Mark H Posted March 15, 2006 Posted March 15, 2006 http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/13364.htm Testing for the next Lotus Esprit is proceeding apace -- and it's aimed right at the Lamborghini Gallardo and the Ferrari F430. The car is currently undergoing crash test work and looks likely to emerge from the factory on late 2007, in time for launch proper in 2008, according to this week's Autocar. Chief designer Russell Carr reckoned that the mid-engined car would be smaller than either of the two supercars mentioned above. According to the report, it'll be powered by a twin-turbocharged V8 -- possibly a BMW -- via a six-speed sequential transmission. Bodywork is likely to be either composite or aluminium. There's no news on concrete matters such as price or a more detailed spec. After the lukewarm reception afforded the new Europa, let's hope that Lotus gets the styling right for this prestigious end of the market.
Fiona Posted March 15, 2006 Posted March 15, 2006 Eventually! Let's hope this one looks stunning. What happened to the Circuit Car btw?
darren5591 Posted March 15, 2006 Posted March 15, 2006 Also on pistonheads Audi sportswagon Reminds me of a 340R
lotus Posted March 15, 2006 Posted March 15, 2006 have you lot seen the pics,,,,,b4 anyone hangs me i love the elise and exige but WTF are lotus doing its just a fat elise for god sake the engine should be a monster though by all accounts,,,,if the use the m5 and then twin turbo it, it will push out 500bhp+, the m5 de-limited does 202mph. so lotus will be fighting the bug boys again http://www.glcforum.com/ukesprit/forums/in...pe=post&id=1280
lotus Posted March 15, 2006 Posted March 15, 2006 fingers crossed this is also a photoshop attempt by autocar OR lotus gave them this to stop the speculation, but its a fake
PPPMAT Posted March 15, 2006 Posted March 15, 2006 obvious photoshop - it will 'not' look like that. If it does I will eat my keyboard (and this desk)
lotus Posted March 15, 2006 Posted March 15, 2006 esprit boys/girls are saying this may well be the exige s3, more than the esprit
Steve J Posted March 15, 2006 Posted March 15, 2006 Should have been the Europa rather than the Proton styled one they are producing. Hope the Esprit is nothing like the photoshop. They need a new cutting edge design not another Elise look-a-like to take on the Lambo and Fezza. It has to be better looking and outperform them if it's going to sell.
M111 Posted March 15, 2006 Posted March 15, 2006 Also on pistonheads Audi sportswagon Reminds me of a 340R <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Smart Roadster crossed with 340R The opposition know a good design when they see one then
Simon V Posted March 16, 2006 Posted March 16, 2006 http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...6lr%3D%26sa%3DG ? Oh hang on...this is a 2004 guess at it.
Tango190 Posted March 16, 2006 Posted March 16, 2006 http://images.google.co.uk/imgres?imgurl=h...6lr%3D%26sa%3DG ? Oh hang on...this is a 2004 guess at it. <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Surely thats a 250 in new bodywork Si ?
Jonathan E Posted March 16, 2006 Posted March 16, 2006 The first lot of pics are from Auto Express which is a very poor version of Autocar. Its a photoshopped version of what they think the Esprit will look like,they have been very wrong on alot cars in developement in the past so I wouldn't take much notice.They are the Sun of motoring mags,ie they've not got a story so they make one up. BMW V8 is what I've been led to believe,and is being tested at Hethel in an old "loose panel Esprit" whatever that means. Fiona, The curcuit car was put on hold at the end of last summer because Lotus still had a bit of work to do to it,and by the time it was sorted the Winter had begun.They didn't want the journo's trying the car on a cold wet track for obvious reasons,so I think you'll be hearing alot more about it when the Spring/Summer arrives. hth Regards Jon
RobS Posted March 16, 2006 Posted March 16, 2006 The first lot of pics are from Auto Express which is a very poor version of Autocar. Its a photoshopped version of what they think the Esprit will look like,they have been very wrong on alot cars in developement in the past so I wouldn't take much notice.They are the Sun of motoring mags,ie they've not got a story so they make one up.BMW V8 is what I've been led to believe,and is being tested at Hethel in an old "loose panel Esprit" whatever that means. Fiona, The curcuit car was put on hold at the end of last summer because Lotus still had a bit of work to do to it,and by the time it was sorted the Winter had begun.They didn't want the journo's trying the car on a cold wet track for obvious reasons,so I think you'll be hearing alot more about it when the Spring/Summer arrives. hth Regards Jon <{POST_SNAPBACK}> Circuit Car.... 2007
mambosasa Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 I think it looks pretty good! I just hope that it's a lot bigger than the Elise S2 otherwise it's just going to look like it should have been Elise S3. But, I am loving the vibe! (Picture scanned off Auto Express)
Elaine Posted March 20, 2006 Posted March 20, 2006 We've heard that the above car is a photoshopped Elise & Europa, and that the new Esprit looks nothing like that.
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