Esprit replacement
Discussion
v8thunder said:
Does anyone have any news? I can't find anything on the Lotus website, though I can imagine it's a pretty closely guarded secret. Any ideas for names, engines and designers as well?
It wouldn't surprise me if it was something like the M250.
Dammit - you've guessed. I suppose they'll have to scrap the project now and start again.
Lots of rumours but slowly firming up. There is no doubt at all that the car is in development and is aiming to be with us 2006/2007. Word from those in the know is that it should be something rather special. Lotus do seem to be very aware of the fact that it was the simplicity of the Esprit that made it so good. I am getting the feeling that it should be as good as the Esprit, the Exige and the Elise are all when compared to what was available at the time of launch and throught each cars life.
Does that mean there are no other product launches (excluding Elise variants) due between now and '06/'07?
Any hints as to what kind of price range these new Esprits will fit into? If it's >60k then I'll knock it on the head right now... otherwise I might start thinking about a deposit..!
Any hints as to what kind of price range these new Esprits will fit into? If it's >60k then I'll knock it on the head right now... otherwise I might start thinking about a deposit..!
jig said:
Does that mean there are no other product launches (excluding Elise variants) due between now and '06/'07?
There was a recent article in Autocar (with blurry spy pic) of some kind of GT which would probably go into the range in between the Elise and the Esprit. Wouldn't surprise me if it shared a lot of bits with the Proton design we saw a bit back.
[k]
Tuna said:
Definately Sub £60k
What's your relationship with Lotus, mustard? I have to say that after they made such a big deal of their design process being fast, a launch in '06 for sale in '07 seems a very long way away. But then I'm impatient
If you follow my post you will guess
LOL I have to be careful just what I say, but I think its going to be well worth the wait and it will be hailed as Britains new 'affordable supercar king'
Development of the replacement is well under way as there have already several spyshots shown in car mags, however the recent troubles at the factory will have a significant detrimental effect on the schedules !!!. Proton are clueless when it comes to which way to push the esprit.....I wouldn't hold your breath !!.
Come on Lotus, don't drop the ball on this one.
Being a Lotus fan can be depressing sometimes. They have so much heritage and an icon in the Esprit and yet they can't make it work for them.
Mean while tiny manufacturers like Noble are bringing out world class cars and succeeding.
Even Marcos has managed to develop a new car, which frankly is starting to look pretty sweet!
Come on Lotus pull your socks up and get back in the game, the Elise is fantastic but you need the icon back.
I think they need to concentrate on the "lightness" side of things to, if they want it to compete with the modern Ferrari’s it is going to have to be really light. The new F430 is only 1450Kg and with 490Bhp and 343 lbft it’s a monster! The lotus is probably only going to end up with low 400's on the bhp so its going to need to be at least a couple of hundred kilo's lighter.
I think the name needs to stay and so does the wedge styling frankly.
Let me know your thoughts.
Lotus.......... are you listening?
Being a Lotus fan can be depressing sometimes. They have so much heritage and an icon in the Esprit and yet they can't make it work for them.
Mean while tiny manufacturers like Noble are bringing out world class cars and succeeding.
Even Marcos has managed to develop a new car, which frankly is starting to look pretty sweet!
Come on Lotus pull your socks up and get back in the game, the Elise is fantastic but you need the icon back.
I think they need to concentrate on the "lightness" side of things to, if they want it to compete with the modern Ferrari’s it is going to have to be really light. The new F430 is only 1450Kg and with 490Bhp and 343 lbft it’s a monster! The lotus is probably only going to end up with low 400's on the bhp so its going to need to be at least a couple of hundred kilo's lighter.
I think the name needs to stay and so does the wedge styling frankly.
Let me know your thoughts.
Lotus.......... are you listening?
If the F430 is 'only' 1450 kgs then Lotus have been doing it right from the beginning as the Esprit is around 100 kgs lighter. However, the Esprit does need all the new engineering to bring it into the 21st Century. Rigid extruded Alu or even Carbon chassis, solid slick 6 speed with LSD, decent spartan interior, revamped exterior styling and (the contentious one) a variable valve 918 Lotus V8 of maybe 3.75-4 litres that revs to 9000 etc etc
Oh, also they could get some corrosion resistant nuts and bolts as mine are all fused to the car by means other than friction!
blah blah blah...
Oh, also they could get some corrosion resistant nuts and bolts as mine are all fused to the car by means other than friction!
blah blah blah...
Hi All:
At the Lotus Ltd. (www.LotusCarClub.org) annual Lotus Owners Gathering (LOG 24) in Birmingham, Alabama this year, Tony Shute and Simon Croft unvailed the "Lotus Supercar" body shape, sort of a F360 meets Lambo Gallardo, to a select group of attendees.
