Will there be a new esprit?
Discussion
I recently purchased the Lotus Esprit: Celebration of a Supercar dvd from www.lotusespritworld.com and it has really got me down to see what has happened with Lotus.
Their cars used to stick it to Ferrari on the road and the track and now with the death of the Esprit there is no competition left.
I for one hope that the Esprit name is brought back with some of the innovation we saw in the launch of the Elise. I hope they come back with a package that can stick it to Ferrari one more time.
If there was to be a new Esprit it would need around 450bhp 350lbft in are car that is less that 1300kgs, it has to be light!
It would be nice if they would consider it for GT racing to!
Come on Lotus, lets get some of that glory back!
What are your thoughts out there?
Their cars used to stick it to Ferrari on the road and the track and now with the death of the Esprit there is no competition left.
I for one hope that the Esprit name is brought back with some of the innovation we saw in the launch of the Elise. I hope they come back with a package that can stick it to Ferrari one more time.
If there was to be a new Esprit it would need around 450bhp 350lbft in are car that is less that 1300kgs, it has to be light!
It would be nice if they would consider it for GT racing to!
Come on Lotus, lets get some of that glory back!
What are your thoughts out there?
I agree with you but things are a lot more difficult. Money is the issue and the spiral: money -create race cars -victory on tracks - more money - improvement of race cars and new sports cars to people - more money - and then try to stay at the top....
Ferrari is doing it for years with high and low, so for mac laren. Porsche is a different matter and they should maybe pay attention to big victory in races.
For Lotus the story is related to Colin Chapman and the financial health of the company.
The Elise is probably the car that saved Lotus from the grave. We customers are probably the generators for developpment of future cars which if they succeed will put the marque higher and higher.
Just my 2 minutes of marketing philosophy for the week
Ben
Ferrari is doing it for years with high and low, so for mac laren. Porsche is a different matter and they should maybe pay attention to big victory in races.
For Lotus the story is related to Colin Chapman and the financial health of the company.
The Elise is probably the car that saved Lotus from the grave. We customers are probably the generators for developpment of future cars which if they succeed will put the marque higher and higher.
Just my 2 minutes of marketing philosophy for the week
Ben
From the Autocar article earlier in the year, that included a cover shot of the possible 'new Esprit', I would say that Lotus are working on it. They produced the Elise in similar circumstances (no motorsport, tiny sales etc. etc.). They know they've got to get this right, and with Elise sales doing well across the world, and the Vauxhall/GM problems from the launch of the S2 more or less gone, they have every chance of doing it.
I'd expect something pretty special, the big question is when, and which market segment(s) they will go for. We might get something aimed at the low end Porsche, TVR market first as a natural progression for people growing out of their Elises, before we get a serious supercar. As it is there is quite a wide selection of high end/exotica out there at the moment, so anything they come up with would have to be pretty special to make it worth their while.
I'd expect something pretty special, the big question is when, and which market segment(s) they will go for. We might get something aimed at the low end Porsche, TVR market first as a natural progression for people growing out of their Elises, before we get a serious supercar. As it is there is quite a wide selection of high end/exotica out there at the moment, so anything they come up with would have to be pretty special to make it worth their while.
It is currently being worked on at the factory, as I spoke to Russell Carr about it, who is working on the design. We had a very interesting conversation about the interior.
Details aren't available and everything that has been printed so far is pure speculation. From what I was told, it will be aim at around £50-60k market, called the Esprit and launched around 2005-07.
kato
Lotus Esprit World
Details aren't available and everything that has been printed so far is pure speculation. From what I was told, it will be aim at around £50-60k market, called the Esprit and launched around 2005-07.
kato
Lotus Esprit World
lotusespritworld said:
It is currently being worked on at the factory, as I spoke to Russell Carr about it, who is working on the design. We had a very interesting conversation about the interior.
Details aren't available and everything that has been printed so far is pure speculation. From what I was told, it will be aim at around £50-60k market, called the Esprit and launched around 2005-07.
kato
Lotus Esprit World
Awesome news!!! Your the man Kato! Long live the Esprit!! I just hope it doesnt come out looking like the ones they print in Autocar and the such.
