Lotus Esprit

The Lotus Esprit was a sports car built by Lotus from 1976 to 2004. It was unveiled as the Silver Car concept at the Turin motor show in 1972 and was based on the Lotus Europa chassis. Originally, the name Kiwi was proposed, but in keeping with the E naming format of Lotus tradition, the name was changed to Esprit.

Related Topics:
Sports car - Lotus - 1976 - 2004 - Concept - Turin - 1972 - Lotus Europa - Kiwi

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It was an example of Giorgetto Giugiaro's "folded paper" design ideas of the early 1970s.

Related Topics:
Giorgetto Giugiaro - 1970s

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The car gained some fame through its appearance in the James Bond film The Spy Who Loved Me (1977). In the film, Bond's Esprit converts into a submarine. In 1981 another Esprit was used in the Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Because of the 007 films, those who pre-ordered Esprits were placed on three-year waiting lists.

Related Topics:
James Bond - The Spy Who Loved Me - 1977 - 1981 - For Your Eyes Only

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Esprits also were seen in the films Basic Instinct and Pretty Woman

Related Topics:
Basic Instinct - Pretty Woman

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The Esprit was launched with a 2.0 L engine. An upgrade to a 2.2 L engine followed in 1980 and a turbocharged version joined the range a year later. By the time it reached its final form in the S4S, the legendary 2.2 L turbocharged inline-four reached an impressive 300hp - some 135+hp per liter. Acceleration was very brisk - 0-60 times in the 4.6-5.0 sec range and a 0-100 in the low 12s. The car also had a Top Speed of 165mph. In 1987, Peter Stevens redesigned the Esprit, keeping the same proportions for engineering reasons. Giugiaro felt it was a fine design, if a little too close to his original. The Stevens silhouette has largely been kept as the Esprit evolved into the 21st century. The biggest change for the Esprit was in the engine bay. Instead of the 2.2 Inline-4 a 350hp V-8 was swapped in. At almost the same weight, the V8 added one more surge to the Esprits prowess. 0-60 times were in the low to mid 4 second range, 0-100 was now under 11sec and the 1/4 mile was right around 13 seconds at almost *110*mph! The top speed was almost 175mph as well. The Esprit's packaging does, however, reflect its 1970s origins and ergonomically - the car was a dinosaur. The Esprit has been discontinued but a completely new version of the Esprit is set to debut in 2007. This car is set to compete with cars like the Ferrari F430 and the Lamborghini Gallardo.

Related Topics:
1980 - Turbocharged - 1987 - Peter Stevens - 2007 - Ferrari F430 - Lamborghini Gallardo

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