Mr. Bond, Your Esprit Is Ready

[YSSMAN]

Ha ha! Wow, today is a pretty good day for car news, eh?

Spy photographers in Europe have captured the first images of what appears to be an actual prototype 2010 Lotus Esprit. Previous test mules featured an old Esprit body with new underpinnings.

The car will be built at the Lotus headquarters at Hethel in Norfolk U.K. Lotus announced it had decided to build the successor in May, following an extensive evaluation of feasibility. It was later confirmed the Esprit name would be retained.

In September, Lotus gave a firm timeframe for the new Esprit, which it says will be unveiled in December 2009. Previously, Lotus had planned to launch the car a year earlier. The Esprit will be one of three all-new models due in the next few years.

Several sources have reported that Lotus has chosen to use a 4.4, or 4.8 litre V8 engine from BMW, customized by Lotus with its own electronic engine management and control unit.

It has been officially confirmed by Lotus that the new Esprit will not only become available as a coupe, but, for the first time, as a convertible/roadster, too.

Pricing is expected around $130,000 — undercutting the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini

Well, that is certainly an interesting car now isn't it? I quite like it, as it looks like a pretty good model overall. I thought they were doing an Audi-sourced V8, not the BMW unit, but I assume it could change at any minute.

 

[Famine]

It has been officially confirmed by Lotus that the new Esprit will not only become available as a coupe, but, for the first time, as a convertible/roadster, too.

NOT the first time - there was a Lotus Esprit St. Tropez.

Though when I say "a" I almost literally mean "a".

Anyway... Hmmm. Looks like the bastard lovechild of a Pagani Zonda/Noble M12 from the front and a Veyron/'02 Esprit from the back.

Not keen. Yet.

 

[Flerbizky]

I hope they keep it somewhat Esprit looking - The old car can't be beaten in the design department.. Again, and as always, each to his own and all that...

 

[Jim Prower]

It looks like a bit like an Esprit, but there's also plenty of Lambo-look going on, too...the rear resembles Diablo, the front resembles Murcielago.

 

[TheCracker]

This 'mule' still looks to be based on the previous S4. I thought it was going to be a completely fresh, ground-up design this time around.

 

[Alex.]

*cough* VEYRON *cough*

 

[Kent]

I think you've all got it wrong...

That thing is styled after one of the greatest sports cars in history...

The Ferrari F355

Of course that's just what I see.
In any case it looks like this will be one heck of a car (just have to wait and see).

 

[Dave A]

*cough* VEYRON *cough*

What! It doesn't look anything like the Veyron . It has round tail lights, just like some older Esprits had. We don't even know if that's how it's going to look, that's still a test mule and it's still diguised. But I don't see anything in that car that looks remotely like part of the Veyron that isn't reminicent of part of an earlier Esprit. So what are you going to say now, that the Veyron is an Esprit rip-off, hell make it a rip-off of anything that came before it that had round tail lights. Thought not. This thing is a lot more like the F355 than the Veyron imo, ehich is no bad thing.

 

[ExigeEvan]

I hope that paint job is an option!

I does look like an F355, and while that's not a bad looking car, it wouldn't be much of a progression on the Esprit image.

 

[JCE]

This:

looks almost the same as this:

Like the previous three said it does indeed look like the F355. And to me that is the second more beautiful Ferrari ever. And this is coming from a Ferrari hater.

 

[Famine]

Anyway... Hmmm. Looks like the bastard lovechild of a Pagani Zonda/Noble M12 from the front and a Veyron/'02 Esprit from the back.

Not keen. Yet.

*cough* VEYRON *cough*

What! It doesn't look anything like the Veyron . It has round tail lights, just like some older Esprits had. We don't even know if that's how it's going to look, that's still a test mule and it's still diguised. But I don't see anything in that car that looks remotely like part of the Veyron that isn't reminicent of part of an earlier Esprit. So what are you going to say now, that the Veyron is an Esprit rip-off, hell make it a rip-off of anything that came before it that had round tail lights. Thought not. This thing is a lot more like the F355 than the Veyron imo, ehich is no bad thing.