While at Lotus Ltd's (www.LotusCarClub.org) annula gathering, LOG 24, in Birmingham AL. last month a number of us were asked to sit in a symposium about the new "Lotus Supercar". We were shown a design model which Tony shute of Lotus Cars noted is near the finished product (sorry no photos allowed). It was sort of Gallardo meets Esprit, but rounded. Not bad but no cutting edge like the Esprit. They spoke about a new brake technology(??) that has never been done before, possible engines (Lotus built or sourced) and options (paddle shifter, auto climate control, active suspension, etc) we'd like to see. It was nice to be asked, but they really couldn't divulge too much. No time frame but sort of eluded to somewhere around 2007. Performance target is north of the Dodge Viper with a price between $80,000 and $100,000 US dollars.
There's a test mule running around Hethel with the new car chassis covered by a slightly (3-4 inches) lengthened Esprit V8 body.
Mark Pfeffer
There's a test mule running around Hethel with the new car chassis covered by a slightly (3-4 inches) lengthened Esprit V8 body.
Mark Pfeffer
Kato, Mark, you guys rock. I'm very glad to hear some positive news about Lotus.
It's kinda funny, when I try to think what I'd like to see in a new 'Esprit' (still not sure on keeping the name). I'd love to see a Lotus engine, but they have such a history of taking someone else's engine, and making it their own. I'm an engineer, so I'm always interested in the newest electronic wizardry, but I cherish simple things with nothing to 'look after' me. The only thing I know, is it must be light, very light, 'how do they do it??' light. Clothed in an instantly recognizable/sexy composite body.
Then take it GT racing.
Gary
It's kinda funny, when I try to think what I'd like to see in a new 'Esprit' (still not sure on keeping the name). I'd love to see a Lotus engine, but they have such a history of taking someone else's engine, and making it their own. I'm an engineer, so I'm always interested in the newest electronic wizardry, but I cherish simple things with nothing to 'look after' me. The only thing I know, is it must be light, very light, 'how do they do it??' light. Clothed in an instantly recognizable/sexy composite body.
Then take it GT racing.
Gary
lotusespritworld said:
It is currently being worked on at the factory, as I spoke to Russell Carr about it, who is working on the design. We had a very interesting conversation about the interior.
Details aren't available and everything that has been printed so far is pure speculation. From what I was told, it will be aim at around £50-60k market, called the Esprit and launched around 2005-07.
kato
Lotus Esprit World
Toyota or BMW engine?
I'm so glad that Lotus will be building a new supercar. I'm also glad that it will carry on the Esprit name! Hopefully it will be just the car everyone is hoping for.
Just one thing...do you think it will keep the pop-up headlamps?
I really really wish it would. Its a one of those things that nobody is doing anymore!
Miata, Corvette, 456, RX-7, Esprit...they've all stopped being made with pop-up headlamps!!!
Nooooo!
Just one thing...do you think it will keep the pop-up headlamps?
I really really wish it would. Its a one of those things that nobody is doing anymore!
Miata, Corvette, 456, RX-7, Esprit...they've all stopped being made with pop-up headlamps!!!
Nooooo!
The name was one of the things we got to "vote" on. Esprit was one of the names, but there were about2-3 others that were appealing as well. I can't remeber any of them now, but one was REAL long and would never fit on the back of the car.
At the LOG banquet, I sat with a Lotus factory person who eluded a couple of things about the supercar. I asked point blank if the chassis was a lengthened and widened version of the VVA chassis of the Elise. To my shock it was quietly "No". I thought the whole point of the VVA was to do just this type of stuff.
The engine was hinted at BMW or Toyota. Hey if Lotus could drop the new V10 M5 (500HP)engine in this car for $80,000, I'd be there first with a deposit. Likely the older V8 M5 engine. Not bad 400HP out of the box.
Patience all, patience!
Mark
At the LOG banquet, I sat with a Lotus factory person who eluded a couple of things about the supercar. I asked point blank if the chassis was a lengthened and widened version of the VVA chassis of the Elise. To my shock it was quietly "No". I thought the whole point of the VVA was to do just this type of stuff.
The engine was hinted at BMW or Toyota. Hey if Lotus could drop the new V10 M5 (500HP)engine in this car for $80,000, I'd be there first with a deposit. Likely the older V8 M5 engine. Not bad 400HP out of the box.
