Lotus Confirms Esprit Only New Model in Development
While Lotus created a lot of buzz at the Paris Auto Show by unveiling an entirely new lineup of sports cars, only one is actually in the development stage. According to AutoCar, just one of the five vehicles (the Esprit) has any serious engineering behind it. That may cast some doubt on the sincerity of Lotus’s plans, but it shouldn’t.
As we previously reported, the Esprit is the first Lotus set to debut, with an on-sale date in the Spring of 2013. So it only makes sense that it would be the first vehicle to be fully developed. Besides, with all five concept vehicles (from the Elan to the Elite) being based on the same versatile vehicle architecture, it’s generally true that all of the car’s are partially in the works.
Powered by a Lexus 5.0-liter V8 and mated to a supercharged, the Esprit will make 542-hp and 61-hp in R-spec trim. The body will be made entirely of carbon fiber.
We can’t wait for 2013!
GALLERY: 2014 Lotus Esprit
[Source: AutoCar]
With AutoGuide from its launch, Colum previously acted as Editor-in-Chief of Modified Luxury & Exotics magazine where he became a certifiable car snob driving supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX and racing down the autobahn in anything over 500 hp. He has won numerous automotive journalism awards including the Best Video Journalism Award in 2014 and 2015 from the Automotive Journalists Association of Canada (AJAC). Colum founded Geared Content Studios, VerticalScope's in-house branded content division and works to find ways to integrate brands organically into content.
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