Lotus Esprit V8: One last masterpiece for the twilight years

Photo by Hoyoun Lee on Unsplash

Longevity deserves celebration. To do something to a high standard for a long period of time is no small feat; many fall along the way, leaving only the cream to rise to the top.

But, you should know when to move on, as the only constant in life is change. Before all that, one last dance is needed. One last crack at it. Show you’ve still got it.

Take it away, Lotus.

A classic Lotus

The first Esprit was first brought to our eyes in 1976, a true Giorgetto Guigiaro masterpiece. Its defining characteristic was its infamous wedge-shaped body, but as with most Lotus’, it was more than a pretty face.

Lotus’ lightweight philosophy was added to the Esprit’s recipe, a 900kg fiberglass sports car was here, heralded for its magnificent handling and its starring role in James Bond’s ‘The Spy Who Loved Me’.

But, it wouldn’t be a Lotus if it were perfect. A wildly optimistic claimed 0–60 time and an engine that some considered to be underpowered meant the precise, elegant Esprit couldn’t quite compete with the Italian giants.

The reservations identified didn’t stop Lotus, as when subsequent S2 and S3 models were introduced, the 4-cylinder platform was continued with added grunt through turbocharged options.

However, sticking with your philosophy doesn’t mean a refusal to change. By the early 90s, the sports and supercar world had taken off, with manufacturers consistently increasing the displacement, cylinder count, power, and technology found in their latest flagships.

It seemed Lotus was still in the pit lane, with the team scratching their heads about how a little company from Norfolk could compete with the German and Italian powerhouses.

It was now or never.

Stick a V8 in it

If all else fails, a V8 will suffice.

Twenty years after the Esprit was launched, Lotus finally gave it an engine to compete with the big boys.

A risky but essential in-house built 3.5L V8 was the answer, developing 350 brake horsepower, sending the Esprit to 60 in less than 4.5 seconds.

While impressive, Lotus’… how can I say ‘questionable’ finances meant that other components of the car held back their V8 masterpiece.

The engine had to be detuned from over 500 bhp to reduce wear on the gearbox. Then again, what movie star doesn’t have their faults?

The wedge silhouette remained, this time with a beefier, more prominent body kit to complement the added grunt added to the Esprit.

But the heart replacement hadn’t changed the brain. After all, this was still a Lotus, a synonym of lightness. The Esprit S4 came in at around 1300kg, a drastic bulk from the S1, but light by then modern-day standards.

The V8 then was the final addition; the Esprit could finally line up alongside its rivals and shout as loud as they could.

But come 2004 and the Esprit was discontinued. After all this time of waiting for the Esprit to have the power to match its supercar rivals, it’s gone?

Why?

Quit while you are ahead

In the same timeframe as the final Esprit, Lotus released the Elise and the Exige.

Both cars looked as if they were from a different universe compared to the Esprit.

Lotus was looking into the future with these two models, again using that classic Lotus lightness philosophy but with a modern twist, bringing Lotus into one of its most successful eras ever.

The Esprit V8 was never a long-term project. It was a thank you to the past two decades. With modern environmental regulations, rising costs, and a change in direction, the Esprit really didn’t have a place past 2004.

But that is just fine, Lotus did the right thing, don’t drag something out for what it once was, let it be a fond memory rather than a sour ending.

The Esprit had a run. A great run. Twenty-eight years as Lotus’ pride and joy, and what a way to end such an ultra marathon than with a big, loud, powerful V8 engine.

They had accepted that change was needed, probably before the first V8 was ever sold. They knew it would be the last one. But that is why they made it the best one.

The last dance was 10’s across the board. Their last crack at it went for 6. Lotus still had it.