Lotus readies next Esprit

[Rob]

Half page in today's autocar, p16..:

"New supercar will be smaller than a ferrari F430, with twin-turbo BMW V8 power. Due in two years.

Engineering of the new esprit is

[Loose Cannon]

Does it have the pictures which are in Auto Express??

Aside from being God's Own Colour, I'm not overly chuffed. If it is not just a mockup (and it looks produstion ready) I think anyone who predicted an Elise derivation wasn't wide of the mark

[Mark Blanchard]

I think anyone who predicted an Elise derivation wasn't wide of the mark

Hmm . . .

Any pics please?

[WayneB]

Heres the article from Autocar OnlineNew Esprit

Same Computer mock up rendering as seen before here.

[karmavore]

I love it... a whole article which says NOTHING.

It MAY have a BMW V8... It MAY or MAY NOT be made of aluminum.

[Mark Blanchard]

[mwmackenzie]

This time................. bloody pc!

[markt]

I'm not overly chuffed. If it is not just a mockup (and it looks production ready) I think anyone who predicted an Elise derivation wasn't wide of the mark

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

Oh Dear... I was sort of holding out for something that looked like the blue rendering... Mark I hope you are so wrong...

[Mark Blanchard]

I really hope this is another Artists impression, because it doesn

[karluk29]

well if it IS the M5 engine its going to be a monster surley. as unlimited the M5 tops 202mph.....so its gonna be a 200mph beast

[Rob]

Autocar were very lazy and just showed us the lame gallardo-photoshop effort from last year.

And as for that "fat elise" that autoexpress has mocked up.. oh FFS...!

[WayneB]

Not impressed (at all) with the car shown in Auto Express

Hope thats not it

Obviously the new target owner is the aging Elise driver

Hopefully, its just a test mule and not the real deal

Edited March 15, 2006 by WayneB

[karluk29]

please let it be a photoshop by lotus and they gave it to autocar to shut them up, and its not really a fat looking elise. love elise and exige but come on lotus its supposed to be a SUPERCAR.

just look at the big boys at lambo/zonda etc etc, be creative

[Mark Blanchard]

Another thing mentioned in the Autocar article is that Lotus is in trouble again. Disappointing US sales of the Elise (2200 sold last year) and development of the New Esprit has drained their finances and led to a 3 day working week at Hethel.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

WHAT A LOAD OF RUBBISH!!

Typical Autocar-esque tosh!

We KNOW that the mule theyve been seen driving around Hethel has a wheel base LARGER than a V8, whose bodyshell it is lurking under...

So it can't be terribly small!

Yet another Artist's impression is a bucket of crap! (Though I fear they may not be far of the mark with yet another Elise derivative design)

However my hope beyond all hope is that they will take the opportunity the new Esprit offers to MOVE ON from a now old Elise styling and establish a template of a NEW Lotus design image to be passed down to all the new VVA Platform derived products. It makes logical sense. (famous last words!)

[JRTurbo909]

I hope that it isnt another elise derivative...

i cant wait to see some truth, i really hope the new esprit just impresses the whole world...

Shah

[karluk29]

a bloke a PH forum already has his cash down, and its

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

Well... come on Kimbers! (et al) We know you're out there! You've seen the clay - if you can debunk these pictures PLLLLLEASE do so!!!

[WayneB]

Can anyone scan the Auto Express picture in a larger format and post it please

As its gone uneasily quiet from the Lotus people I assume thats it.

Maybe its a grower ?.

[JRTurbo909]

As its gone uneasily quiet from the Lotus people I assume thats it.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

I have noticed this as well Wayne...

Shah

[Paul C]

I'm not sure if i should merge all the muliple page 'New Esprit' threads

on the various forums, into one all powerful thousand page thread of

motoring hack sketches mixed in with the odd fact or engine picture

to keep everybody talking until the next 'new Esprit' thread starts.

I'm becoming so apathetic, i can't even be bothered reading with the

latest article, it's like cry wolf. (it had better be a wolf when it arrives).

[jaysingh]

The new Esprit should wow people and do justice to the legacy of Giugiaro, Stevens, Thomson and Carr design. One thing it shouldn't do is turn out to be the Elise's chubby sister! I hope the designers are looking at the pictures in Autocar and chuckling to themselves

[gmendoza]

Going by Lotus' trend, I would not be surprized if it looked like an Elise derivative and this will be Lotus' new brand image. No more wedge.

[JRTurbo909]

bring the wedge back!!!

Shah

[neuron]

Going by Lotus' trend, I would not be surprized if it looked like an Elise derivative and this will be Lotus' new brand image.  No more wedge.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

NO NO NO NO NO NO NO NO !!!!!. It's all a load of B0ll0cks !!!!! Trust me on this one, i have seen the full size clay and it does not look like the car in Auto Express. I am NOT willing to divulge what it DOES look like as this is job-losing territory.

CHILL Gentlement of the forum !!!!

The real thing looks much better.