Comments on: Report: Lotus Esprit to use BMW’s new twin-turbo V8

By: C6Racer

C6Racer — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 20:35:41 +0000

I agree that pop-up headlights are cool, but driving fast in the dark is even cooler. Fun as hell.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 15:01:08 +0000

Syrax,

I like pop-up headlights as well. I have often wondered why they were not designed better both mechanically and aerodynamically. They add a different character to the car that seems more serious and purposeful. That and it always seems cool when something opens up and reveals itself on your car like spoilers, lights, and air scoops.

By: C6Racer

C6Racer — Tue, 19 Feb 2008 06:46:43 +0000

Has anybody seen the Bimmer’s new TT V8 in person? That is some piece of machinery. The intakes are on the outside and the exhaust comes out the middle where the intake manifold usually is. Very interesting.

By: Syrax

Syrax — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 19:36:12 +0000

i lke pop up lights…sad the corvette lost them. and, aerodynamic drag? you shouldn’t be driving fast in the dark anyway!

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 18:22:59 +0000

Some of the early Esprit point to a car that is evolutionary of the current. But we will have to see. Mean while I’ll go for the Mosler MT900S.

By: SwerveEarly

SwerveEarly — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 16:44:35 +0000

Cant wait, hopefully they will teach or force Ferrari and Lambo to make lighter more tactile cars. Maybe even releave some people of their 2 year wait. They will need to make a more beautiful car then before to get more then just the track addicts like myself on their side.

By: JohnnyBlazE

JohnnyBlazE — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 12:31:23 +0000

I like pop up headlights, regardless of the reliabilty and drag issues… My friend’s 3rd gen prelude looks good

By: acpd2001

acpd2001 — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:20:36 +0000

Just wondering V2 what makes this car so inferior compared to what Germany can build? Furthermore how do you know this car will be inferior considering it has yet to be produced?

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 05:20:25 +0000

I don’t think cost was an issue, but rather the fact that the Esprit was one of the few sports cars in all auto history that never got a full redesign in over 30 years. The Mustang came close and so did the 993 91, running around 25 years each.

If you don’t turn the car over for so long, costs go down, but the car was dated over time. Ever the extra power of a GM V8, back when GM owned Lotus – don’t ask which engine, it wasn’t a VETTE or Aurora engine, couldn’t make up for it’s lagging design.

Still one of the coolest sports cars ever and it’s classic style still won more than a few hearts (mine included).

Besides the car sold for over $65K a few years back and the next Esprit is slated to go for over $120K. I’d still get one. One of the great loves of my Automotive life.

By: corvette

corvette — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 01:15:01 +0000

this car is going to be amazing.

By: global_lightning

global_lightning — Mon, 18 Feb 2008 00:45:51 +0000

Keep the weight down??? This is Lotus, where they measure the weight of each screw before it goes in. The last V8 Esprit weighed in at 3043 lbs, which is considerably less than other cars in this range (particularly Ferrari…). I’d expect to see a lot of the same technologies that went into the Elise go into the new Esprit plus everything else they wanted to do but would have made the car more expensive than $45K.

By: Blakkarr

Blakkarr — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:51:50 +0000

I have little doubt that this car will make the CORVETTE look like a porker.

By: johnnycanuck

johnnycanuck — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 21:41:53 +0000

Keep the curb weight down…keep the curb weight down…keep the curb weight down.

By: hateful83

hateful83 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 18:44:13 +0000

Hopefully lotus makes this a beast on the track like their other models. I’m with everyone else, sounds promising.

By: DeansterTJ

DeansterTJ — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:28:23 +0000

Good to hear Lotus is back in the supercar stratum.

By: Madcapp

Madcapp — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 15:26:28 +0000

I have a sneaking suspicion that its going to be both extremely fast and extremely reliable.

By: V2

V2 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 12:28:18 +0000

Once again this shows just how inferior the British are to the Germans (oh sorry, Malaysians own this ‘prestigious’ British brand!)

By: mg198242

mg198242 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 07:22:05 +0000

Best engine choice for the new Lotus Esprit! BTW, I think I’ll like if the new Esprit will keep the pop-up lights, it’ll be just something “new” on the today market.

By: SRT-4Ken

SRT-4Ken — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 04:23:58 +0000

============>> hell yeah, bring it on!!!!!!!

By: F451

F451 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 03:43:41 +0000

Where once unions as such yielded a mixed blessing we now see a world of new choices that the enthusiast can applaud. I cannot wait to see the result!

By: autonut

autonut — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:58:18 +0000

I hope those pop-up lights from 80’s will be gone from production model. They are problem waiting to happen by either not opening or not closing and hell of aerodynamic drag. Turbo V8 and light weight will put them in Ferrari/Lambo circles (or at least above Maserati).

By: jayjc08

jayjc08 — Sun, 17 Feb 2008 02:52:43 +0000

Sounds promising. Coming from BMW, and being put together by Lotus, things are looking very promising and enthusiastic so far. Only thing remaining is how they seal the deal.