As part of Lotus' massive seven-car unveiling at this week's Paris Motor Show, the automaker's Esprit concept car brings back a hallowed name for what the automaker calls the "ultimate Lotus."
Set to go on sale in the spring of 2013, the lightweight rear-wheel-drive mid-engined coupe is, according to Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, the future of Lotus.
“One has to be very careful when taking on the challenge of reinventing such an iconic classic as the Esprit – everyone has an opinion," Bahar said in a statement. "There’s a fine balance between acknowledging the greatness of the past whilst at the same time rapidly leaping forward to the future and ensuring that this car not only does the name Esprit justice but also the Lotus brand. I think we’ve managed to find the balance and in doing so created a new icon, a car people will find hard to resist.”
Powered by a 5.0-liter, 612-horsepower V8 capable of propelling the 3,200 lbs. coupe to 62 mph in just 3.4 seconds, the Esprit promises to be a much higher-performance sports car than its namesake. A hybrid powertrain will eventually make the options list after the early 2013 on-sale date.
The original Esprit, sold for nearly 20 years with either slant four or V8 power. Although the coupe was a performance machine to be reckoned with at its launch, it later embodied Lotus' financial struggles as it aged less-than-gracefully.
The new car, however, is part of Lotus' massive expansion plans as it tries to take on industry stalwarts like Ferrari and Porsche.
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