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1981 Lotus Esprit
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Maniac Transplants Audi 4.2-Liter V8 Into 1981 Lotus Esprit
This is one of those rare occasions where the most appropriate reaction to an engine transplant is to stand from your chair, and begin a slow clap of awe-inspired appreciation. It takes a certain kind of bonkers maniac to wrest the 2.2 liter 4-cylinder Lotus engine and Citroen gearbox from an otherwise impeccable example of a 1981 Lotus Esprit and install a monster German V8 of aluminum und schteel. Follow along in forum format as our hero goes about the heart transplant, and wonder in awe as he custom machines parts for the beast. We want to be like him when we grow up. [Motorgeek]
choose your eternity
While the 8-door '57 Chrysler limo almost beat out the stretched Ferrari 400i limo in our last Choose Your Eternity poll (and what an upset of reigning PCH Superpower, Italy, that would have been!), V12 power and Italian build quality seem to have triumphed over fins and rust. Today we need to see how Italy fares against its fellow PCH Superpower, Great Britain (with the winner moving on to take on France, of course). And, just to make things more fun, we're going with some serious Malaise machinery today, because Euro-Malaise is inherently cool-yet-hellish.
More »
PCH, Superpower Malaise Showdown: 1978 Ferrari 308 or 1980 Lotus Esprit?
While the 8-door '57 Chrysler limo almost beat out the stretched Ferrari 400i limo in our last Choose Your Eternity poll (and what an upset of reigning PCH Superpower, Italy, that would have been!), V12 power and Italian build quality seem to have triumphed over fins and rust. Today we need to see how Italy fares against its fellow PCH Superpower, Great Britain (with the winner moving on to take on France, of course). And, just to make things more fun, we're going with some serious Malaise machinery today, because Euro-Malaise is inherently cool-yet-hellish.More »
spy photos
2009 Lotus Esprit
The Dutch boys over at AUTOGESPOT snapped up some pictures last week from a Lotus forum of what appears to be a camo-ed 2009 Lotus Esprit. We don't really understand what they wrote, but it looks like they're expecting the '09 to drop at the 2008 Geneva Auto Show. As far as the engine, we're hearing it'll be a 4.8-liter V8 via BMW, and the folks at the "GESPOT" think it'll have in excess of 400 HP. [via AUTOGESPOT]
1:30 PM on Tue Jul 24 2007
By Ray Wert
5,037 views,
4 comments
Latest by miken5678: i hope they keep it atleast fi in line with previous models more »
retro
Surreal Lotus Esprit Clip
Our love for the Lotus Esprit dates back to its appearance in The Spy Who Loved Me, and while we forget about the old girl now and then, whenever we see one, we want one all over again. We realize, of course, that this is some deranged madness. But then again, Lotuses have often been deranged, mad cars. Just ask Jim Clark, Al Navarro or the two girls in this strange long-form advert. More »
spy photos
Spy Photos: More on the New Lotus Esprit
The Dutch masters at Autovisie procured some shots of what spies say is the next Lotus Espirit. It appears to be the same test vehicle seen indoors recently. This time, it's out on the street, with its assumed BMW-sourced V8 getting a workout of some measure. We'll have to wait until 2009 or thereabouts to see the finished product, which the company's been working on since the Clinton administration. But at 2,600 pounds and nearly 400 horsepower, we're just going to assume its worth the wait. More »
9:34 AM on Fri Feb 23 2007
By Mike Spinelli
1,879 views,
3 comments
Latest by Joepel: C'mon, the real question here is: "Is that the back of a Dacia Logan or a Renault Clio across from it??" more »
spy photos
Spy Photos: Lotus Esprit, Maybe?
Considering the Lotus Esprit replacement has been in development since the Clinton administration — and the only evidence we've seen has been a few test mules disguised as the previous model — these spy shots gave us a bit of the gibblies. Still, we have no idea from where AutoGespot procured these pics of what could be an in-development prototype. All we know is that it may have a BMW-sourced V8 and will likely launch in 2010. And possibly weigh as much as a sack of kittens, or so we hear. More »
9:38 AM on Thu Feb 8 2007
By Mike Spinelli
1,189 views,
4 comments
Latest by Davey G.: I'll hold my opinion until they drop the submarine version. more »
news
Esprit d'Corps: Lotus Newsletter Highlights Plans
Lotus's latest corporate newsletter has more than just snapshots from the last company pot-luck supper (cheese puffs again?). It's got a primer of the engineering process that will, one day, lead to a replacement for the long-running Esprit and the new Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) that will underpin its next-generation models. It also features sketches of prospective cars, including a GT coupe and a seven-seat crossover, which speak equally to Lotus's project outsourcing business as to its own brand. Speed through lightness through technology. How clever. More »
spy photos
Spy Photos: Lotus Esprit Test Mule
It's high-altitude and brake testing that sent Lotus engineers into the Alps with a test mule that's likely the new Lotus Esprit coupe. Spies caught the patchwork supercar in the mountains, in the most complete prototype of the 2009 Lotus we've seen to date. It would appear that the blokes at Hethel have chosen a powertrain too, which sources say is a BMW 4.4 or 4.8-liter V8 hooked to Lotus's own ECU. Spies also say the Esprit, which reportedly has the Ferrari F430 in its sights, will also be built in roadster form. More »
9:55 AM on Tue Oct 10 2006
By Mike Spinelli
1,087 views,
7 comments
Latest by skierpage: Go through your old "car" mags for all the Esprit prototypes and spy shots, I tell ya there's been one a year since 1979. The front headlight treatment of this one looks good. Ferrari's 599 GTB has moved more »
news
Lotus's Master Plan: Three New Models in Five Years
The blokes at Lotus are preparing for a veritable product blitz that will bring three new models to market in the next five years, including the new, long-awaited Esprit-replacement flagship. According to the company, the two additional models will include a vague mid-market entry set to launch in December 2008, along with a high-performance model created with Lotus parent, Malaysia's Proton, coming in May 2008. Despite rumors the Esprit flagship was coming next year, the company says the Esprit replacement's introduction has been extended to 2009 to "incorporate more Lotus 'DNA' and other enhancements to meet the changing needs of the global marketplace." Exactly. Someone must have left the barn door open. More »
gossip
Hello, My Name is Esprit: Lotus Boss Namedrops New Flagship
As PistonHeads tells it, Lotus's chief Mike Kimberley has confirmed the name of the company's Esprit-replacing flagship will be — Esprit. It's the first word from the company that the Esprit line — one of the most storied Lotus marques ever — would continue. According to PH, Kimberley said, "For Lotus to be successful we need a three model line-up and the jewel in the crown is the Esprit," to which a PR rep corrected him, with "mid-engined sports car." In other news, The Society for the Prevention of CEO Tourette's Syndrome wants a few bucks. More »
spy photos
Spy Photos: It's Coming -- 2008 Lotus Esprit Test Mule
What's a test mule other than a masquerade ball on wheels, with only the guest of honor in attendance. In this case, it's the new, long (long) awaited Lotus Esprit replacement, dressed as a Lotus Esprit. Does that mean, by default, it's the Lotus Esprit replacement? Well no, but those who are in the know say it is. And that's good enough for us. It's Friday. More »
7:07 PM on Fri Jun 23 2006
By Mike Spinelli
595 views,
4 comments
news
Lotus Pipes up on Esprit Replacement
Left Lane News has the scoop on Lotus's reworked flagship, the Esprit. (The new model's been so long in the making, we'd taken to calling it Esprit de Corpse.) But Lotus's CEO Mike Kimberley now says the mid-engined supercar will arrive sometime in 2008. It'll be built at Lotus's Hethel HQ, not in some Proton facility in Malaysia, as had been rumored, and will use an all-new, all-aluminum architecture. Word is it'll use a BMW-sourced V8 for power, but that's far from confirmed. More »
news
