Spy shots: 2009 Lotus Esprit

The return of the Lotus Esprit is just a couple of years away, and marks the first Lotus that can be dubbed a ‘supercar’. The Esprit will be entirely new, and will employ versatile vehicle architecture, a construction technique that allows other models to be developed using the underbody of the Esprit (take note coachbuilders).

The Esprit is expected to be mid-engined and will compete with the likes of Porsche 911 Turbo’s and Audi’s upcoming R8, with pricing for the Esprit expected to be at least $130,000.

Power for the Esprit is expected to come from a non-Lotus manufacturer, as Lotus has agreed that developing a new powerplant is too expensive and the old Esprit engine a relic from the 80’s. There are unconfirmed rumors floating around that a BMW’s 4.8L V8 will power the mid-engined supercar, and if this was the case then the car would develop around 400hp.

There is expected to be a coupe as well as a convertible version of the Esprit, and although its horsepower figures aren’t as astounding as other cars, its speculated weight is expected to be very low due to its aluminium construction.

As part of Lotus’ five-year plan there is also the prospect of a two-plus-two Lotus coupe, a modern interpretation of the never-sold-in-America Excel. Lotus also wants to revive its business of producing Lotus-badged bespoke vehicles for larger automakers, reviving the cars in the same vein as the Ford Lotus Cortina and Opel Lotus Omega. Currently, Lotus claims to be finalizing a deal to make one of these performance-oriented editions of an existing car but is keeping the identity of the client under wraps. If it goes ahead, the vehicle will be manufactured close to the release of the Esprit in 2008.

[Source: Car and Driver]