The Lotus Esprit is delayed by a few more years thanks to the V8 engine

The return of the Lotus Esprit could be delayed by up to a couple more years, according to an executive of Lotus speaking at the launch of the Evora S in the USA. The decision would be motivated by the brand’s need to build its own engines, leaving behind the Toyota engines the brand has used for years.

The Esprit would now arrive at the end of 2013 or the beginning of 2014, rather than next year, at a price the same executive has hinted at: roughly 140,000 euros, which puts it out of reach for many budgets and well above the Elise.

What Lotus promises, besides the V8 engine, is a variation on the classic driving experience with a manual gearbox, thanks to the new seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox. This transmission has reportedly already been registered under several patents by the brand and would go into the Esprit.

As for the “made in-house” V8 engine, development has already begun, and we have no doubt it will be a work of art in engineering and technique, like almost everything Lotus does, apart from a few “dark” models from the seventies.

Source | Autoguide