Lotus Esprit Close to Complete
Discussion
Lotus Esprit Close to Complete
The Lotus Esprit might be the last remaining part of the Dany Bahar era, we’re hearing today that it hasn’t been shelved indefinitely, instead, Lotus engineers have been hard at work completing the project. Lotus’ planned flagship model apparently needs just to be signing off following some minor tweaking.
It seems that while this is good news for Lotus, there are still storm clouds on the horizon. Autocar reports that the entire project might now be delayed from production readiness as a result of the much-publicised management issues.
Of course, Lotus needs to start producing cars again. Sales figures for the last three months read more like an ultra-exclusive boutique hypercar maker than Britain’s premiere sports car manufacturer. Lotus sold just two cars in the United Kingdom last month and 122 cars total this year.
The Esprit is expected to use a 5.0 liter twin-turbo V8 with an F1-style KERS system, mated to a seven-speed paddle-shift transmission. It should pack a 650hp punch, despite costing less than £100,000.
http://www.gtspirit.com/2012/11/21/lotus-esprit-cl...
I for one am totally orgasmic about the Espirit making it into the production. Fingers crossed!
The Lotus Esprit might be the last remaining part of the Dany Bahar era, we’re hearing today that it hasn’t been shelved indefinitely, instead, Lotus engineers have been hard at work completing the project. Lotus’ planned flagship model apparently needs just to be signing off following some minor tweaking.
It seems that while this is good news for Lotus, there are still storm clouds on the horizon. Autocar reports that the entire project might now be delayed from production readiness as a result of the much-publicised management issues.
Of course, Lotus needs to start producing cars again. Sales figures for the last three months read more like an ultra-exclusive boutique hypercar maker than Britain’s premiere sports car manufacturer. Lotus sold just two cars in the United Kingdom last month and 122 cars total this year.
The Esprit is expected to use a 5.0 liter twin-turbo V8 with an F1-style KERS system, mated to a seven-speed paddle-shift transmission. It should pack a 650hp punch, despite costing less than £100,000.
http://www.gtspirit.com/2012/11/21/lotus-esprit-cl...
I for one am totally orgasmic about the Espirit making it into the production. Fingers crossed!
Lotus seem to be doing great Motorsport wise, lets hope there's some money coming in from increasing awareness / success ?
I've got a 1989 esprit se and took it for a timing belt at Christopher Neil's in northwich a couple of months ago, the showroom was busy and used cars seemed to be selling well was what the guy mentioned. If I had my way the government would buy into lotus, jaguar and Aston Martin, get us buying British !!! ....and keep me in the facility for spare parts going forward ha ha !
A new esprit would be amazing however you do have to think how many would part with big bucks for it when there is so much competition at that end of the market?
I've got a 1989 esprit se and took it for a timing belt at Christopher Neil's in northwich a couple of months ago, the showroom was busy and used cars seemed to be selling well was what the guy mentioned. If I had my way the government would buy into lotus, jaguar and Aston Martin, get us buying British !!! ....and keep me in the facility for spare parts going forward ha ha !
A new esprit would be amazing however you do have to think how many would part with big bucks for it when there is so much competition at that end of the market?
The last thing the British Motor industry needs to is to be nationalised, it was in the 70's (British Leyland) and that was a total disaster.
I dont think most British people actually want a British made car anymores, they seem to embrace BMW, Audi,Mercedes Benz, Porsche or the French stuff If they cant afford the above, the foreign makes seems more admired and liked and have status ATM.
Must be a cultural thing, until that changes they wont want UK product.
As for the Esprit, lets face it , its brown bread.
DRB dont want to spend a penny on Lotus, they will milk the current product line to death for as long as they own the company, making Elise,Exige and Evora one at a time If neccesary .
Lotus will become Morgan and Caterham will become Lotus (If you get what I mean)
I dont think most British people actually want a British made car anymores, they seem to embrace BMW, Audi,Mercedes Benz, Porsche or the French stuff If they cant afford the above, the foreign makes seems more admired and liked and have status ATM.
Must be a cultural thing, until that changes they wont want UK product.
As for the Esprit, lets face it , its brown bread.
DRB dont want to spend a penny on Lotus, they will milk the current product line to death for as long as they own the company, making Elise,Exige and Evora one at a time If neccesary .
Lotus will become Morgan and Caterham will become Lotus (If you get what I mean)
I can't see the new Esprit being launched for a very long time, lets face it those who know Lotus for any length of time will remember the M250. Meanwhile us owners of late V8 Esprits should be rubbing our hands together as they will surely become more desireable as time passes. What I would really like to see is a V8 put in the current Evora
WayneB said:
The last thing the British Motor industry needs to is to be nationalised, it was in the 70's (British Leyland) and that was a total disaster.
I dont think most British people actually want a British made car anymores, they seem to embrace BMW, Audi,Mercedes Benz, Porsche or the French stuff If they cant afford the above, the foreign makes seems more admired and liked and have status ATM.
Must be a cultural thing, until that changes they wont want UK product.
As for the Esprit, lets face it , its brown bread.
DRB dont want to spend a penny on Lotus, they will milk the current product line to death for as long as they own the company, making Elise,Exige and Evora one at a time If neccesary .
Lotus will become Morgan and Caterham will become Lotus (If you get what I mean)
But...people from other countries DO want to buy British and this should be where Lotus' future lies. Watch any American TV show, especially on MTV, you'll see Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Bentleys, Astons, jaguars galore. Lotus need to tap into this and make their products more aspirational to celeb obsessed younger buyers and the wealthy. I have seen an Evora on desperate housewives and an Elise in a Juston Timberlake music video, but not much else product placement.
I dont think most British people actually want a British made car anymores, they seem to embrace BMW, Audi,Mercedes Benz, Porsche or the French stuff If they cant afford the above, the foreign makes seems more admired and liked and have status ATM.
Must be a cultural thing, until that changes they wont want UK product.
As for the Esprit, lets face it , its brown bread.
DRB dont want to spend a penny on Lotus, they will milk the current product line to death for as long as they own the company, making Elise,Exige and Evora one at a time If neccesary .
Lotus will become Morgan and Caterham will become Lotus (If you get what I mean)
But...people from other countries DO want to buy British and this should be where Lotus' future lies. Watch any American TV show, especially on MTV, you'll see Land Rovers, Range Rovers, Bentleys, Astons, jaguars galore. Lotus need to tap into this and make their products more aspirational to celeb obsessed younger buyers and the wealthy. I have seen an Evora on desperate housewives and an Elise in a Juston Timberlake music video, but not much else product placement.
BIRMA said:
I can't see the new Esprit being launched for a very long time, lets face it those who know Lotus for any length of time will remember the M250. Meanwhile us owners of late V8 Esprits should be rubbing our hands together as they will surely become more desireable as time passes. What I would really like to see is a V8 put in the current Evora
Esprit looks dead for now at least. New Exige and Evora are the next two up. I suspect a higher prices hardcore Exige and softer Evora at a similar price.Gassing Station | General Lotus Stuff | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff