Following a lengthy decision process, Lotus has reportedly green lighted a replacement to the company’s famed Esprit model. The Esprit went out of production in 2004 but could be back on the roads early next decade.
A replacement for the Esprit has been rumored for several months now, but a downtrodden global economy prevented the car from moving from the drawing board to production. However, with the economic outlook improving, Lotus has finally given the production nod to the Esprit, according to Autocar.
Set to slot above the Evora in the Lotus lineup, a Lotus insider described the next Esprit as an “essential brand image builder” and a “high-status purchase”. Expect a hefty price premium over the Evora, with the six-figure range not out of the question for the Esprit.
No technical details about the next-generation Esprit were revealed, but it is believed that the Lotus supercar could use a version of the 4.8L V10 recently launched in the Lexus LFA. Lotus and Toyota have been engine partners for several years, with all current Lotus products powered by Toyota powerplants.
