Paris motor show 2010: Lotus confirms new supercar

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1 min read

23 July 2010

Lotus has officially confirmed that it will show a concept for an upmarket supercar at the Paris motor show in September.

In the latest of a series of cryptic statements, the Malaysian-owned, Norfolk-based sports car company reveals its new show car will be “perhaps even more” than a replacement for the mid-engined Esprit supercar — which it pointedly reminds us was first unveiled as a Giugiaro-designed concept at the Paris show exactly 35 years ago.

See Autocar's Lotus Esprit rendering, plus the firm's latest teaser

Lotus has been working for at least three years on various iterations of an Esprit replacement, but the company’s latest management, led by ex-Ferrari commercial boss Danny Bahar, has signalled a decisive move upmarket for all future products, apparently into Ferrari-Aston territory.

Lotus spokesmen are hazy about future product, but agree that the new concept is an accurate guide to their future intentions for production models.

Read the full story on Lotus's radical new direction

When sales ended in 2004, volume of the old Esprit — which lasted 18 years through a dozen different models — amounted to 10,700 cars.

Steve Cropley

See all the latest Lotus reviews, news and video

Steve Cropley

Title: Editor-in-chief

Steve Cropley is the oldest of Autocar’s editorial team, or the most experienced if you want to be polite about it. He joined over 30 years ago, and has driven many cars and interviewed many people in half a century in the business.

Cropley, who regards himself as the magazine’s “long stop”, has seen many changes since Autocar was a print-only affair, but claims that in such a fast moving environment he has little appetite for looking back.

He has been surprised and delighted by the generous reception afforded the My Week In Cars podcast he makes with long suffering colleague Matt Prior, and calls it the most enjoyable part of his working week.

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every thing you... 24 July 2010

Re: Lotus confirms new supercar

Leslie Brook wrote:
Incidentally, the Esprit V8, wasn't that a Lotus Engine?

Yep. As was the slant four it was based on. I think i'm right in saying that all the Esprits had Lotus engines.

Before they took to making their own engines they also had the Twin cam unit based on a Ford Cortina 5 main bearing block. It was designed by former Autocar editor and designer of the Jaguar V12, Harry Mundy but Cosworth reworked it before it made production.

JordanB2710 22 July 2010

The headlights also have a look of the 458 Italia, I might be mistaken but I'm sure this is a render from before we saw the Italia. I was also thinking those air intakes are very Lamborghini.

Leslie Brook 20 July 2010

Peter Cavellini wrote:
If Koenigsigg can make their own engine, how come Lotus who've had numerous owners can't design their own engine?

Good point. I think it comes down to expectations. Koeniggseg were an unknown quantity who appeared over the horizon and blew us all way. Ditto Zonda. Lotus have a history, and unfortunately it's for building cheap-ish cars with outsourced engines and swichgear (and Austin Maxi Door Handles). I doubt they'll ever be able to sell enough "supercars" to justify development costs. Incidentally, the Esprit V8, wasn't that a Lotus Engine? I could Google it, but I'm going to risk it and say it was

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Paris motor show 2010: Lotus confirms new supercar