests motorists are prepared to put extra miles on the odometer to do it.

Of those planning to travel, 51% expect to drive further than they normally would on a weekend getaway. Despite the rise of rail travel and other forms of transportation, the car remains the preferred way to enjoy a UK weekend escape for 78% of respondents.

Freedom and flexibility are the biggest reasons for choosing the car, with 47% of those surveyed identifying them as the main appeal. Another 34% say the opportunity to see more of the country is one of the biggest attractions of a road trip.

That combination of flexibility and exploration means the humble road trip remains a compelling proposition for British drivers.

Scenic Routes Are Becoming Part of the Destination

For a growing number of motorists, getting there isn’t simply something to endure before the holiday begins. It is part of the experience.

More than half of respondents, 52%, say they would be willing to drive further than usual to take a more scenic route. Meanwhile, 40% would add up to 30 minutes to their journey if it meant enjoying beautiful scenery along the way.

Almost four in 10 drivers, or 38%, go even further, saying that beautiful scenery during the journey is an essential part of a weekend getaway.

The findings suggest that navigation apps and the fastest possible route aren’t necessarily the only considerations when planning a road trip. For some drivers, a winding country road with spectacular views can be more appealing than shaving a few minutes off the journey.

The Road Can Influence Where Drivers Go

The route itself can also influence the choice of destination. According to the research, 41% of respondents say the roads they need to take influence where they choose to go for a weekend getaway.

For 22%, enjoying the drive is among the most important factors that can make or break a weekend escape.

That puts the driving experience firmly back in the spotlight. Rather than simply viewing a car as transportation between two points, these motorists see the journey as part of the leisure experience.

It is precisely the kind of driving experience Alfa Romeo says it has targeted with the new Tonale.

Alfa Romeo Tonale Targets the Weekend Road Trip

The new Alfa Romeo Tonale is positioned as an SUV for drivers who want practicality without giving up the enjoyment of driving.

The Italian SUV combines Alfa Romeo’s distinctive styling with a chassis, steering and suspension setup designed to deliver a more engaging experience behind the wheel. The company highlights its balanced chassis, direct steering and sporty suspension as key elements of the Tonale’s driving character.

Jules Tilstone, Managing Director of Alfa Romeo UK, said the research shows that the journey remains an important part of the getaway for many British drivers.

“For many British drivers the journey to reach a weekend getaway destination is an important part of the trip itself, with scenic routes and driving enjoyment influencing how they choose to travel,” Tilstone said.

He added that the Tonale is designed to combine the driving experience associated with Alfa Romeo with the practicality required for longer journeys.

Practicality Still Matters on a Long Weekend

While driving enjoyment is clearly important, motorists heading away for several days also need enough space for luggage, passengers and everything else that comes with a bank holiday escape.

The Alfa Romeo Tonale offers up to 500 litres of boot space, which can be expanded to 1,550 litres with the rear seats folded. That gives the compact SUV enough flexibility for longer journeys, particularly when carrying luggage for a family or group of passengers.

Powertrain choice is another part of the Tonale’s appeal. The model is available with hybrid and plug-in hybrid technology, giving buyers different approaches to combining performance, efficiency and everyday usability.

That flexibility is particularly relevant for drivers who may spend a mixture of time navigating urban streets, motorways and scenic country roads during a long weekend.

Drivers Want Time to Switch Off

Perhaps the most revealing statistic in Alfa Romeo’s research is that 54% of respondents consider having time to relax an essential part of a weekend getaway.

The road trip can therefore serve two purposes. It is a practical way of reaching a destination, but it can also provide an opportunity to disconnect from the routine of everyday life.

For drivers who enjoy being behind the wheel, an enjoyable road can become part of that experience. A scenic route, an engaging car and the freedom to stop wherever the mood takes you can turn a straightforward journey into something closer to an adventure.

Why the Car Still Matters for UK Getaways

The research provides an interesting snapshot of Britain’s relationship with the automobile. Even as motorists face rising running costs, changing powertrain technology and increasing alternatives to private-car travel, the freedom offered by a car remains difficult to replace for leisure journeys.

The ability to choose when to leave, alter the route, discover smaller destinations and carry everything needed for a weekend away gives the car an inherent advantage.

And for more than half of those surveyed, the willingness to take a longer or more scenic route demonstrates that speed isn’t always the priority.

Sometimes, the best part of a road trip is simply the road.

Alfa Romeo Tonale: A Road-Trip SUV With Driving Enjoyment in Mind

With 2.3 billion miles expected to be covered across the UK during the August Bank Holiday weekend, British motorists will spend plenty of time behind the wheel.

Alfa Romeo’s research suggests that many of them won’t necessarily want the quickest possible journey. Instead, scenic roads, flexibility and the enjoyment of driving are increasingly important elements of the getaway.

