Latest news with #LotusEsprit
Car and Driver
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
View Photos of the 1986 Lotus Esprit Turbo
Read the full review The move to K-Jetronic fuel injection has given the Lotus Esprit Turbo an entirely new attitude.
Car and Driver
13-07-2025
- Automotive
- Car and Driver
1986 Lotus Esprit Turbo Test: Animal Magnetism
From the July 1986 issue of Car and Driver. There's something about this car that turns people a little wacko. Porsche guys hate it. They pull up next to you on the freeway, give this evil flower a sniff, and then nail it. Most of the time, this freeway tango isn't so much a challenge to race as it is a simple declarative sentence. It's the profiler's way of saying, "My car can beat up your car." Most can't, but they try. You get some of this from everybody. Guys with personality disorders in jacked-up '76 Camaros suddenly feel a need to crack open their secondaries when they see the Esprit cruising in the next lane. Housewives with station-wagon loads of kids want to drag-race you out of the supermarket lot. Bikers give you thumbs-up signs and pop half-mile wheelies. View Photos David Dewhurst | Car and Driver What's the meaning of this? Is the Esprit Turbo some kind of automotive Bermuda Triangle? Does it throw sane men completely out of calibration? Does it invalidate the laws of common sense? Does it relieve the heartbreak of psoriasis? The answer to all of these questions, of course, is yes. This Lotus could turn Franz Kafka into a party animal. The reasons are easy to understand. The Giugiaro-designed Esprit measures a mere 44.5 inches from pavement to roof. That's about the height of your average three-drawer file cabinet. It's wide and wedgy, and it has lots of what the Japanese like to call "surface excitement." That means enough scoops, rocker-panel extensions, air dams, sharp angles, and body breaks to qualify as a shuttle craft for the Millenium Falcon. Except for the Lamborghini Countach, there is nothing on the street that can touch the Esprit's mondotomorrow looks. If we had a dollar for every hard stare we got while driving our test car, we could afford to buy an Esprit in about a day—maybe a day and a half in light traffic. View Photos David Dewhurst | Car and Driver One of the other things that make people a little goofy over this car is the engine noise. At idle it sounds like an F1 motor exhaling through cardboard tubes filled with beer. More important, and unlike some domestic engines with "sport-tuned" exhaust systems, the Esprit's turbocharged, sixteen-valve, 2.2-liter, mid-mounted four-cylinder isn't just a lot of talk. For the first time since this engine's debut, in the 1973 Jensen-Healey, it benefits from fuel injection. The Bosch K-Jetronic system added this year in place of the twin Dellorto carburetors does a couple of wonderful things. First, horsepower is up from 205 to 215. Second, EPA city fuel economy is improved from 14 to 18 mpg, highway from 25 to 26 mpg, elevating the Esprit Turbo out of the gas-guzzler tax bracket. Other engine modifications include a boost-pressure increase from 8.0 to 9.5 psi and the use of Mahle forged pistons, a redesigned intake manifold, and a larger, less restrictive catalyst. All these changes add up to significantly improved low-end torque and midrange flexibility. The increased horsepower and revised tuning also boost the Lotus's performance to world-class levels. The last time we tested an Esprit Turbo, it propelled itself to 60 mph in 6.4 seconds and tripped the quarter-mile in 14.6 seconds at 95 mph. The injected car now rockets to 60 in 5.7 seconds and does the quarter-mile in 14.3 seconds at 97 mph. Terminal velocity is also increased, from 141 mph to 143. This is big-league stuff, right in there with the 911, the 328GTS, and the Corvette. You do get some boost lag off the mark, but once the turbo spools up, you're in the next state. View Photos David Dewhurst | Car and Driver Two years ago, in our "Best-Handling Imported Car" comparison test, we came away with the impression that the Esprit was terrific as long as you didn't need to turn the wheel. We concluded that the car was too heavily compromised, giving up crisp handling in favor of a cushy ride. Apparently, Lotus was listening when we voiced our complaints, because the latest version is light-years better in this regard. The front suspension has been redesigned to relieve the anti-roll bar of fore-and-aft suspension loads, enabling the engineers to factor some anti-dive geometry into the front end. The spring and damper rates, both front and rear, have been adjusted for a much better ride-versus-handling compromise. That queasy feeling in the corners has been replaced by non-traumatic turn-in and a nearly neutral attitude past the apex and out the exit. The rear still gets a little bouncy over moderately rough pavement under heavy lateral loads, but overall stability doesn't seem to get upset very much. Steering effort through fairly fast sweepers now seems just about perfect. You get plenty of input and a very gradual buildup of effort. In very low, tight corners, though, the effort builds much more dramatically. It starts to feel like weight training. The problem is magnified by the less-than-terrific seating position: the buckets are low and have no rake