Speculations: New Lotus Esprit to Borrow BMW’s V8 Engine
Re-worked 4.4L V8 to Produce Over 500bhp
By Raghuram Supramanium
February 16, 2008 1:36 PM
Filed Under: European, Lotus
It has been almost four years since Lotus ended the production of the Esprit V8, and reports of its successor are in the air yet again. Earlier rumours claimed that Lotus was planning to release the new Esprit this year, but now it appears that it’s being pushed to 2010.
Spy photographers have caught various test mules for quite some time now, and from what we can see, the forthcoming car is indeed growing up well. In terms of design, nothing much is visible although we know it’s targeted to compete with supercars such as the Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.
Latest report from Autocar suggests that the new Esprit will be powered by BMW’s V8 engine. This sounds promising enough, for we know BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer recently said that the Munich-based automaker has intention to sell its engine technologies to other companies. The most likely candidate for the power-train here would be the 4.4 liter V8 in the BMW X6, possibly tuned up to produce over 500bhp. Between 1000 and 2000 units will be built at the company’s home base at Hethel in Norfolk U.K.
Spy photographers have caught various test mules for quite some time now, and from what we can see, the forthcoming car is indeed growing up well. In terms of design, nothing much is visible although we know it’s targeted to compete with supercars such as the Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.
Latest report from Autocar suggests that the new Esprit will be powered by BMW’s V8 engine. This sounds promising enough, for we know BMW CEO Norbert Reithofer recently said that the Munich-based automaker has intention to sell its engine technologies to other companies. The most likely candidate for the power-train here would be the 4.4 liter V8 in the BMW X6, possibly tuned up to produce over 500bhp. Between 1000 and 2000 units will be built at the company’s home base at Hethel in Norfolk U.K.
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lolz!! that pic is of a worked up Lamborghini Gallardo... :P :D
Yes, that is a Gallardo photoshop and not the Esprit. A BMW engine has been rumoured for some time - BMW already lends Morgan the V8 4.4 and gave old M5 V8s to Ascari so there is some precedent set. Morgan doesn't tune the engine to this degree however.
They will probably have a naturally aspirated version with roughly 400hp and then the epic revival of the Esprit TT with over 500hp. Should be a great car, and knowing it has the unbreakable BMW V8 is very comforting.
hahaha, u guys are right, the rear is completely gallardo! the fact that lotus is reviving their flagship is great.
Why would they need 500hp? With their lightweight philosophy 400 is more than enough.
why would a Mercedes with 600hp need 800hp? Cause its hella fun!
Precisely the art of Lotus is making the most out of the smallest horsepower thanks to weight loss and chassis fine tuning. In other words, what's usually a plus in most other cars (big power numbers) becomes a burden in a Lotus. You need to drive an Elise SC through a twisty road to realize you don't need more unless your driving skills are reduced to straight line burnouts.
YES!!! this is the lotus i have been waiting for. i can't wait to see what the finished car looks like. and i hope lotus goes all the way and produces an all out 550-650bhp supercar!!!
sorry guys if i sound too excited, its just that lotus is one of my favorite car brands. the 1997 elise gt1 is possibly my favorite supercar of all time.
LOTUS ROCKS...since ever, the best engeneering and 500hp in a light car its enough, now you must now how to drive to handle that power and not whit just buttons
pd:mercedes dont know how to made engines...BMW got 680hp in 95` whit out turbo
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