That is the space in which the Alfa Romeo Tonale is looking to make its mark: combining SUV practicality, hybrid and plug-in hybrid powertrains and usable cargo capacity with the sharper driving character traditionally associated with the Alfa Romeo brand.

For motorists who believe that a weekend escape should begin the moment the engine starts, that could make the Tonale an interesting alternative to the more conventional family SUV.

And this August Bank Holiday, with millions of drivers heading onto Britain’s roads, there may be no better reminder that sometimes the journey really is just as important as the destination.

Source: Alfa Romeo

News

Dreame’s Rocket Car Is Dead: The 0.9-Second Hypercar Dream Collapses After Just One Year

Dreame’s ambitious attempt to go from robot vacuum cleaners to electric hypercars is over almost as quickly as it began.

The Chinese technology company has reportedly shut down its automotive operation and is liquidating the Starry Sky project, bringing an abrupt end to one of the auto industry’s most unusual EV ventures. At its peak, Dreame’s automotive division employed close to 1,000 people. Today, only a few dozen reportedly remain to deal with suppliers, financial obligations, legal matters and the winding-down of the business.

The collapse is particularly striking because Dreame’s automotive ambitions were anything but ordinary. The company promised an ultra-high-performance electric vehicle, a 0-100 km/h time of just 0.9 seconds and, eventually, a rocket-assisted “hypercar” that was presented as potentially one of the fastest production cars in the world.

Instead, the project appears to have ended before Dreame produced a road-ready vehicle.

From Vacuum Cleaners to Hypercars

Dreame officially entered the automotive sector in August 2025, launching what became known as the Star Project or Starry Sky project. The company’s goal was extraordinarily ambitious: move from consumer electronics and robotic home appliances into the highly competitive premium electric vehicle market.

Within months, Dreame had assembled a large automotive development organization and attracted engineers from established automakers. Reports indicate that the automotive division eventually grew to between roughly 700 and 1,000 employees, depending on the stage of the project.

The company then began using spectacular concept cars to build attention around its automotive ambitions.

At CES 2026, Dreame showed the Starry Sky supercar. In April, it followed that appearance with the Nebula Next 01 Jet Edition in San Francisco, a vehicle that quickly became known online as the “Rocket Car.”

The presentation was designed to make an impact.

And it certainly did.

The Dreame Rocket Car Promised 0-100 km/h in 0.9 Seconds

The most extraordinary claim attached to the Nebula Next 01 Jet Edition was its acceleration.

Dreame said the Rocket Car could accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in just 0.9 seconds, a figure that would place it in a completely different performance category from virtually every production road car.

The concept reportedly used two solid-fuel rocket boosters with a combined thrust of 100 kN.

Dreame also claimed that the vehicle would use an all-solid-state sulfide battery with an energy density exceeding 450 Wh/kg and deliver more than 550 kilometers of range under the CLTC testing standard.

On paper, those specifications were spectacular.

In reality, they remained claims.

There was no independently verified track test demonstrating the 0.9-second acceleration figure, while the claimed battery specifications were not independently validated on a complete production-ready vehicle.

That distinction is important.

A presentation figure is not the same thing as an independently measured performance result.

The Problem Was More Than an Ambitious Specification Sheet

The biggest question surrounding Dreame’s automotive project was not whether the company could design a spectacular-looking car.

It was whether it could actually build one.

Reports cited by Chinese and international media have raised questions about the technical maturity of the vehicles displayed during Dreame’s automotive campaign. The Verge reported that the CES vehicle was presented as a non-functional shell rather than a complete, operational vehicle, with the display reportedly controlled remotely rather than driven by a functioning powertrain.

That revelation dramatically changes the context around the Starry Sky project.

A concept car can demonstrate styling, packaging and design direction. But turning that concept into a road-legal production vehicle requires years of engineering, validation and testing.

The list is enormous: crash safety, battery durability, thermal management, braking performance, steering systems, suspension development, software validation, electromagnetic compatibility, manufacturing tolerances and regulatory certification are only some of the challenges.

A car that looks ready for the road is not necessarily a car that can legally or safely drive on it.

Fundraising Versus Building a Production Car

Some former employees reportedly alleged that Dreame’s automotive operation placed significant emphasis on fundraising and presentation activities rather than progressing toward vehicle homologation.

Those allegations have not been independently established in every detail, but they fit a broader picture emerging from reports about the project.

Yicai reported earlier this week that large parts of Dreame’s automotive office in Suzhou had become vacant, with the project facing significant layoffs and a sharp reduction in activity.

The subsequent reports of the project’s shutdown now suggest that those layoffs were not simply a temporary restructuring.

They were the beginning of the end.

China’s EV Market Is a Brutal Place to Start From Scratch

Dreame was entering one of the most competitive automotive markets in the world.

