2008 Lotus Esprit is in development

[vexor]

Development of the 2008 Lotus Esprit is well underway, according to the latest issue of Britain's Autocar magazine. The car — which is expected to take aim at the Ferrari F430 — is currently undergoing safety testing, according to the magazine. A Lotus rep said the car will be much smaller than the F430. Autocar indicates production will begin in late 2007, making the Esprit a 2008 model. Lotus is building the Esprit on its Variable Vehicle Architecture (VVA), which was used for the Lotus APX Concept. Recently, a Lotus spokesman told AutoExpress the jury was still out on the Esprit name. (Shown right is an Autocar rendering from a few years ago).


Can't wait to see what it looks like and what it can do on the road.

[blinkmeat]

Me neither - post the rendering

http://www.autocar.co.uk/Car/Lotus/14366548551.jpg

[ae86_16v]

Small picture looks like a Gallardo.

[Daggernite]

I never quite liked the esprit for some reason. Looked a bit boxy, but if that picture shows just a hint of what the next car will look like then im sure I'll like this one.

[ferrarif1fan89]

meh, im not expecting much, since they let me down with the europa. it better be world conquering is all i can say.

[Everlasting]

looks too much like the gallardo

[saadie]

donsnt look like the gallardo to me ... :roll:

[bmwmpower]

i read in autocar ,its possible that Esprit will have bmws M5 engine, so 507 hp,

[MidEngine4Life]

A few more shots of that esprit concept. This is quite old, im sure its been revised by now.
http://img140.imageshack.us/img140/9948/esprit1gg.jpg (http://imageshack.us) http://img69.imageshack.us/img69/1688/autocarfeb04021er.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/5430/lot14508ny.th.jpg (http://img62.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lot14508ny.jpg) http://img62.imageshack.us/img62/961/lot24508dc.th.jpg (http://img62.imageshack.us/my.php?image=lot24508dc.jpg)
From the looks of the rear shot this is a gallardo photoshopped

[rob_e1]

Those pics are pretty old now. They are only "artists impressions" by the autocar art department, apparently nothing like how the finished car will look.

BTW I exchanged emails with autocar after that blue pic was first published - they admitted it was a photoshopped gallardo :roll:

Latest autocar (last week actually) had another short piece on the new esprit, but no new info. Likely BMW powerplant (but not confirmed) with twin turbos. Autocar were also unsure as to whether it would be composite or aluminium.

Either way, it will be an awesome car. I'm saving....

[rob_e1]

umm, a BMW wouldnt be bad in there. though i really think Lotus should try and build thier own engines!!

Why?

I'm perfectly happy with a new esprit with BMW or AMG or Toyota V8 or V10. Proven technology preferably backed up from a high volume manufacturer with enough R&D dollars to make it bulletproof.

Let Lotus focus on the ride and handling - its what they're best at.

Lotus has used many different engines in the past from different manufacturers. Rover, Toyota most recently, but others in the past. They have also done their own engines (2.2, 3.5l esprit engines for a start) but i think it makes no difference to me as long as the engine is appropriate for the vehicle.

There are several other prestige sports cars that use mainstream engines - the bmw v8 (E39) is in the Ascari and the 4.4 bmw v8 is in the Morgan Aero 8. Pagani and McLaren (f1) are both users of AMG/Mercedes engines.. I see no problem if Lotus go the same way with the new Esprit.

[bmwmpower]

i must agree, lotus got skills to set handling on top level, and bmw M5 engine is one of the very bests, so this looks very promising

[rob_e1]

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/8438/dscf01579na.th.jpg (http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf01579na.jpg)

Some pics in CAR magazine today. Looks great :)

[McLaren4eVa]

umm, a BMW wouldnt be bad in there. though i really think Lotus should try and build thier own engines!!

Why?

I'm perfectly happy with a new esprit with BMW or AMG or Toyota V8 or V10. Proven technology preferably backed up from a high volume manufacturer with enough R&D dollars to make it bulletproof.

Let Lotus focus on the ride and handling - its what they're best at.

Lotus has used many different engines in the past from different manufacturers. Rover, Toyota most recently, but others in the past. They have also done their own engines (2.2, 3.5l esprit engines for a start) but i think it makes no difference to me as long as the engine is appropriate for the vehicle.

There are several other prestige sports cars that use mainstream engines - the bmw v8 (E39) is in the Ascari and the 4.4 bmw v8 is in the Morgan Aero 8. Pagani and McLaren (f1) are both users of AMG/Mercedes engines.. I see no problem if Lotus go the same way with the new Esprit.

Just for the record th McLaren F1 uses a 6.0l BMW Engine.

[DeMoN]

anyone know if the exige will get a redesign sometime soon in the future?

[bmwmpower]

that last esprit photo from CAR it looks like gallardo, esprit desing was a classic, one of the famoust ones,

[r2r]

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/8438/dscf01579na.th.jpg (http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf01579na.jpg)

Some pics in CAR magazine today. Looks great :)

Gallardo + Audi Le Mans Quattro............

IMO they should go for a more classical lines... even if it's mid-engined - they should get the inspiration from Aston Martin rather than from Lamborghini :?

As for the engine... well - I don't mind actually. Since you can find a Lamborghini engine in an Audi - everything is possible :wink:

It's highly unlikely that the new esprit will look anything like that, as that photo seems like nothing more then a car magazine editors poorly computer generated photo.

I always hate the pictures of "what the car might look like" from a computer generated magazine articles. They always seem to be lazy in making a decent image, as that one was clearly started out with the shot of the Gallardo, and then whoever worked on it just added few bits and piece in photoshop to make the car look like the lotus.

[Skaala]

http://img125.imageshack.us/img125/8438/dscf01579na.th.jpg (http://img125.imageshack.us/my.php?image=dscf01579na.jpg)

Some pics in CAR magazine today. Looks great :)

In that color and setting it defenetly looks like a gallardo