Definitely interesting to see them next to each other, useful for someone like me for whom the Evora shape hasn't worked.

...Quite interesting to compare. Have to say the Esprit's big rear wing does lend it more towards that Supercar status. So does the claimed over 450 whp...

Although I prefer my Esprits wingless, always have, do you mean that if the Evora had a bigger wing like that it would look more like a supercar, or that without one the Esprit is less so? (Of course we have to negate the fact that styling fashions have changed from the Esprits heyday when a wing wasn't necessary.)

Not sure about the 450whp. Those V8TT cars had a de-tuned 350bhp as standard at the flywheel, and you could chip it up to 450bhp easy enough. Still not 450bhp at the wheels though.

 

Although I prefer my Esprits wingless, always have, do you mean that if the Evora had a bigger wing like that it would look more like a supercar, or that without one the Esprit is less so? (Of course we have to negate the fact that styling fashions have changed from the Esprits heyday when a wing wasn't necessary.)

Just that the wing on the Esprit adds to that "Wow!" factor, a bit like a Countach.

No manner of wing would elevate the current Evora to Supercar status, and I see the existing wing as very appropriate for the car as a whole.

Perhaps the new Esprit should sport an impressive, racy wing?

 

Wow cool shots. I think the Esprit holds up very well today. Post some interior pics if you got em.

 

nice... what year is that Esprit?

 

1993 I believe...

Nope, that car is one of the "Anniversary" final editions from 2002-2004. Easy to tell due to the Elise round rear light (they ran out of the venerable Toyota units).

The ones for the UK/EU had the previous wide spaced exhaust layout:

The ones for the USA were given a metal valance and central exhaust pair:

 

1993 I believe. Very nice condition. Hard to believe it's that old. Something about the angle of that first picture makes it look bigger than it is compared to the Evora.

So different from the 1974 Europa we had last year, yet some commonality. Positions of instruments and controls to driver almost the same, just about ideal.

 

1973 I believe. Very nice condition. Hard to believe it's that old. Something about the angle of that first picture makes it look bigger than it is compared to the Evora.

So different from the 1974 Europa we had last year, yet some commonality. Positions of instruments and controls to driver almost the same, just about ideal.

--That Esprit (in the first post) is a late model version of a V8 from the mid- to late-90s, at least.
Esprits were not even sold to the public until the mid-70s.

 

Would it be fair to say that the Countach was the first car with a big wing that commanded the dreams of schoolboys the world over?

 

:bow:

Pretty much... as I recall when I first watched the opening scene of The Cannon Ball Run... That sound... :drool: That shape... :evil:

Then came the worshipping of its image through idols (posters/models/toys) :bow::bow::bow:

 

Thanks. I did notice how similar the taillights were to an Elise. Not LED though.

 

...Not LED though.

Yeh, I think the Elise got its LED versions in 2006/7? It should be an easy retrofit for anyone preferring the LED versions.

 

Makes me wanna pick one up

Make a great stablemate to my Evora. They are aesthetically so far apart they compliment each other. The Evora is very feminine in styling with lots of sexy curves and a big booty to match. The Esprit V8 Twin Turbo is masculine with its straight lines, sharp angles, no-nonsense styling and domineering posture. It's all business -- and that business is going fast.

I see an '04 w/ < 4k miles going for around 60k. Tempting!!!

 

Someone once said that the Esprit that it was the super car that every schoolboy designed in his notebook. I think that this is true. It captures the schoolboy imagination. It had the lines that shouted fast and aggressive. The only thing it was missing was guns and missiles, both taken care of by Bond, James Bond.

 

One more pic. Interesting how different the rims are. How the style has changed I guess. Those on the Evora have never been a favorite feature of the car to me, but they are the contemporary fashion I guess. As the red calipers.

The "deep dish" wheels on the Esprit are more aggressive looking to me, but that's likely just my generations taste.

 

That is a nice lotus....

One more pic. Interesting how different the rims are. How the style has changed I guess. Those on the Evora have never been a favorite feature of the car to me, but they are the contemporary fashion I guess. As the red calipers.

The "deep dish" wheels on the Esprit are more aggressive looking to me, but that's likely just my generations taste.

View attachment 181804

That is one nice Lotus. The green car is nice too.

 

Just FYI the Esprit shown there is 2003

 

I love the deep dish wheel look, but I think you can have a narrower car with the same track width if the wheel offset is inward like the Evora. Less aero drag with narrower car. I still like the first gen wedge Esprit the best for looks, Guigaro had some cool designs. Didn't he do the Scirocco?

 

The Esprit has 285/35-18 on 18x10 rears, the Evora S has 275/30-20.

The Esprit was also originally designed for much smaller wheels, my 89 came with 215/50-15 and 245/50-16 in the rear, which is why they have so much offset with the later V8 wheels. I actually have the V8 235/40-17 and 285/35-18 with flush spoke, no dish, but they end up much heavier than the above dished Oz Nova wheels. The center hub adds a lot of weight to achieve that much offset.

The Evora was designed for modern wheels.

 

Lotus brought back that deep dish look with those OZ Nova spoked alloys, perhaps as homage to the early Compomotive turbo cars:

Of the modern wheels, only the OZ Futura rims had a similar deep section:

The AWI Monobloc and OZ Saturn wheels used on the later V8 Esprits didn't really have any:

But most of the other wheels usually had a mild amount:

I would agree that the deeper section rears suit the Esprit's period of styling well and give it the intended racey, aggressive look of a powerful rear end.

 

love the curves on the evora. 2 totally different styles. cool to see together.

 

It is a 2003, bought it used in 2006 with 2,300 miles and now it has 30,000.
I drive it most every day (weather permitting) and love it. All of the bad things you hear are just not true, at least on these later models. Great car.

Here is an interesting pic-- That Mini Cooper is HUGE !!

More Pics-

Gotta Love That Wing !!!!

 

Beautiful Lotus, I love the color. Is it called Storm titanium? That is what they called it on my 2005 Elise. What color is the interior?
Ron

 

here is another esprit evora comparison photo

 

Love the side by side shots, XHIL, and seeing how Lotus has evolved over time. That motorsport green/yellow stripe combo on the Evora has really grown on me!

 

I love Lotus Porn......

 

that is a great shot!

 

Check out the far right of this picture. Red Evora and Red Esprit.

 

Here are some better pictures of the two Reds next to each other.