China has become the center of the global electric vehicle industry, but that does not mean every new EV manufacturer can succeed. Established Chinese automakers have spent years developing supply chains, manufacturing capacity, software platforms and battery technology.

At the same time, the market has been hit by intense price competition.

Dreame therefore faced the difficult task of developing a completely new vehicle brand while simultaneously competing against companies with enormous manufacturing scale and extensive automotive experience. Reuters reported that Dreame cited intense competition and the high investment required in the EV industry as factors behind its decision to withdraw from the project.

The company has described the decision as a strategic choice rather than a financial disaster.

That distinction matters.

Dreame has said the project had not reached mass production and that it had not made the kind of massive investment that would threaten the wider company. The company also intends to reuse intellectual property and technology developed during the project in other areas.

The 450 Wh/kg Battery Claim Raises Another Question

Among the Rocket Car’s most ambitious specifications was its claimed battery energy density of more than 450 Wh/kg.

If achieved at the cell level, that would be an extremely significant number.

Solid-state battery technology is advancing rapidly, but production-ready solid-state cells entering the market are still developing toward the kind of energy density Dreame claimed. A complete automotive battery pack would also have substantially different energy-density characteristics from an individual laboratory cell because of cooling systems, structural components, electronics and safety equipment.

That is why the distinction between a laboratory cell, a prototype battery and a complete automotive battery pack is critical.

Dreame never publicly demonstrated that the 450 Wh/kg figure had been achieved in a production-intent automotive battery system.

The same applies to the claimed 0.9-second acceleration time.

Without independent measurements, both numbers should be treated as development targets or presentation claims rather than verified production specifications.

A Rocket-Powered Road Car Was Always Going to Be a Huge Challenge

The Rocket Car concept was arguably Dreame’s boldest move.

Using solid-fuel rocket boosters on an automobile makes for an incredible headline, but it also creates enormous engineering and regulatory questions.

A rocket booster does not behave like an electric motor.

It produces thrust rather than driving the wheels, and controlling that thrust safely alongside conventional vehicle systems would be extraordinarily complex. There are also questions surrounding braking, stability, thermal management, fuel handling, emergency situations and regulatory approval.

For a demonstration vehicle, the concept is spectacular.

For a mass-produced road car, the engineering challenge is on another level.

That is precisely why the gap between a dramatic concept and a homologated production vehicle is so important in the automotive industry.

Dreame’s Automotive Dream Lasted About a Year

The timeline makes the story even more remarkable.

Dreame announced its automotive ambitions in 2025.

By early 2026, it was displaying dramatic supercar concepts.

In April 2026, the Rocket Car became the centerpiece of its performance narrative.

By August 2026, the automotive operation was reportedly being dismantled.

That means Dreame’s attempt to establish itself as an automaker effectively lasted around a year.

The company reportedly went from a large automotive development organization to only a few dozen employees tasked with winding down operations. Related corporate entities are also reportedly being deregistered.

For an industry that normally measures new vehicle programs in years rather than months, that is an extraordinarily short lifespan.

What Happens to Dreame Now?

Dreame is returning its attention to businesses where it already has manufacturing expertise and an established customer base.

The company says it will concentrate on areas including smart home products, outdoor and garden technology, smart mobility and embodied AI.

That does not necessarily mean the technology developed for Starry Sky will disappear.

Dreame has indicated that intellectual property and technological developments from the automotive project could be redirected into other businesses.

In other words, the Rocket Car may be dead, but some of the engineering work behind it could survive in another form.

The Bigger Lesson From Dreame’s Failed EV Project

Dreame’s automotive experiment highlights one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding the modern EV industry: building an electric car is not simply a matter of combining a large battery, powerful motors and impressive software.

The automotive business requires enormous amounts of engineering, testing, manufacturing expertise, capital and regulatory work.

Designing a spectacular prototype is relatively easy compared with producing thousands of identical cars that can survive years of real-world use and meet every safety and regulatory requirement.

Dreame had the technology background, financial resources and marketing power to attract enormous attention.

What it apparently could not do quickly enough was bridge the gap between an impressive concept and a production automobile.

The Rocket Car Will Remain One of 2026’s Wildest Automotive Stories

There will be no Dreame Rocket Car racing onto public roads with a claimed 0-100 km/h time of 0.9 seconds.

There will be no production Starry Sky hypercar—at least not from the project that was launched in 2025.

Instead, Dreame’s brief automotive adventure will likely be remembered as one of the strangest EV stories of the decade: a vacuum cleaner manufacturer that assembled a huge automotive team, promised a rocket-assisted hypercar, showcased futuristic battery technology and then abandoned its car program roughly one year after entering the industry.

The company’s return to vacuum cleaners, robotics, smart-home technology and other established businesses may sound far less glamorous.

But in the automotive world, getting a car from a presentation stage to a customer’s driveway is often the most impressive achievement of all.

Source: CarNewsChina