New Esprit to see the light of day?

[Hedgerley]

Picked this up from the BBC's World Service site as I om on vacation in the South of France at the moment. You can't get it in the UK.

Its the 'Roundabout Blog' take on the recent good news coming out of Hethel. I don't know where they got the news on the Esprit but if true.....


At Lotus Cars’ factory in Hethel, England, the production line for the supercharged V6-powered Exige S is humming.

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James Bond sub: Under the gavel

A surplus of speed
The whole company is humming, in fact. Flush from an infusion of £100m ($155m) by its new Malaysian owners, the investment group DRB-Hicom, the British sports car maker has embarked on an ambitious recruitment drive. Lotus is currently hiring more than 100 employees, including more than three dozen specialised engineers.

Looking forward, it seems clear that the five-models-in-five-years plan championed by former Lotus chief Dany Bahar has been scrapped. But his most ambitious vision, that of Lotus battling Ferrari, Porsche and McLaren with a new Esprit flagship, is likely to carry on under the company’s new management. Development of the Esprit, which is expected to pack a gasoline-electric hybrid V8 powertrain producing upwards of 620 horsepower, has continued apace since the car’s debut at the 2010 Paris motor show. With luck, a production version will debut at next year’s Paris show.

[ChristAlmighty]

I so hope this is true. I'm not into Ferrari and the MP4-12 seems a little soulless. So after my Aston v12 Vantage goes next year, I could see myself in the new Esprit. I think it looks absolutely amazing... a real halo car for Lotus that will surely help shift "lesser" models too. I've mailed Lotus twice expressing my views, and enquiring as to whether the new Esprit will ever be forthcoming, sadly to no avail (or response) as yet!

[Frimley111R]

Nope, its dead. new stuff will be at a lower price point.

[ChristAlmighty]

Are you absolutely sure. Cos if so, that's a shame. I guess Lotus *wont* be stealing my sale from the established players then :-/

[Gabber]

Two months ago Lotus was still working on the new Esprit according the Lotus COO although slowly.The 5 model 5 year plan is indeed dead but this doesn't mean 3 models could be made. I think with all the money invested and allmost all work done on the new Esprit it is very likely that we will see it in the "near" future. But this is what I think so I can be completely wrong off course. I also think that we will see an Evora roadster soon.

[hundleydavid]

Was at Lotus today and asked the question after looking at some lovely photos of the car and was given a very quick convincing 'no'.

After going around the factory, I can only assume they would have to build a new production line for the car if it wasn't put together like the other cars in the range.

Things seemed very positive though and lots of talk about new funding that has come in and additional staff being recruited.

Real shame on the Esprit front, but what a fantastic place to visit and just happy to see Lotus keep going.

[benters]

I get a little frustrated with the rise and fall of Lotus, and the subsequent 'will they wont they' rumours. It seems to me that only stability will lead to new models and thats not a word that we can typically associate with Lotus. I would love to see an elise replacement, a new Esprit, Elan etc but i wont hold my breath just yet.