Lotus' limited resources were apparently tapped out by the fast-tracking of the new Evora, so the Esprit replacement has been delayed until 2011. According to Autocar, the new Esprit will be based off the same chassis as the Evora, but it will be widened and stretched to fit a longitudinal engine mounted amidships. But what kind of engine? Lotus boss Mike Kimberley says that he wants to offer "guilt-free, high performance motoring" and Autocar maintains that to reach that goal, the new Esprit could be fitted with a hybrid drivetrain based on a mix of Lotus and Toyota technology.
Lotus has its hands full with several other projects, including six different versions of the Evora -- ranging from a convertible to an automatic variant -- as well as developing S3 versions of the Elise and Exige and working on 340 different projects for 147 separate companies. For the first time in several years, Lotus posted a profit, and if the automaker continues its trajectory, more money and compelling products are on the way.
With its 60th anniversary rolling around the corner, Lotus isn't about to coast down the straightaway. After years of relying on Elise derivatives – including the Exige, 2-Eleven and Europa – the world-renowned gurus of handling are preparing two completely new models: the Eagle – a new 2+2 GT – and the return of the Esprit – the hardcore, Ferrari-battling supercar.
After seeing numerous spy shots of the former, a test mule for the latter has emerged, giving us a glimpse at how the top-of-the-line Lotus is shaping up. The Esprit's design is tipped to be quite different from other Lotus models. But while the platform will be distinct from that of the compact Elise, Lotus' new Variable Vehicle Architecture will be malleable for future applications as well... although, with such a diverse sportscar range zooming over the horizon, we wonder what else Lotus has got in store.
Sources claim power for the new Esprit will come from BMW – not an in-house engine like the previous Esprit, nor a Toyota engine like those found in the current models, and not an Audi engine like that one-off. The 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 from Bavaria is tipped to be tuned to 500hp for the Esprit, which will be ready to take on the Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo LP560-4 when it hits the market at the end of next year.
A Lotus Esprit that has clearly grown several inches in its midsection has been photographed playing in the snow of northern Sweden where all the European automakers like to spend their winters. The scribes at Autocar have traced back the license plate to reveal that the car it's attached to is propelled by a 4.4L BMW V8. As reported yesterday, it's believed that the 2010 Lotus Esprit will be motivated by the twin-turbo 4.4L V8 that debuted in the X6 xDrive50i at the Detroit Auto Show. Mounted in the Esprit, it's expected to get pumped up from the original 407 hp to a nice round 500 hp. It should make a fun alternative to the next gen Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo when it finally drops. Let's just hope it doesn't get pushed back again.
When we last saw the Lotus Esprit in 2004, it was equipped with a 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 rated at about 350 hp. Offering much more motivation than its early turbocharged 4-cylinder powerplant, the Esprit V8 was quick -- pedal to the floor, the two-seat coupe could punch through 60 mph in less than 5 seconds. Impressive as it was just a few years ago, there are more than a handful of cars (at half the price) that can shame the Lotus back across the Pond today.
To keep the upcoming 2011 Lotus Esprit at the front of the pack, it is rumored to be fitted with the 4.4-liter twin-turbo V8 found under the hood of the recently released BMW X6. The powerplant is rated at 400 horsepower with only light boost under the German's hood. Under the fiberglass cover of the future British Esprit, it will most likely be tuned to deliver nearly 500 horsepower. It will need every bit of power it can get, as the new Lotus will be competing with the Porsche 911 Turbo, Ferrari F430, and the new Nissan GT-R.