Patience all, patience!
Mark
Bear in mind the grumbling that went around when BMW launched the 'new' MINI; diehards insist that the new car is no such thing.
Ford kept calling their cars Escort just to keep those stick-in-the-muds who daren't try something new.
Are you lot saying you wouldn't buy a new Lotus UNLESS it was called Esprit? Sounds a bit sad to me.
Pop-up headlamps have been outlawed as another 'dangerous to pedestrians' feature of cars...
Personally I can't see that it would matter a great deal more if, having been chopped off at the ankles by the Esprit's front bumper, you clip your elbow on the headlamp pod...
Ian
Ford kept calling their cars Escort just to keep those stick-in-the-muds who daren't try something new.
Are you lot saying you wouldn't buy a new Lotus UNLESS it was called Esprit? Sounds a bit sad to me.
Pop-up headlamps have been outlawed as another 'dangerous to pedestrians' feature of cars...
Personally I can't see that it would matter a great deal more if, having been chopped off at the ankles by the Esprit's front bumper, you clip your elbow on the headlamp pod...
Ian
Well,
I hate to portray the Doubting Thomas in the group, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Most of the owners represented here are not Lotus customers - we bought used cars, so I don't expect Lotus to pander to us. We are simply not their target demographic.
Plus, the Car manufacturers world is dynamic. A lot will have to do with what other manufacturers are doing at the time - makes no sense to try an push a design which others may make obsolete before it gets out of the gate.
Also, if fuel prices keep creeping north, or the world economy takes a turn, or government regulations intervene, and the marketing feasabilities change dramatically and could crush any endeavors by the Engineering Dept.
Add to that the fact that it has to mesh with the long-term objectives at Proton and you have a further possible impediment.
Given their history, if '07 is the announced debut, when will it hit the US market...'11 or '15?? NO you say... can you say Elise..??
Finally, I cannot help but recall all the fuss over the much vaunted M250 Project and what happened, or maybe more on point, what didn't happen with it.
Call me cynical, but I'll beleve it when I see it.
Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE
I hate to portray the Doubting Thomas in the group, but I'll believe it when I see it.
Most of the owners represented here are not Lotus customers - we bought used cars, so I don't expect Lotus to pander to us. We are simply not their target demographic.
Plus, the Car manufacturers world is dynamic. A lot will have to do with what other manufacturers are doing at the time - makes no sense to try an push a design which others may make obsolete before it gets out of the gate.
Also, if fuel prices keep creeping north, or the world economy takes a turn, or government regulations intervene, and the marketing feasabilities change dramatically and could crush any endeavors by the Engineering Dept.
Add to that the fact that it has to mesh with the long-term objectives at Proton and you have a further possible impediment.
Given their history, if '07 is the announced debut, when will it hit the US market...'11 or '15?? NO you say... can you say Elise..??
Finally, I cannot help but recall all the fuss over the much vaunted M250 Project and what happened, or maybe more on point, what didn't happen with it.
Call me cynical, but I'll beleve it when I see it.
Happy Motoring! ...Jim'85TE
lotusguy said:
Most of the owners represented here are not Lotus customers - we bought used cars, so I don't expect Lotus to pander to us. We are simply not their target demographic.
No, but we are the most vocal of the owners, which is probably a lot more valuable to the designers than the rich movie star who buys one just to have it for his garage.
lotusguy said:
Add to that the fact that it has to mesh with the long-term objectives at Proton and you have a further possible impediment.
Given their history, if '07 is the announced debut, when will it hit the US market...'11 or '15?? NO you say... can you say Elise..??
Actually with Proton calling the shots, I bet a new Esprit (or whatever) would have to be built with the idea of importing it to the US as one of the primary objectives. The reason the Elise finally made it over here was pressure from Proton (as I recall). Didn't they figure that the US market would account for 50% of the sales?
I think the Elise is a completely different market from the Esprit and that a properly designed Lotus supercar would sell well.
Recent rumour suggests a BMW V8 for the new Esprit. I would prefer a Lotus engine but a driver's supercar is all about handling and feel. If it puts the Esprit back on the map, I could live with a BMW engine, after all, so do all the McLaren F1 owners ! The BMW connection might even put the Esprit back in the hands of James Bond and consequently sell like hair restorer !
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