New Esprit ‘authentic’

Bahar claims the Esprit will “have the character and emotion” that he says the McLaren lacks. He also revealed that the rolling chassis was now complete and fully running prototypes would be ready by November.

Development of the car will take place at the Nürburging and Idiada (Spain) circuits, as well as at Lotus’s Hethel headquarters, where work on a new test track is almost complete.

The Esprit will also be the first Lotus to use the firm’s new V8 engine, which could produce as much as 570bhp. Bahar said the Lotus V8 is 80kg lighter and 40 per cent smaller than the Toyota-sourced V8 originally destined for the Esprit.

Formula 1 KERS-style technology is also expected to feature on the Esprit, but Bahar said such electronic systems would be used only where they add to the driving experience and not as driver aids.

Bahar also clarified the role of the track-orientated Exige and 2-Eleven within Lotus’s new model line-up, saying they, along with the Elise, “will always be there” to please Lotus’s existing customer base.

Whether the next-gen Exige and 2-Eleven switch to Lotus’s all-new lightweight modular aluminium platform is unclear, with Bahar only saying performance would improve as the models evolved.

“That’s what we’re working on,” he said. “We have some nice plans for the 2-Eleven. But at the moment it’s doing very well so there is no need to change it. It’s a fun car; it’s selling. We have something in mind.”

dlin - 6/16/2011 3:01:58 PM

+2 Boost

Cost. They're too small to do everything themselves.

Joe_Limon - 6/16/2011 3:19:27 PM

-1 Boost

Lotus isn't that small, what they lack for in vehicle sales they make up for Engineering power. Larger manufacturers outsource their engineering to them. And as such Lotus already has a few different engines of their own that they haven't put into production.

dlin - 6/16/2011 3:03:13 PM

+1 Boost

I'd rather see Elan than another McLaren competitor.

mini22 - 6/16/2011 7:07:56 PM

+1 Boost

But if they can develope their own V8 and then develope their own V6 and inline 4 they have more options as far as new models.The Evora chassis can either be downsized for an inline 4 or restyled into a new Elan or Europa. I agree the volume is very small for a Mclaren or 458 compitator. HOpefully they can make enough money off that to fund an Evora restyle with a V6 and an Elan in line 4. What they really need to mak money is to actually build a 4dr sedan or SUV like Porsche. If Lotus can figure out how to make them reliable those products would be able to fund their entire sports car goal.