A spokesperson for Lotus Cars has told us that the company is very seriously considering building its own V-8 engine for the upcoming Esprit sports car, among other planned models. This confirms recent rumors while contradicting the powertrain plans set forth for the car at the recent Paris show.
Previously, Lotus had said that it would be using a modified Toyota-sourced 5.0-liter V-8—a turbocharged Lexus IS F mill—to power the production versions of the Esprit, Elite, and Eterne. (This partnership was news to Toyota officials we spoke to during the Paris show.) That powerplant would have produced between 542 and 612 hp in the new cars, according to estimates given when the models were introduced. The previous Esprit, by the way, had a Lotus-designed twin-turbo 3.5-liter V-8.
You’ll recall that Lotus unveiled a buffet of new cars at the Paris auto show: four sports cars, a supersedan, and a city car, not to mention a new KERS-style hybrid system, all of which are due by 2015. Given these already over-ambitious plans, it seems perfectly reasonable to add a brand-new engine to the to-do list. Lotus’s spokesperson said a final decision about whether the company will go ahead with the in-house engine will be made early in 2011.
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- La Dolce Lotus? Group Lotus taps Ferrari Designer for New Design Position
- Lotus: A Historical Timeline – Feature
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