Aug 27, 2010
Just the Facts:
- The more mainstream Esprit would be powered by a V8, also likely from Lexus.
- Lotus is using the Esprit to move upmarket into Ferrari/Maserati territory.
- Also debuting at Paris will be two new versions of the midengine Evora.
HETHEL, England — The next-generation Lotus Esprit supercar, details of which will be announced at the 2010 Paris Auto Show next month, could be powered by the 552-horsepower Lexus LFA V10, says a source close to the company.
That would be for the Esprit in its ultimate form — the more mainstream version would be offered with a V8, also likely to be sourced from Lexus. That engine will probably be a version of the 416-hp 5.0-liter engine fitted to the Lexus IS F sedan. When asked to confirm this possibility, a Lotus spokesman said that he "couldn't comment."
The Esprit is central to a planned shift upmarket for the British sports-car maker. This major new strategy is the brainchild of recently installed CEO Dany Bahar, who came from Ferrari. Details of this plan are also expected at Paris, but it would appear that Bahar and his new management team — which includes Bob Lutz in a consulting capacity — have concluded that Lotus is both underexploited as a brand and that the road to profitability, a condition rarely experienced at the company, is to build road cars with fatter profit margins in them. And that means building models pitched closer to Ferrari, Jaguar, Maserati and Porsche, among others.
The new Esprit will be built to much higher standards than this, aided by the company's long-standing links with Toyota, with which it has had an excellent relationship spanning more than 25 years. Toyota supplies all of Lotus' engines and gearboxes and plenty of lesser components besides, so the sourcing of Lexus hardware should not be such a big jump. The new Esprit is expected to be central to Lotus's plans to raise its profile in the U.S. and other major markets around the world.
Also to be announced at the Paris show are two new versions of the Evora sports car: a 350-horsepower Evora S — the stock version produces 276 hp — and a paddle-shift six-speed auto. Called Intelligent Precision Shift, it's mated to the lower-powered version of the Toyota V6. Both versions are likely to be offered in the U.S.
Inside Line says: Lotus will face strong headwinds at these higher prices, Lexus powered or not, as another management team seeks to exploit its long underplayed potential. — Richard Bremner, Correspondent
Bron : insidelane
