Spy photos: 2009 Lotus Esprit

Haven't these pictures and the same info been circulating for like a year now? And ricemaster just fyi it says that it will have OVER 400 hp.

According to some rumours, the Lotus will use a BMW V8 engine with more than 400hp. Does that mean it could use the M3's new V8 Engine? With less than 3000 pounds, that car will be at least .5 seconds faster to 62mph than the M3. Probably even faster than the Audi R8.

I doubt BMW will sell one of their M engines to anyone.

That's funny, because they sold a very nice V12 engine to McLaren for their supercar.

Ricemaster, as usual, your bias is showing. Reliability was not a factor in awarding the McLaren F1 engine contract. Honda didn't think it would be cost effective, and declined to bid on the limited-production engine contract. BMW, on the other hand, did place a solid bid on the engine contract and therefore won the business. The choice of engine manufacturer was a business decision, not one of technological superiority. Several other companies also have the engineering talent to get the job done... and McLaren had many more choices if BMW hadn't placed such an attractive bid.

Please be more objective and truthful in your posting. Your continued bias and fact-bending is continually irritating.

Back on topic, I suspect that Lotus will choose a relatively lightweight engine for its next Esprit, almost certainly a turbocharged all-aluminum engine. There are several companies that would be able to do the job, but my guess is that unfortunately neither Honda nor BMW will be in the running due to Lotus' current relationship with Toyota.

OK so the Lancer does 4.8 n u say it has like 1000 more pounds, but it has like 50 hp more that the exige and the exige aint turbo nor an awd, so really dont even try to compare something completely different. On another note, the Esprit has not been the spotlight in its market, but it sure leaves its mark, so I dont really count it out. That car had been well balanced in the previews versions, so i doubt this will b a failure.

PS. Who cares which maked made the engine, let Lotus make their changes.

HAHA! a 350z fighter... They made one of those, it was called a bicycle.... seriously though, slowest car ever considered to be a sports car. the Z is a joke. That car and the RX 8 are the same in my book. Lots of hype, zero follow through.

Being a 2002 Esprit owner, most don't seem to realize that the engine in the Esprit was rated at 550 hp but detuned to 350 hp so as to not shatter, shatter the drive train.

In America, its all about horsepower, handling takes a backseat.