Lotus Esprit
(1976 - 1991)
Car articles about Lotus Esprit by year
In 1977, a sports car that had previously only interested enthusiasts achieved worldwide film fame. Roger Moore, alias James Bond, drove a white Lotus Esprit S1 in the movie "The Spy, who loved me". With a plastic body and a slender four-cylinder engine, the British mid-engined sports car did not necessarily correspond to the image of a super sports car at the time. This driving report characterizes the Esprit of the first series and shows it in current and historical images. Sales literature, sound samples and a video are also included.
Lotus built the Esprit from 1975 to 2004, i.e. for almost 30 years. However, the last Esprit models only have the basic design and silhouette in common with the early cars, while instead of a slender four-cylinder engine, a turbo-powered eight-cylinder unit provides powerful propulsion at the end. But did this make the Esprit better? And how did it compare with the competition of the time? This comparative report portrays an Esprit S1 from 1978 and its descendant, the Esprit V8 GT from 1998. Many pictures and two sound samples provide a multimedia experience.
Every child knows the Lotus Esprit, not least from the James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me" as a prancing and diving movie car. The Esprit was created by Italian designer Giorgio Giugiaro and was shown as a prototype as early as 1972. The S1, which was available in 1976, was followed two years later by the S2, which is the subject of this report and is documented in many pictures and, like its predecessor the S1, in brochures and historical photographs.
The Lotus Esprit was active in motorsport for many years, but it did not attract attention because of its successes, which mostly failed to materialize. Nevertheless, this racing car has been fascinating through all its evolutions, from the S1 in 1979 to the V8 in 1998. We show the Esprit in motorsport during all these years in many pictures in this racing car article.
The Lotus Esprit is one of the best-known models from the English small series manufacturer, not least because of its appearances in James Bond films. Lotus presented the Esprit Turbo in 1980 and, consequently, Bond used it as his company car in the 1981 film "For your eyes only". Significantly faster and more comfortable than its predecessors, the Esprit Turbo was a real competitor for Porsche, Ferrari and Maserati. This report tells the story of the Lotus Esprit Turbo of the 1980s and shows it in historical and contemporary pictures.
Current market prices for Lotus Esprit
null, 160 PS, 1973 cm3
null, 160 PS, 1973 cm3
null, 209 PS, 1973 cm3
null, 160 PS, 2173 cm3
Coupe, 170 PS, 2195 cm3
Coupe, 301 PS, 2174 cm3
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Auctioned vehicles of Lotus Esprit
| Brand | Model | Year | Status | Auction name | Details |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lotus Esprit X 180 1990 Not Sold ACA Anglia Car Auctions Kings Lynn (April 8, 2017) |
Esprit X 180 | 1990 | Not Sold | ACA Anglia Car Auctions Kings Lynn (April 8, 2017) | |
| Lotus Turbo Esprit Series 3 Coupé 1983 Sold Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale (July 14, 2023) |
Turbo Esprit Series 3 Coupé | 1983 | Sold | Bonhams Goodwood Festival of Speed Sale (July 14, 2023) | |
| Lotus Esprit Series I 1977 Sold Broad Arrow Auctions Amelia Island (March 4, 2023) |
Esprit Series I | 1977 | Sold | Broad Arrow Auctions Amelia Island (March 4, 2023) | |
| Lotus Esprit Turbo 1988 Sold Silverstone Auctions Birmingham Sale (November 15, 2014) |
Esprit Turbo | 1988 | Sold | Silverstone Auctions Birmingham Sale (November 15, 2014) | |
| Lotus Esprit Turbo 1984 Sold Historics at Brooklands Surrey Sale (August 29, 2015) |
Esprit Turbo | 1984 | Sold | Historics at Brooklands Surrey Sale (August 29, 2015) | |
| Lotus Turbo Esprit HC 1987 Sold H&H Classics Duxford Sale (October 16, 2013) |
Turbo Esprit HC | 1987 | Sold | H&H Classics Duxford Sale (October 16, 2013) | |
| Lotus Esprit Turbo 1982 Not Sold ACA Kings Lynn Auction (June 13, 2015) |
Esprit Turbo | 1982 | Not Sold | ACA Kings Lynn Auction (June 13, 2015) | |
| Lotus Esprit S2 1978 Sold Brightwells Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles (September 24, 2014) |
Esprit S2 | 1978 | Sold | Brightwells Classic & Vintage Cars and Motorcycles (September 24, 2014) | |
| Lotus Esprit Turbo (X180) 1988 Not Sold Iconic Auctioneers Silverstone Festival (August 23, 2024) |
Esprit Turbo (X180) | 1988 | Not Sold | Iconic Auctioneers Silverstone Festival (August 23, 2024) | |
| Lotus Esprit Turbo 1983 Not Sold RM/Sotheby's Open Roads October Online Only (October 6, 2021) |
Esprit Turbo | 1983 | Not Sold | RM/Sotheby's Open Roads October Online Only (October 6, 2021) |
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