Spy pictures of the new Esprit....

[Phil-CH]

Came across these and thought I'd share since I haven't seen them posted anywhere else yet! Enjoy!

Cheers Phil

[boggy]

I've been told that isn't the new Lotus Super Car? I'll be honest I'm not convinced. My feeling is that whatever their up to will be at Geneva next year at the very earliest

Boggy

[kevin ritson]

Didn't Lotus deny the Europa shots were the Europa a couple of years back? TBH that looks promising so far, especially if the intake feature is retained, it's my favourite part of the designs

[dodgey_rog]

Try looking in the Esprit Forum, always a good place to start;

www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=355444&f=17&h=0

I have to agree with some of the comments above, there are certain design cues, that side vent for one that hint to it being an Esprit.

[monkey boy 1]

Hahaha, I love the speculation. What honestly makes people think this is a new Esprit ? Is there any evidence to back it up ?

Edited by monkey boy 1 on Tuesday 20th March 16:46

[cross-eyed-twit]

Maybe it drove out of Potash Lane with Gavan Kershaw at the wheel and the photographer overheard him say 'this new Esprit is gonna be great!'

Edited by cross-eyed-twit on Tuesday 20th March 19:30

[rcarr]

Why does it look like it is a Lamborghini and why is it being tested in the Netherlands? Why not Hethel?

[dodgey_rog]

rcarr said:

Why does it look like it is a Lamborghini and why is it being tested in the Netherlands? Why not Hethel?

Depends on where the engine is coming from, i dare say that they keep it close to the engine manufacturer on that particular round of testing. Not coming from vehicle development i would only be guessing of course.

I know someone thats seen a white vehicle under wraps at the factory by accident and he said it looks bloody tasty from the front and he even said it reminded him of something familiar to a Lambo, what ever it was he liked it.

I've emailed him some of the pics being banded about and the white example is the closest so far.

[monkey boy 1]

rcarr said:

Why does it look like it is a Lamborghini and why is it being tested in the Netherlands? Why not Hethel?

Could it be that it isn't a Lotus after all & someone was just pulling your leg ?
haha

[rcarr]

monkey boy 1 said:

rcarr said:

Why does it look like it is a Lamborghini and why is it being tested in the Netherlands? Why not Hethel?

Could it be that it isn't a Lotus after all & someone was just pulling your leg ?
haha

All the evidence is stacked against it though! I am still puzzled why its being tested in the Netherlands, I see the point of the engine manufacturer but why the Netherlands? I can only speculate at it being due to Spyker taking interest in Lotus.

[boggy]

rcarr said:

Why does it look like it is a Lamborghini and why is it being tested in the Netherlands? Why not Hethel?

This is where they do their car approval or something, but that's where their car's go for the final approving which lead's me to believe it's not a Lotus

Boggy

[kevin ritson]

Who knows what it is but bear in mind that cars get driven all over the place during testing. Holland could be on the way to Scandanavia for extreme weather testing, for example.

[lordshiva]

If you look closely to the second picture, you can see it is taken in front of the KONI factories (the name is on the building). That's probably why it is in Holland, they are doing some suspension development work (for the esprit? who knows).

[cross-eyed-twit]

I believe Lotus has a bigger relationship with Nitron (elise) and Bilstein/Eibach (esprit) when it comes to suspension, however, I could be wrong.
Also, the back end of that car looks very lamborgini.

[rcarr]

lordshiva said:

If you look closely to the second picture, you can see it is taken in front of the KONI factories (the name is on the building). That's probably why it is in Holland, they are doing some suspension development work (for the esprit? who knows).

But its on dutch plates though!

[Mr_C]

cross-eyed-twit said:

Also, the back end of that car looks very lamborgini.

the front bumper is from a Murcie too.

i'd say it's a heavily modded murcie, well, the panels are at least. Who knows whats underneath (remember the Enzo mule that had 355 panels?!)

[rcarr]

Mr_C said:

cross-eyed-twit said:

Also, the back end of that car looks very lamborgini.

the front bumper is from a Murcie too.

i'd say it's a heavily modded murcie, well, the panels are at least. Who knows whats underneath (remember the Enzo mule that had 355 panels?!)

And the SLR used a Cerbera as a mule to test out the engine etc.