Currently reading: 1979 Lotus Esprit S2 road test – Throwback Thursday

This ultra-cool looking mid-engined, rear-wheel drive supercar came with pop-up headlights and Lotus handling

Like beards and Wayfarer sunglasses, pop-up headlights are back. And judging by recent trends in the motoring industry, so is the mid-engined, rear-wheel-drive sports car.

The Lotus Esprit was one of the first to have all three traits, because it flaunted large pop-up headlights, bore a four-cylinder engine that was mid-mounted and sent power exclusively to its back wheels.

Today, its design is a true classic, but back in 1979, two years after the first generation model had arrived, its look was ultra modern. It was functional too, especially once S2 upgrades had been applied.

Esprit 0

“A very attractive wrap around front spoiler replaces the previous bib type,” explained an Autocar road test from the refreshed model’s launch year. “Lotus say it helps duct more air through a larger capacity radiator, improves aerodynamic balance and consequently straight line speed stability, and also reduces the drag-coefficient from 0.367 to 0.360.”

The test car was equipped with a 2.0-litre engine that produced a respectable 160bhp and 140lb ft of torque. The car weighed just 1060kg, and performance was suitably brisk. 60mph came in an Autocar tested 8sec and top speed was 135mph.

“Pressed to the limit, gentle understeer builds up together with a little roll but an usually high degree of feel – something often lacking on mid-engined cars,” was the comment on handling in Autocar. “Lifting off from a balanced understeering slide produced a marked but gentle change to slight oversteer that hardly needed opposite lock to correct – the car slid all of a piece, almost neutrally.”

Screen shot 2016 09 07 at 17

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Away from the test track and on the public road, the Esprit flaunted balance but due to heavy rain and lots of standing water, the car’s light weight meant aquaplaning and twitchy responses made for nervous progress.

However, high-speed stability was good, and our road testers were particularly impressed with the car’s brakes.

The car certainly had is downfalls, namely a driving position that offered very little adjustment and poor rear visibility, but overall the Esprit S2 proved to be a very competent sports car.

Little wonder that today it's becoming an increasingly desirable 1970s icon.

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Oktoberfest 20 September 2016

S3

@Ravon. The rear suspension was unchanged from the S2 right trough to the end of production V8.(I own an S3) The front end was modified mid S3 production though.
Ravon 8 September 2016

S3

Think the S3 with the proper double wishbone rear suspension was a big step forward on this car ?
eseaton 8 September 2016

The finest car ever built.

The finest car ever built.