New Esprit in Autocar
Discussion
There's a small version and summary of the article here:
www.autocar.co.uk/news_article.asp?na_id=220425
I was at my dealer today having taken my Elise in for service. He said that he had seen a clay model but didn't elaborate further! The Autocar picture, however, appears to be another of their "artist impression" specials :-)
[k]
www.autocar.co.uk/news_article.asp?na_id=220425
I was at my dealer today having taken my Elise in for service. He said that he had seen a clay model but didn't elaborate further! The Autocar picture, however, appears to be another of their "artist impression" specials :-)
[k]
its just a photoshop mock up, no one excpet those on the know at the factory have seen the real thing in the flesh or know what it is really gonna look like, its nice to see some positive news comming out of hethel and Mike Kimberly has been at lotus a long time and is by all accounts a real car man as the article puts it so thats good to see.
But having seen several so called 5 year plans sprout out of autocar an lotus i'l hold my breath on this one, good to see the circuit car is still kicking about and a new 2 + 2 is just what the doctor ordered frankly and is long overdue, excel production ceased in 92 lotus really should have sorted out a replacment by now
But having seen several so called 5 year plans sprout out of autocar an lotus i'l hold my breath on this one, good to see the circuit car is still kicking about and a new 2 + 2 is just what the doctor ordered frankly and is long overdue, excel production ceased in 92 lotus really should have sorted out a replacment by now
spoke to a chap at a dealer today and he said the piccy was fairly accurate but the real clay signed off thing looked a bit more like my S4 at the back, not like the Lambo squared off bit, a bit stepper windscreen, also it will have a BMW V8 TT engine. YUM! He also said he has had several orders already...
Sad that ALL of the impressions, photos, etc I have seen incorporate some version of those awful head lamps. In a time when there is such a cry out (as noted by Top Gear) for pop up lams or round lamps to return! EVERY example that I have seen that does not clearly look like an Elise on GNC products, looks like a 1985 Camero mated with some type of Lambo proto-type and spwned off a looks like eveything elese on the road exotic car!
So there is the basic 350Z shape (found in Lexus, Infinty, and others)
There is the Lambo Gallardo shape...
The Elise Shape...
And the Camero thing-ie shape...
The real deal should be better, after all nobody believes it when they hear that G body Esprit are not new... and it is sometimes interesting to see the reaction people have to the S cars being nearly 20 years old in some cases! The new designs I have seen certainly have not won me over... but then again THAT is why I refused to trade my MX-5 for a "new" one... they just do not look as good as they used too...
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
So there is the basic 350Z shape (found in Lexus, Infinty, and others)
There is the Lambo Gallardo shape...
The Elise Shape...
And the Camero thing-ie shape...
The real deal should be better, after all nobody believes it when they hear that G body Esprit are not new... and it is sometimes interesting to see the reaction people have to the S cars being nearly 20 years old in some cases! The new designs I have seen certainly have not won me over... but then again THAT is why I refused to trade my MX-5 for a "new" one... they just do not look as good as they used too...
Drive topless!!!
Cameron
cross-eyed-twit said:
spoke to a chap at a dealer today and he said the piccy was fairly accurate but the real clay signed off thing looked a bit more like my S4 at the back, not like the Lambo squared off bit, a bit stepper windscreen, also it will have a BMW V8 TT engine. YUM! He also said he has had several orders already...
Any definitive word on which flavour of BMW V8 it will be?
ErnestM
Rumours are Alpina modified 4.8ltr V8. Kind of figures as a mate used to work for Bimmer and the guy who sends out crate engines knew nothing of Lotus having any units.
really not sure about twin turbos..... Lotus were desperate to go n/a even experimenting with Esprit V8 with lightweight panels and no turbos. Heard the mock up pics are close but clumsy - real thing is meant to be spot on
really not sure about twin turbos..... Lotus were desperate to go n/a even experimenting with Esprit V8 with lightweight panels and no turbos. Heard the mock up pics are close but clumsy - real thing is meant to be spot on
My friend who is a journalist sent me pics of the new Esprit at the Nuremburg? circuit being put through it's paces. It was heavily disguised with the old shell cobbled over the new chassis. All rear windows are blanked out along with the tailgate. Looking at pics it appear the wheelbase is slightly longer and front track is a lot wider (almost the same as the rear!). Brake are huge and the rear caliper now matches the fronts. The discs complete fill the wheel! You can also see from the rear the new chassis and gearbox because the rear valance is missing.
Car was on a 55 plate which could mean it's an 06my car.
Sorry can't post pictures on forums. These were spy pics!
Car was on a 55 plate which could mean it's an 06my car.
Sorry can't post pictures on forums. These were spy pics!
I was told the interior will along the lines of the M250 but with more comfort, but sticking to the minimalist style with quirky touches.
It just goes to show they are playing the publicity angle with the mule photo's so stir some interest. Like the Elise, the actual vehicle won't hit the test track until at least a few months prior to launch, and thats likely to be at night to keep the look totally secret.
I'm surprised dealers have been allowed to have a sneek preview, they can give so much away sometimes.
It just goes to show they are playing the publicity angle with the mule photo's so stir some interest. Like the Elise, the actual vehicle won't hit the test track until at least a few months prior to launch, and thats likely to be at night to keep the look totally secret.
I'm surprised dealers have been allowed to have a sneek preview, they can give so much away sometimes.
Thanks for the links to the spy-pics.
Three things immediately strike me. First thing - what's up with those front rims? Very weird looking, almost like cheap hubcaps. Also, there seem to be two square things poking out through the rear clamshell underneath the wing - any ideas what they are? Could be rads or air intakes I guess. Thirdly, there's an odd triangulated frame thing at the back, next to the passenger side exhaust - could be a bodged repair or some kind of hacked-up instrument mount though.
Interesting pics for sure.
[k]
Three things immediately strike me. First thing - what's up with those front rims? Very weird looking, almost like cheap hubcaps. Also, there seem to be two square things poking out through the rear clamshell underneath the wing - any ideas what they are? Could be rads or air intakes I guess. Thirdly, there's an odd triangulated frame thing at the back, next to the passenger side exhaust - could be a bodged repair or some kind of hacked-up instrument mount though.
Interesting pics for sure.
[k]
lotusespritturbo said:
nice looking mule! when lotus has finished with it i hope they sell it on ebay
[quote=[k]ar|]Thanks for the links to the spy-pics.
Three things immediately strike me. First thing - what's up with those front rims? Very weird looking, almost like cheap hubcaps. Also, there seem to be two square things poking out through the rear clamshell underneath the wing - any ideas what they are? Could be rads or air intakes I guess. Thirdly, there's an odd triangulated frame thing at the back, next to the passenger side exhaust - could be a bodged repair or some kind of hacked-up instrument mount though.
Interesting pics for sure.
[k]
[/quote]
The wheels are obviously to increase the inset of the wheel to fit the Esprit body. One can assume (from these pics) that the new car will have much wider track than the current Esprit...
Three things immediately strike me. First thing - what's up with those front rims? Very weird looking, almost like cheap hubcaps. Also, there seem to be two square things poking out through the rear clamshell underneath the wing - any ideas what they are? Could be rads or air intakes I guess. Thirdly, there's an odd triangulated frame thing at the back, next to the passenger side exhaust - could be a bodged repair or some kind of hacked-up instrument mount though.
Interesting pics for sure.
[k]
[/quote]
The wheels are obviously to increase the inset of the wheel to fit the Esprit body. One can assume (from these pics) that the new car will have much wider track than the current Esprit...
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