New Lotus Esprit To Feature 500 HP Lexus LF-A 4.8-Liter V10

[admin]

......"Lotus has been in bed with Toyota for a number of years now, with their 1.8-liter four, in various forms, powering the Elise and Exige as well as the 3.5-liter V6 powering the new Evora. Apparently there's no reason to stop now and EVO is reporting that the 2012 Lotus Esprit will receive both the 200+ mph capable, 4.8-liter 500-horsepower V10 from the Lexus LF-A as well as the 5.0-liter, 417-horsepower V8 out of the Lexus IS-F. Packing these two engines, the Lotus Esprit will compete head-to-nasty-head with both the Lamborghini LP560-4 and the Audi R8, putting it instantly into a fairly competitive dog fight. There's even rumor that an entry-level model might make an appearance with the 300-horsepower direct-injection Toyota V6, though we're curious if that'll bite into Evora sales."

More... (http://c.moreover.com/click/here.pl?r2021053303)

http://cache.gawker.com/assets/images/jalopnik/2009/05/2010_lotus_esprit_jalopnik.jpg

[Brian Skeoch]

Delish....

[Al B]

2012 hmmm. Will wait till then and see what they have to offer. At the first LOG in Birmingham Lotus asked owners for thoughts on what the next Esprit should be and then teased us for the nexy five years with bogus artist concepts and hints at suggested power trains.
I'm pretty sure that in true Lotus fashion, no one on the street will know what it really looks like till they are ready to reveal it. Three years is a long time off and a lot can change in that time. Just have to hope for the best.

[Martin]

Where does Jalopnik come up with this stuff?

They are usually a pretty informed group but I wonder sometimes if it isn't a bunch of speculation.

[WayneB]

Where does Jalopnik come up with this stuff?

They are usually a pretty informed group but I wonder sometimes if it isn't a bunch of speculation.

The first site to come up with this news was Evo, I think Lotus has given them "scoops" before.
http://www.evo.co.uk/news/evonews/235813/new_esprit_to_challenge_gallardo.html

[Kylie]

Dreams are free, the power plant would be nice though. :mf_dribble:

[WayneB]

I must admit I like the idea of the Toyota-Lexus powertrain better than the previously rumoured BMW unit, and of course as Lotus engineering has been known to have worked with Toyota in the past on previous engine projects, there is always a possibility that Lotus had some imput into the design of that Lexus engine.:)

I must admit I am more curious as to who's transaxle Lotus have mated the engine to.

http://bp0.blogger.com/_4M33PKjGHaQ/SDqckckrKYI/AAAAAAAACGk/vSFuntCt4tQ/s400/Lexus_LFA_engine_MotorAuthority_005.jpg

http://www.themotorreport.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2009/05/lexus_lf-a_engine_02.jpg

[Autocross7]

Well, if looking to the past, the trany will come from a "shelf source" and my not be bad... but may not be great either. Given the commiment to a real tranny with a real clutch, the options are getting a bit thin. I hope in the future Lotus will finnally get 'round to creating their own.


Cameron

[WayneB]

I seriously doubt they would produce their own transaxle Cameron.:(

My guess was that they would source a transaxle from Graziano for a longitudional mounted engine but If they are going the transverse Automatic /SMG route a Toyota /Lexus FWD transmission would be a logical route. I have no idea how much torque the toyota 6 speed in the Evora can handle, but I would be surprised if it could withstand the power of that Lexus V10.

I myself feel a transverse mounted engine would make a more compactly mounted powertrain that would have a much lower cost per unit than the much more expensive Graziano route, freeing up room in the back for a set or two of golfclubs.:)

Of course it wouldnt look as spectaclar as a long mounted powertrain, but looking at the spy photos of the test mules(that have pretty short looking tails) I wouldnt be surprised If that is the way they will go.

I myself have no problem with Lotus using a modified manual SMG shift automatic transmission, I like the zero maintenance advantage (no clutch) , the fact you can sit in a traffic jam for an hour without getting thrombosis in your left leg, and they do shift better, more consistantly and faster than most humans can.:)

[Autocross7]

I seriously doubt they would produce their own transaxle Cameron.:(

I myself have no problem with Lotus using a modified manual SMG shift automatic transmission, I like the zero maintenance advantage (no clutch) , the fact you can sit in a traffic jam for an hour without getting thrombosis in your left leg, and they do shift better, more consistantly and faster than most humans can.:)

I doubt they will either, but still, I'd like to see it in the future! They simply are not in a position to do so at this point no doubt.

As far as a non manual or an automated manual... it will absolutley keep me from buying the car. The Ferrari F430 as a driving experience was totally ruined for me by that F1 tranny set up. It is a "non thrill" and it is very costly to repair. They are not in any way more reliable either... If I recall, Ferrari gives the clutch 25K to 30K miles(?). Galardo driving was similar. I loved the car, but all the way down I-459 all I could think was, "damn I wish I had a real clutch". Maybe I am old school? Love the classics! Hahaha...

I see the advantages in a race application provided I learned to drive it... but I still do not like it at all. I drove a DSR with a tip tronic type set up at Road Atlanta a while back and my time was horrible. I usually build up speed in the down hill out of the esses... hold the clutch in... delay shifting for a moment... then shift just on the uphill and left turn to the back straight run. Since I could hold neutral for that moment in the tip tronic I could not hit my marks.

I take solice in the idea I am not alone. One of the car club guys here spent a year looking for his Ferrari 360 because is requirement was a "real clutch". I simply find nothing better or enjoyable about a non "true" manual clutched car.


Cameron

[eurosport]

Autocar (http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/news/autoexpressnews/236575/lotuss_reborn_esprit_gets_v10_power.html) have a new rendering that I could actually get excited about, taking a lot of clues from the Hot Wheels car in more dramatic fashion than Evora. :mf_dribble:

http://photos.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_622/car_photo_311443_7.jpg

[Mark B.]

They swipped the top pic from LET, all that background I did in Photoshop!

Quite like the side / rear view of the Autoexpress Esprit, not sure on the front though.

http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/images/front_picture_library_UK/dir_621/car_photo_310741_25.jpg

[Kylie]

IMO I dont like any of the drawings seen so far. The Esprit has to be different and must be really out there not chops and cuts from an Elise or protype M250/Evora. :( No disrespect to those cars btw but it has to be pure 100% Esprit.

[WayneB]

I do like the treatment of the base of the windscreen, glasshouse and rear quarter panels on the Beyond-Form rendering, but I dont think on the whole the real car looks like it.

I have been fiddling round with my Magic-Markers and did a rough rendering of what the real car may look like (based on all the evidence I have gathered sofar) but I want to do a more refined version.

What bothers me is all the trouble it may cause me from Lotus If the actual car looks like my rendering if I reveal it on the internet.:(

[Kylie]

You been doing drawings too Wayne?? I am hoping to have mine done soon.

:icon18::roadblock: :weight_lift: :trafficcone:

[WayneB]

You been doing drawings too Wayne?? I am hoping to have mine done soon.

:icon18::roadblock: :weight_lift: :trafficcone:

You show me yours etc!:lol:

Its been ages since I drew something just because I wanted to, must be reverting to my childhood.:001_unsure:

[Kylie]

What you mean your childhood ;) you boys never grow up!!!! :thumbup: Actually I dont want you to grow up, think how boring ol farts we would be sitting around knitting and listening to talkback shows on radio all day :thumbdown: :lol: