Artists have provided us with this rendering of the 2012 Lotus Esprit, a potential competitor to the Audi R8. The British automaker had previously confirmed plans to bring the iconic sports car to market for the first time since 2004, if they sell enough current models to pay for the project.
First produced in 1976, the original Lotus Esprit was based on the 1972 Italdesign concept shown at the Turin Motor Show. Created by legendary designer Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Lotus Esprit was released as a well handling, but underpowered sports car. It gained in popularity through an appearance in The Spy Who Loved Me when it served a dual-purpose as a submarine. With each successive model, the car gained more power, leading to the 350 hp Lotus Esprit V8. In its 28 year run, 10,675 units were sold.
If released, the new Esprit would have a mid-mounted V8 engine, but where they get the engine from is anyone's guess. The company could stick with Toyota, who provides the 3.5-liter V6 on the Lotus Evora. Toyota currently produces several V6 models, including an aluminum-block unit which powers the Toyota Supra GT500 racecar. The upcoming Esprit should be both wider and longer than the Evora, evoking a more supercar feel.
Mixing this idea with the round, curved features at the front-end of the Evora and Elise, the artist's drawing shows an Esprit that looks like it belongs in the current Lotus lineup. Drawing off one of the first released shots of the Evora, the artist widened out the front end, adding a larger grille, while extending the height of the fenders. Turn signals are integrated into the angular side mirrors, matching a more defined style on the side panels. The boot is longer, but the artist kept the wheels right at the very end of the car. This drawing also features a unique, dual-spoke light-weight wheel.
With any luck, the new Lotus Esprit will be introduced in 2011 as a 2012 model year car.
New Lotus Esprit set for Release in 2012
Copy Avarvarii / 2012 Lotus Esprit Artists Rendering
By Zack Newmark
June 22, 2009 3:32 PM
Filed Under: Artist Renderings, European, Lotus, Supercars
Tags: 2012 Lotus Esprit, Lotus Esprit
Comments
Sacto8780
June 22, 2009 4:07 PM
Ah, er--no thanks! That shape is TOO different from the original Esprit--we don't want essentially a "scaled up" Evora.
mc959
June 22, 2009 4:11 PM
rendering looks to much to the Evora, i hope the Esprit will be more agressive.
ZireX
June 22, 2009 4:21 PM
Well - nothing in common with the old Espirit.Definatelly looks like a bigger Evora but still it looks nice.I hope to make it to production.
fredbt
June 22, 2009 4:27 PM
Hahaha That is the Zenvo St1 with a Lotus logo on it.... thats just poor...
HEMI426
June 22, 2009 6:06 PM
I thought it was gonna get the lexus IS-F or the lexus LF-A engine, so a v8 and a v10
N20_Purge
June 22, 2009 6:12 PM
This is probably never going to come out. If it ever does, it is gonna make the Evora look cheap, which it isn't. But a high peformance car from Lotus is always a good thing!
Maverick8
June 22, 2009 6:31 PM
This is a more attention grabbing than the Evora. I was actually holding my money to purchase an Evora but the Esprit seems like the better buy.. Now all we need is a price range.
Bristol411S3
June 22, 2009 6:34 PM
It won't look like that. And it's also not likely to have a V6. Lotus has access to the full set of Toyota powerplants including Lexus. It's more likely to have the engine from the IS-F or maybe even perhaps the LFA.
Wieldop
June 22, 2009 6:36 PM
Sorry that is just rubbish. Its a zenvo st1 with a bit of a changed nose. This avarvarii guy is just an idiot. Was the same with the skoda superb/acclaimed "Third gen octavia"
Aesthetics
June 23, 2009 9:51 AM
fashionable but certainly not stylish, no where near being as stylish as the original.
abey
June 23, 2009 10:32 AM
why do you guys keep saying it looks like an evora? the writer said the rendering is based on the evora. all they have really done is just added details from the zenvo st1
wallabyguy
June 25, 2009 4:38 AM
Not even close. Mike Kimberley publically announced that he scrapped the esprit program when he arrived as CEO 2years ago because the proposal wasn't wedgy enough and sent it back to he designers to fix. The new esprit will have a range of engines and will be much more heavily influenced by former esprits. Also look for the return of the evora head lights.
cox917
July 16, 2009 5:55 PM
First, why don't Lotus bring back something along the lines of some of the supercars that are made in Italy, which was what the previous generations of the Esprit (Esprit, Esprit S2, Turbo Esprit, Esprit S4, and Esprit V8) were all about. These actually looked like a British product that could compete with something from Italy, Germany, or the US. Granted, the original Esprit was originally penned by an Italian guy. Although the market has changed, the new Esprit looks very stunted, and as the other comments have suggested, just looks like a warmed-over Evora. Maybe that is from the influence of their Asian based, (nothing against Asian people), owner Proton. But the point is most of the research is done in Great Britain, at group Lotus in Hethel. Why can't Britain have more influence on the looks? Also, with their longer base of racing expertise, it would be nicer to see a BMW powerplant under the hood, but considering the facts that back in 1976 Lotus engineers were able to coax close to 300 horsepower out of their original 4 cylinder powerplant, and they do such a superb job of tuning the Toyota powerplants of the Elise, Evora, and other current models, Lotus would certainly do well to develop their own offering to challenge the Toyota hardware. Although reliable, the Toyota ones are not properly race proven and the new V-10 that is supposed to be going into the Lexus LF-A is not proven at all. Again Lotus would do well to develop their own engine and add to the Britishness. If they can do with a larger engine what they did with the original 4 cylinder, then imagine the power, and efficiency (it would very closely rival the Toyota offerings.) Also, you don't see Ferrari, Lamborghini, Maserati, Porsche, or Aston Martin outsourcing their engines. Nice aspects, but some rough edges.
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still though looking forward to seeing it at the next show.