They showed us photos of an Esprit test mule running around Hethel on the new car's chassis. The modified Esprit body was approximately 3-4 inches longer then normal just aft of the doors.
Tony nor Simon would discuss too many details but noted the basic design is set. They asked for input on such things as options including:
- What performance range versus price. It looks around
$80,000 (USA dollars) with performance north of
a Viper.
- Possible OPTIONAL automatic transmission as they
want to appeal to wealthy females and maybe a paddle
shifter option ala Vanquish, Ferrari or Maserati.
- May or may not have a bespoke engine. We tried to
make it VERY clear if it isn't at least a V8 don't
bother as they'll have an NSX on their hands.
- Creature comforts like automatic climate control will
likely be optional as well and performance options
such as a limited slip differential, activish
suspension (like the F430, new 911, Vette) are being
investigated.
- Target dates 2006-2007 but know ing Lotus, more like
2008.
As an Esprit owner, I've onwed five including my current 1999, the basic shape didn't take my breath away as it did when seeing the Esprit in "The Spy Who Loved Me" but the idea they are at least asking us for input and considering some modern ideas is great.
One thing I thought very interesting was after pestering Simon Croft during dinner he reluctantly revealed the new "Supercar" would NOT use a variation of the VVA chassis of the Elise/Exige. This floored me as I thought the whole idea of the VVA chassis was it's ability to accept change fairly easily without excess development and cost. Aston seems to be making good use of this technology with the DB9 and upcoming AMV8. The best laid plans of mice and men!
That's the poop I have. Mery Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you. Come visit Lotus Ltd. at www.LotusCarClub.org
Happy Lotusing,
Mark Pfeffer - Vice President Lotus Ltd.
At the Lotus Ltd. (www.LotusCarClub.org) annual Lotus Owners Gathering (LOG 24) in Birmingham, Alabama this year, Tony Shute and Simon Croft unvailed the "Lotus Supercar" body shape, sort of a F360 meets Lambo Gallardo, to a select group of attendees.
They showed us photos of an Esprit test mule running around Hethel on the new car's chassis. The modified Esprit body was approximately 3-4 inches longer then normal just aft of the doors.
Tony nor Simon would discuss too many details but noted the basic design is set. They asked for input on such things as options including:
- What performance range versus price. It looks around
$80,000 (USA dollars) with performance north of
a Viper.
- Possible OPTIONAL automatic transmission as they
want to appeal to wealthy females and maybe a paddle
shifter option ala Vanquish, Ferrari or Maserati.
- May or may not have a bespoke engine. We tried to
make it VERY clear if it isn't at least a V8 don't
bother as they'll have an NSX on their hands.
- Creature comforts like automatic climate control will
likely be optional as well and performance options
such as a limited slip differential, activish
suspension (like the F430, new 911, Vette) are being
investigated.
- Target dates 2006-2007 but know ing Lotus, more like
2008.
As an Esprit owner, I've onwed five including my current 1999, the basic shape didn't take my breath away as it did when seeing the Esprit in "The Spy Who Loved Me" but the idea they are at least asking us for input and considering some modern ideas is great.
One thing I thought very interesting was after pestering Simon Croft during dinner he reluctantly revealed the new "Supercar" would NOT use a variation of the VVA chassis of the Elise/Exige. This floored me as I thought the whole idea of the VVA chassis was it's ability to accept change fairly easily without excess development and cost. Aston seems to be making good use of this technology with the DB9 and upcoming AMV8. The best laid plans of mice and men!
That's the poop I have. Mery Christmas and Happy New Year to all of you. Come visit Lotus Ltd. at www.LotusCarClub.org
Happy Lotusing,
Mark Pfeffer - Vice President Lotus Ltd.
I wonder if they are looking at composite stuff for the chassis. Can't see them reverting to the backbone as it is antequated technology and not rigid enough by half. A nice Carbon tub would make it lighter and more stiff than the Elise chassis.
It would rock the sportscar world to see the new Esprit at less than 1 ton, imagine how agile through the twisties and quick accelerating it would be with a 'sorted' V8 pushing it along...
Can't wait for the little surprises they have in store.
It would rock the sportscar world to see the new Esprit at less than 1 ton, imagine how agile through the twisties and quick accelerating it would be with a 'sorted' V8 pushing it along...
Can't wait for the little surprises they have in store.
Autoweek said:
Our spies in England spotted a prototype midsized, mid-engine $30,000 coupe that fits in the Lotus lineup between the Elise and a new Esprit.
I wouldn't put too much stock in the Autoweek article as they also said that the "replacement Esprit" will be using VVA. From what I understand the Esprit replacement (as opposed to Replacement Esprit) will NOT use VVA and will have a bespoke design. Latest I've heard on price is circa $100,000US.
Still, nice to know the guys at Hethel are still brainstorming...
ErnestM
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