Monday 12th February 2007

New Lotus Esprit spyshotted?

Pics of Hethel's 2008 supercar online

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2002 Lotus Esprit

Has the upcoming Lotus Esprit been spotted? One spyshotter believes so -- and at the end of the link below, you'll find a couple of shots of what's alleged to be the company's new supercar. The pic (right) is of its long-running predecessor.

Lotus boss Mike Kimberley told PistonHeads: "This will be a great car and it will instantly recognisable as a Lotus."

Lotus expects the car to start production at its Hethel plant in spring 2008, and positions it at the higher end of the range. It'll occupy the sector vacated by the Lotus Esprit that finished production in 2004, said the company.

• Lotus Esprit spy shots

[GTRene]

Have to wait till 2008 then...but I guess it will be a good one(I hope so) I also hope they learned from the past and instal a proper engine and gearbox, here's hoping
Good luck Lotus...
GTRene

[RTH]

Let us hope it will be really light and not so physically large as the previous car and competitively priced so that a good volume can be maintained through thick and thin of at least a 10 year model life ( the Esprit stayed in production for 28 years )

Edited by RTH on Monday 12th February 12:14

[trenchtown]

It looks kinda nice...

Lets see whether it works out

[MarkoTVR]

I hope they keep the styling more along the general shape of the disguised test vehicle, it's a sort of Ferrari 456/Bugatti Veyron mix at the rear and it looks really good IMO. If it does come out like the artist's impression, I can't help thinking it's going to look like it's been forced into a Lotus brand/Lambo Gallardo-esque mould.

[sprinter885]

MarkoTVR said:

I hope they keep the styling more along the general shape of the disguised test vehicle, it's a sort of Ferrari 456/Bugatti Veyron mix at the rear and it looks really good IMO. If it does come out like the artist's impression, I can't help thinking it's going to look like it's been forced into a Lotus brand/Lambo Gallardo-esque mould.

Was thinking "Gallardo" myself.

[L100NYY]

sprinter885 said:

MarkoTVR said:

I hope they keep the styling more along the general shape of the disguised test vehicle, it's a sort of Ferrari 456/Bugatti Veyron mix at the rear and it looks really good IMO. If it does come out like the artist's impression, I can't help thinking it's going to look like it's been forced into a Lotus brand/Lambo Gallardo-esque mould.

Was thinking "Gallardo" myself.

The yellow caris not the new Esprit guys, don't panic!

[cathalm]

Yep, the yellow one isn't the actual car, as regards the Gallardo, if it loks similar that's not Lotus' fault since the Gallardo is an esprit rip off. Remember top gear when they sent in a blueprint of the Gallardo and asked people to say what it was? everyone thought it was an Esprit. The Lotus is the original wedge supercar.

Not that I wouldn't faint if somebody gave ma a gallardo though...

[wab172uk]

Rear end looks Ferrari 360. Front end looks Noble. Photoshop image looks like a restyled Gallardo.

[scotty_917]

L100NYY said:

sprinter885 said:

MarkoTVR said:

I hope they keep the styling more along the general shape of the disguised test vehicle, it's a sort of Ferrari 456/Bugatti Veyron mix at the rear and it looks really good IMO. If it does come out like the artist's impression, I can't help thinking it's going to look like it's been forced into a Lotus brand/Lambo Gallardo-esque mould.

Was thinking "Gallardo" myself.

The yellow caris not the new Esprit guys, don't panic!

Why isn't it?...do you have a better idea??

[Beefmeister]

Looks very Murcielago-esque at the rear, looks good though, very promising...

[Andrew D]

Looks good, like a more compact F355, which is exactly what the Esprit should be. Although the "artist's impression" is really challenging, thank the Lord it seems to be just a cut-and-paste photoshop special from the Elise and Gallardo.

Using a BMW-sourced powerplant is a good idea, pitty TVR didn't do the same or they may have avoided their current pickle. Tinkering with induction, exhaust and ECU is fine, but small-volume manufacturers should really leave the heavy engineering to the big boys, it's far less risky.

[Tuna]

scotty_917 said:

Why isn't it?...do you have a better idea??

The yellow car was an artists impression done a year or so ago by an independent illustrator. It's not from Lotus, and was done based on news about the new Esprit, and by photoshopping a few different cars together. That's why it looks slightly wonky, and a bit like a Gallardo.

[dbroughton]

Seen the Yellow pic before alongside the actual yellow Gallardo pic it was photoshopped from.

[RTH]

The body in the pictures may be just a mule to prove the mechanicals , the final car could be different.

Edited by RTH on Monday 12th February 15:12

[135sport]

Was it not announced recently that the BMW engine was not considered powerful enough.....?

[boggy]

I've already seen it and it look's fantastic

Love it!

Boggy

[L100NYY]

boggy said:

I've already seen it and it look's fantastic

Love it!

Boggy

No you haven't.

Edited by L100NYY on Monday 12th February 14:14

[wallabyguy]

Time line is off. Look to late 2009/ early 2010 for the Esprit. Look for a new mid range car in 2008 which is going to catch it's rivals flat footed.

[dbroughton]

wallabyguy said:

Time line is off. Look to late 2009/ early 2010 for the Esprit. Look for a new mid range car in 2008 which is going to catch it's rivals flat footed.

Just like the europa?

[Horse_Apple]

Looks good. The BMW engine is an excellent lump. Shame but it is a wise move.