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Lotus Esprit spied wearing mismatched Evora bodywork

The sorta funky looking Lotus Evora you see above isn't really an Evora at all. In fact, it's a mule for an upcoming new Lotus in the spirit of the Esprit, which, rumor has it, will be introduced in the first half of 2021. It may even be called the Esprit, reviving the name of one of the company's most recognizable and well-loved nameplates, though that has yet to be confirmed by the British automaker. Power is expected to come from a Toyota-sourced V6 engine, as is the case with the Evora. But instead of the Evora's 2+2 seating configuration, the reborn Esprit would be a two-seater. While we aren't privy to the automaker's engineering offices, it seems the space vacated by the vestigial rear seating area might be used to hold some battery packs, as the upcoming car is going to be a hybrid. The 2020 Lotus Evora spins 416 horsepower out of its supercharged 3.5-liter V6; the hybridized Esprit is rumored to pack over 500 ponies, buoyed by an electric motor and lithium ion battery pack that's thought to be cribbed from the Volvo parts bin. That makes sense, as Lotus and Volvo both fall under Chinese automaker Geely's umbrella. The Evora offers the choice of six-speed manual or automatic gearboxes, but we'll have to wait and see if those choices are shared with the Esprit. The mule seen above is sporting some mismatched Evora bodywork — seemingly sprayed black in haste, judging by the specks of blue and yellow at the front and rear along with the lone green pop just ahead of the rear wheels — that has been widened with some tacked on wheel arches. The production version is expected to crib styling elements from Lotus' range-topping electric Evija. We can't wait to see how it all turns out. Related Video:

Lotus renames Russell Carr its head of design

There's been a changing of the guard at Lotus recently. The legendary British sports car manufacturer fired its controversial chief executive Dany Bahar and replaced him recently with Jean-Marc Gales. And now it's named a new chief designer. Or rather, renamed its old one to the post.
That designer is the appropriately named Russell Carr, who had previously held the post until Bahar brought in his former compatriot Donato Coco (with whom he had previously served at Ferrari) and charged him with designing a series of ambitious but ill-fated concept cars that debuted at the 2010 Paris Motor Show and were subsequently axed on Bahar's way out. Now Coco has been shown the door as well, effective at the end of this month. In his place, Carr - who has been with Lotus since 1990 - has been given back his old job after having been demoted to playing second fiddle to Coco for five years.
Although both Gales and Coco both served in senior positions at PSA Peugeot Citroën, Gales didn't join the French automaker until 2009 - the same year that Coco joined Lotus, five years after having left PSA to work at Ferrari.

Lotus Emira GT4 car revealed, ready for the race circuit

It’s time for the Lotus Emira to go racing. YouÂ’re looking at the first photos of the Emira GT4 race car here, which is the competition spec version of the Emira road car we got to see revealed at this yearÂ’s Goodwood Festival of Speed. Lotus didnÂ’t provide a ton of details, but we know the important stuff. Its body is made of composite, and a bunch of changes are made in the name of aerodynamics and downforce. The clean and simple lines of the Emira are interrupted by items like the large front splitter and huge rear wing. By and large, though, the basic Emira design and structure remain the same outside. WeÂ’ll also note that the GT4 is hand-built, whereas Lotus is attempting to bring more automation to the road carÂ’s assembly. The engine used in the GT4 is the tried-and-true Toyota-sourced 3.5-liter V6 (not the new AMG four-cylinder). Per usual, itÂ’s fitted with a supercharger, and Lotus says itÂ’s good for up to 400 horsepower with a 7,200 rpm redline. You get a six-speed xTrac sequential transmission (the only transmission option), and the car is fitted with a limited-slip differential. Braking is handled by race-spec Alcon discs and calipers, and Ohlins coilovers keep the body in check. In all, Lotus says the dry weight is 2,778 pounds. This car was developed with RML Group, a British racing engineering company. “The all-new Emira GT4 is an exciting next step following the hugely successful launch of the Emira road car,” says Richard Selwin, Lotus Race Program manager. “We have worked hard with the team at RML Group to ensure this next-generation of Lotus GT car will deliver race-winning performance.” Those entering racing series will be allowed to buy this Emira GT4 cars for the 2022 racing season. However Lotus says availability will be very limited for the first year. It expects to be able to meet total global demand for 2023 as production of the race car continues. Pricing wasnÂ’t made available initially. Related video: This content is hosted by a third party. To view it, please update your privacy preferences. Manage Settings.