The whole shape of the rear - particularly the haunches - is reminiscent of the Veyron.

And only the '02 Esprit had round tail lights.

 

[Dave A]

The haunches are more like the Lamborghini Murcielagos, the Veyrons are more curved. I don't think they look that similar at all.

 

[V1P3R]

The overall looks like a Lambo but the rear does look a bit like the 355.

 

[Vonie]

Who cares what it looks like, the good thing is that it will (should(better)) look ****ing awesome.

 

[McLaren]

I think you've all got it wrong...

That thing is styled after one of the greatest sports cars in history...

The Ferrari F355

Of course that's just what I see.
In any case it looks like this will be one heck of a car (just have to wait and see).

Jackpot! I thought it looked very Ferrari-like as well.

 

[1X83Z]

NOT the first time - there was a Lotus Esprit St. Tropez.

Which was a conversion, and only a few were made. If they go official convertible, it'll be the first time. And yes - the rear from that angle looks very Veyron.

By the way, Ferrari of Denver is already taking orders on the new Esprit and is using this as the photo of the car:

 

[exigeracer]

Most smart dealers were taking deposits months if not years ago. They were all given official rednerings and sketches of the design (which was apparently amazing), but things have changed since then, so we will have to wait and see. Lotus has always done a good job of lying to the public and keeping people misinformed until the real thing comes out, so we will see. The front shape definitely needs some work.

 

[niky]

at the tail-light argument... next thing you know, some kid is going to come in here complaining it has Skyline tail-lights.

All I can see in the picture is a chubby Esprit *** Elise, with some styling cues derived from the current Elise line and stretched over an Esprit sized body. Hell, for all we know, that is an Elise rear end plastered to the frame.

 

[SlipZtrEm]

I really am hoping for some mention of a turbo soon... it just seems right!

I'm getting a really odd mix of Noble and... Pantera with those first couple shots. Well, I mean, a modern Pantera, if there ever was a thing. Either way, it looks a bit rounded and bubbly to be a few years off, I'd rather see it follow the evolutionary line of the Elise/Exige than the more rounded and quicker-aging Europa. But I'll reserve final judgement for when it's shown un-camo'ed.

 

[V1P3R]

[image]

erm... so, an elise body kit on an old Esprit. 💡

 

[a6m5]

Is this the new Lamborghini Elise?

Looks nice though. 👍

 

[1X83Z]

erm... so, an elise body kit on an old Esprit. 💡

You've got me - but given that Ferrari of Denver has been taking $10k deposits based on that photo, it's got to be more than just a guess.

 

[Frizbe]

Is this the new Lamborghini Elise?

Looks nice though. 👍

My thoughts exactly.

I saw my first Esprit about a month ago, nicest day we had in Denver for a while so I had my window down when he blew by me on I25. Damn that thing sounded nice.

 

[Jim Prower]

I think that photo might be the project 230 (?) concept from a few years ago. definitely not anything resembling this Esprit, though I have Hot Wheels cars of it.

EDIT: on second thought, it's not that car...

 

[1X83Z]

My thoughts exactly.

I saw my first Esprit about a month ago, nicest day we had in Denver for a while so I had my window down when he blew by me on I25. Damn that thing sounded nice.

You're kidding - an Esprit in still-snowy Denver. Was it black or was it yellow? (or was it not a V8?)

 

[Tornado]

This:


looks almost the same as this:

And I am 85% okay with that.

 

[exigeracer]

You've got me - but given that Ferrari of Denver has been taking $10k deposits based on that photo, it's got to be more than just a guess.

There's no way your photo is from Lotus. Period.

 

[1X83Z]

There's no way your photo is from Lotus. Period.

Nor did I say it was. In fact I specifically cited a source which wasn't Lotus.

 

[Omnis]

is this the same engine going in the M3?

 

[exigeracer]

No. It is either the last M5's or one of the ones used in the X5.