adjustment, and the steering is way up there on the dash where you sort of have to reach up to get it. You can't get enough shoulder torque into the wheel, so your forearms work harder than they should have to. View Photos David Dewhurst | Car and Driver The Esprit's Goodyear NCTs wouldn't be our first choice for this application, but they do a competent job of keeping the car off the guardrails. Lotus and Goodyear put their heads together and came up with a fresh compound, and the result is a tenacious 0.83 g on the skidpad. Beyond linear response and outright lateral stick, there is an extra factor in the Esprit Turbo's handling equation. It has to do with the car's width, the slope of its nose, and its driving position. Due to the license-plate-level seating position, the wide A-pillars, the overall width, and the fact that you'll never live to see the front of the car from the cockpit, you don't quite know where to position it in a corner, especially a right-hander. What we miss is the confident feeling of dialing a close-coupled sports car into a turn and knowing exactly where to place the inside wheel. Cornering in the Esprit is like trying to find an apex by dead reckoning. View Photos David Dewhurst | Car and Driver Compared with the last Esprit we tested, the Lotus's braking performance is vastly improved, our test car stopping from 70 mph in 191 feet. Repeated hard braking doesn't seem to affect stopping distances at all, thanks in part to the addition of vented front brake rotors. Lotus still needs to work on the brakes' front-rear proportioning, however. Our test sample tended to lock up its rears under maximum braking effort. The interior is a combination of great and not so great. The biggest problem, especially if you're not built like an F1 ace, is gelling in. It's a little like climbing down a mine shaft. Once in, you find yourself in a seat shaped something like a hollowed-out banana. Except for fore-and-aft position, there are no seat adjustments; if this banana isn't your size, you're out of luck. Lateral support is good, but forward g-forces try to launch you under the seatbelt. Shifting, though never a real problem, is a little easier in this edition because of a slightly revised linkage-mounting system. The lever feels a little rubbery, but it's nonetheless better than before. View Photos David Dewhurst | Car and Driver The pedals are close together and well placed for heel-and-toe downshifting, but the left wheel housing intrudes deeply into the footwell, leaving very little clearance between the clutch pedal and the bulkhead. Consequently, there's no dead pedal or flat surface for your left foot. Instrumentation is complete—for $55,000, it had better be—and includes a tach, a speedo, and boost, oil-pressure, engine-temp, battery, and fuel gauges. There are also idiot lights to back up the most critical gauges in case you forget to look. The removable sunroof is new this year. When it's in place, it keeps out the wind and the rain effectively, and you don't hear a peep or a squeak out of it. When you stow it in the trunk for open-air motoring, you get glare in the rear glass under head-on lighting, reducing rear visibility from minimal to near zero. View Photos David Dewhurst | Car and Driver As for ambiance, the Esprit goes first class. Ever square inch of the interior is covered in Connolly leather—five hides, in fact, from no doubt contented cows. The sound of the engine at slightly above freeway speeds can be heard either as noise or as music. Car-enthusiast passengers love it; others think it sounds like ball bearings falling on a conga drum. We like it—especially around 4000 rpm, when it sounds as if the afterburners have just kicked in. One recent development that will affect the future of both the Esprit and Lotus itself is GM's purchase of most of the company's stock. It should be fascinating to see what kind of cross-pollination will take place between Behemoth Motor and Lotus. Once the dust settles, might we see another mid-engined sports car wearing a GM division badge? View Photos David Dewhurst | Car and Driver Labels aside, we hope the cars the union produce will be more like the Esprit than the Pontiac Fiero. The Lotus may not be as fully developed as we'd like, but it's better than it's ever been before. Who knows? With General Motors' money and Lotus's brains, the Esprit might someday give Porsche something to think about. Specifications Specifications 1986 Lotus Esprit Turbo Vehicle Type: mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive, 2-passenger, 2-door coupe PRICE Base/As Tested: $56,087/$56,287 Options: metallic paint, $200 ENGINE turbocharged DOHC 16-valve inline-4, aluminum block and head, port fuel injection Displacement: 133 in3, 2174 cm3 Power: 215 hp @ 6250 rpm Torque: 192 lb-ft @ 5000 rpm TRANSMISSION 5-speed manual CHASSIS Suspension, F/R: control arms/multilink Brakes, F/R: 10.2-in vented disc/10.8-in disc Tires: Goodyear NCT F: 195/60VR-15 R: 235/60VR-15 DIMENSIONS Wheelbase: 96.0 in Length: 169.0 in Width: 73.2 in Height: 44.5 in Passenger Volume: 42 ft3 Cargo Volume: 8 ft3 Curb Weight: 2740 lb C/D TEST RESULTS 60 mph: 5.7 sec 1/4-Mile: 14.3 sec @ 97 mph 100 mph: 16.0 sec Top Gear, 30–50 mph: 13.1 sec Top Gear, 50–70 mph: 9.1 sec Top Speed: 143 mph Braking, 70–0 mph: 191 ft Roadholding, 300-ft Skidpad: 0.83 g C/D FUEL ECONOMY Observed: 18 mpg EPA FUEL ECONOMY City/Highway: 18/26 mpg C/D TESTING EXPLAINED
