Friday 4th August 2006

Lotus Esprit: the name's official

Hethel boss slips out naming decision

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Lotus Esprit - the old one!

Lotus'  third, high-end performance model will be called the Esprit, according to Lotus boss Mike Kimberley during an exclusive interview for PistonHeads.

The Hethel-based hasn't officially announced the name of the old Esprit's replacement yet even although everyone outside the company's been calling it the Esprit. But Kimberley let it slip during the fascinating interview, which we'll be publishing in full soon.

Kimberley said: "For Lotus to be successful we need a three model line-up and the jewel in the crown is the Esprit; it always was." PistonHeads' interviewer noted that the PR man cringed and reminded Kimberley that what he meant to say was 'the mid-engined sports car', as no decision has officially been made about the name yet.

Kimberley also defended Lotus' decision to produce the Europa. "Some people are criticising the Europa but the fact is that there are a lot of people out there who want a sports car they can drive every day – to not do the Europa would be to deny Lotus access to a market five times bigger than the one we're currently in."

[hendry]

I think people are criticisng the Europa S for its styling, not for the concept and market it's aimed at. I don't doubt a large market exists for a more comfortable mid-range sportscar. I am just disappointed they haven't been more adventurous with the styling, especially as the M250 thing was so well received. What has come out looks like a Proton version of an Elise.

[hendry]

OK, a quick search has produced the following. Perhaps those "in the know" can enlighten us.

Car 1:


Car 2:



Car 3:



Car 4:


Car 5:


Place your bets!!

[hendry]

Tuna said:

I think there's a difference between drawing a car that 'looks pretty' and one that is technically accurate and fit for purpose.

Agreed. And that is the difference between stylists and designers. The titles are often confused. Most of those classed as designing cars merely style them - those are the "stylised" almost cartoonesque illustrations we see. Once the designers have got to them - those are the guys that have a wholistic approach to the make-up of the car and are mindful of its appearance offset against necessary mechanical hard-points, safety regs, environmental legislation, development and production budgets etc. - they often look watered down but in fact "make" the car.

Unless an individual has the talents of a whole team of automotive engineers - even Morgan and TVR employ many people to bring a car to market - you can only consider you have a single perspective. And that, typically in such discussions, is how the car is styled.

If you have some illustrations Teigan I would happily add them as Car 6 in the list of candidates (if it is such a thing).

Edited by hendry on Friday 11th August 10:41