Lotus officially confirmed the revival of the legendary Espirit supercar and announced 2013 as the year for it to arrive. It is actually one of the five surprises of the Lotus at this year’s Paris Motor Show. And like the other ones, the Espirit is also aiming high! It certainly got the right looks to challenge all the big boys in the supercar club, and with a 5.0 liter 620-hp V8 engine, it damn sure has the required power as well!
The styling of the 2013 Esprit echoes the performance with strong lines throughout the sleek low body. The symmetry through the mass and proportion of the 2013 Esprit give it an intense look, it’s the perfect example of the new Lotus DNA in action. The 2013 Esprit is more than an evolution, it’s a redefinition.
2013 Lotus Esprit Specifications
Layout 2 seater, mid-engined, rear wheel drive
Engine Petrol, hybrid optional
Hybrid technology Optional KERS
Cylinder V8
Capacity 5.0 litre
Power/Torque 620 PS / 720 Nm
Rev limit 8,500 rpm
0-100 km/h 3.4 seconds
Top speed 330 km/h
CO2 approx (CO2/km) 250 g/km**
Weight 1,450 kg
Seats 2
Transmission 7 Speed DCT
Drive RWD
Start of production End of 2012
Enters the market Spring 2013
Dany Bahar, Chief Executive Officer of Group Lotus, said: “The 2013 Esprit is the ultimate supercar. In the past when people thought of the 2013 Esprit, they thought of the movies, Bond, Pretty Woman, Basic Instinct but this time around, the car is the star of the show.”
“One has to be very careful when taking on the challenge of reinventing such an iconic classic as the 2013 Esprit – everyone has an opinion. There’s a fine balance between acknowledging the greatness of the past whilst at the same time rapidly leaping forward to the future and ensuring that this car not only does the name 2013 Esprit justice but also the Lotus brand. I think we’ve managed to find the balance and in doing so created a new icon, a car people will find hard to resist.”
“Not only does the 2013 Esprit look incredible but it has the performance to match. We’ve stuck to the Lotus core values of performance through lightweight and teamed them with future technology and exceptional engineering to ensure that the 2013 Esprit will be the leader of the pack. The design is aggressive, you have to see it to appreciate how low and wide the proportions are but it still retains a level of dignity, of class and most of all exclusivity. I’m very proud of this car.”
