The End of Esprit's Revival Dreams: A Forever Farewell
In Memoriam- In the realm of automotive nostalgia, few cars have left an enduring mark like the Lotus Esprit. Even after production ceased on February 4, 2004, the allure of this iconic sports car lingered in the hearts of enthusiasts. Recognizing this, Lotus Cars, under the leadership of CEO Danny Bahar, contemplated a revival of the beloved Esprit.
In 2006, Lotus Cars aimed to resurrect its iconic sports car, the Lotus Esprit. (Picture from: CarAndDriver)
The rebirth of the Lotus Esprit took flight in 2006, unfolding a grand scheme to commence production by late 2013 and initiate sales in the spring of 2014, with an estimated starting price of around £103,000 / $175,000. Tasked with the challenge, a team of designers led by Russell Carr, embarked on crafting a new design for this legendary sports car.
The redesigned Lotus Esprit boasted dimensions of 4,550 mm in length, 1,950 mm in width, and 1,250 mm in height, with a declared gross weight of approximately 1,495 kg. (Picture from: TopGear)
In a significant turn of events, the revamped Esprit made its debut at the 2010 Paris Motor Show under Donato Coco's tenure as design chief. The unveiling marked a moment of eager anticipation, as the Esprit stood out as the flagship model among four other concept cars – the Elan, Elite, Elise, and Eterne.
The unveiling of new-design Lotus Esprit at the 2010 Paris Motor Show marked a moment of eager anticipation, as the Esprit stood out as the flagship model among four other concept cars – the Elan, Elite, Elise, and Eterne.. (Picture from: TopGear)
The redesigned Lotus Esprit boasted dimensions of 4,550 mm in length, 1,950 mm in width, and 1,250 mm in height, with a declared gross weight of approximately 1,495 kg. Aligning with Lotus' ethos of "performance through lightweight," the Esprit exuded an aggressive design, characterized by low, wide proportions and bold lines that accentuated its sleek body. Notable features included a futuristic front-end with LED daytime running lights and a distinctive diamond-shaped dual exhaust system at the rear.
Inside the 2-seater cabin, a futuristic and minimalist design prevailed, characterized by dark tones of leather, fabric, and carbon fiber materials, complemented by aluminum trims. (Picture from: CarAndDriver)
Powering the new-design Esprit was a robust 5.0-liter Lexus V8 engine, capable of delivering a staggering 612 hp through a 7-speed dual-clutch transaxle. The performance figures were equally impressive, with a 0-100 km/h time of 3.5 seconds, a top speed reaching 330 km/h, and CO2 emissions capped at 250 g/km. An optional hybrid system, equipped with KERS, was also in the cards.
The redesigned Lotus Esprit exuded an aggressive design, characterized by low, wide proportions and bold lines that accentuated its sleek body. (Picture from: TopGear)
Inside the 2-seater cabin, a futuristic and minimalist design prevailed, characterized by dark tones of leather, fabric, and carbon fiber materials, complemented by aluminum trims. Carbon fiber accents were scattered throughout the cabin, accentuating a digital instrument cluster and a sporty steering wheel.
The new-design Lotus Esprit powered by a robust 5.0-liter Lexus V8 engine, capable of delivering a staggering 612 hp through a 7-speed dual-clutch transaxle. (Picture from: TopGear)
Regrettably, on September 29, 2014, the British automaker made the tough decision to cancel the Esprit revival project, citing a strategic shift towards continuing the production of lightweight and nimble cars. Financial considerations played a pivotal role in this decision. Despite this setback, discussions about the potential revival of the Lotus Esprit persisted in automotive circles until 2020.
Under new ownership, Lotus Cars has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to forging ahead into the future, prioritizing environmentally friendly solutions. Models like the Lotus Evija, Eletre, Emeya, and others embody this forward-looking approach. Consequently, automotive enthusiasts are faced with the inevitable closure of the Lotus Esprit chapter, as the brand sets its sights on a new era of innovation and sustainability. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LOTUSCARS | CARBODYDESIGN | CARANDDRIVER | TOPGEAR | DRIVE | WIKIPEDIA ]
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The rebirth of the Lotus Esprit took flight in 2006, unfolding a grand scheme to commence production by late 2013 and initiate sales in the spring of 2014, with an estimated starting price of around £103,000 / $175,000. Tasked with the challenge, a team of designers led by Russell Carr, embarked on crafting a new design for this legendary sports car.
Under new ownership, Lotus Cars has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to forging ahead into the future, prioritizing environmentally friendly solutions. Models like the Lotus Evija, Eletre, Emeya, and others embody this forward-looking approach. Consequently, automotive enthusiasts are faced with the inevitable closure of the Lotus Esprit chapter, as the brand sets its sights on a new era of innovation and sustainability. *** [EKA | FROM VARIOUS SOURCES | LOTUSCARS | CARBODYDESIGN | CARANDDRIVER | TOPGEAR | DRIVE | WIKIPEDIA ]
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