Top Gear
20-06-2025
- Automotive
- Top Gear
From Bond's Aston to the Tumbler: these are your favourite movie cars ever
Question of the Week Other appearances include the most adorable Beetle and of course, Eleanor Skip 2 photos in the image carousel and continue reading Advertisement - Page continues below Probably more a question of whether Wiltshire can deal with the Tumbler. Abby's up next: 'If I take the time-travelling DeLorean from Back to the Future , I can just keep going back in time to pick up all the cars I want. Easy.' Want another smart answer? Here's what MJCGT500's father said: "In a world with rising sea levels, there's only one car for the job. Forward-thinking from 1977 means you can look suave in your Lotus Esprit, but a few buttons later you can find yourself in the comfort of your submarine cruising down Oxford Street." You might like AllTorqueV8 has, predictably, gone V8: 'Right off the bat, the Ford Falcon XB/GT from Mad Max . That car is pure filth. I don't care if the supercharger doesn't activate at the pull of a lever; I'd want it in there for show. And with everything going electric, it would feel even more true saying it's the last of the V8 Interceptors. A piece of history..." Siddarth G then commented: 'I'm surprised no one has picked Eleanor from the Nicolas Cage version. I know muscle car enthusiasts deride it, but I grew up on that movie, and it's a real childhood dream car.' Advertisement - Page continues below Know what else taps into those distant memories? Samarkand Tony's option: 'Herbie. A self-driving car that's not just a few driver aids and a load of marketing. That or Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.' This week's final entry comes from N328KF, who said: 'The Aston Martin DB10 from Spectre is my all-time favourite. The design foreshadows the current Vantage, but leans more toward elegance than anger. It's a shame a design that gorgeous didn't make production, but at least the Vantage has some of its DNA.' Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Look out for your regular round-up of news, reviews and offers in your inbox. Get all the latest news, reviews and exclusives, direct to your inbox.
The Irish Sun
15-06-2025
- Automotive
- The Irish Sun
My ultra-rare super saloon is notorious for string of infamous robberies that were never solved – it's a 176mph monster
A PETROLHEAD has revealed the secret history of his extremely rare modern classic motor - claiming the model is infamous in some parts of the country. Car enthusiast Paul Rees is a lifelong fan of the iconic Vauxhall Carlton - a nameplate that spanned decades from the late 1970s to the early 1990s. 5 With a top speed of 176 mph, the Vauxhall Lotus Carlton was seen a saloon car with supercar performance Credit: YouTube 5 Paul Rees, a lifelong fan of the Vauxhall Carlton, uncovered the fascinating and notorious history of his ultra-rare Lotus Carlton Credit: YouTube 5 In 1993, the Lotus Carlton gained infamy as the getaway car in a string of daring robberies, leaving police helpless with its unmatched speed and agility Credit: YouTube 5 Notorious for its involvement in unsolved crimes, the Lotus Carlton once outpaced both police patrol cars and even a helicopter during a dramatic crime spree Credit: YouTube 5 Designed with precision and power, the Lotus Carlton featured twin turbos, a charge cooler from the Lotus Esprit, and a reinforced engine block Credit: YouTube But when he bought an ultra-rare Vauxhall Lotus Carlton, a super saloon with a top speed of 176 mph, he was unaware of its notorious past. Speaking in the brilliant 'Cars that made the 90s - Vauxhall Lotus Carlton', which has nearly 850k views on YouTube, Reese said: 'I've been into Carltons all my life, since I was a kid. 'My dad had one, an estate car, and I just loved the feel of the car and what the car was. 'It's supercar performance in a saloon car.' Read more Motors News Delving deep into the car's backstory, Rees was able to uncover a range of interesting facts about how it was made, its design and why it's considered so controversial. 'So it's got a new drive chain, it's got a new differential gearbox, the block was recast, so it was strengthened because the GSi blocks they were testing kept blowing up, kept splitting because of the power ,' he said. 'They stroked the engine to 3.6 - put mold pistons into it, slipper mold pistons, which brought the compression down. 'The cam shafts are the same, the in-depth valves are the same and the lifters, all the hydraulic valves, all the same as a 24 valve GSi. Most read in Motors 'And then they put the two turbos on with a charge cooler from the Lotus Esprit, and that's what you've got in front of you today.' These days, there are only around 105 Carltons left on the road - and Rees has uncovered a malevolent reason why. I bought £13,000 Bentley only to learn it was once owned by legendary TV host of classic 1980s game show He said: 'Because of its top speed and its acceleration, the government and the police decided to get together and try and get the car banned. 'They didn't succeed thankfully, and that's why the car is on the road today.' The car gained particular infamy in 1993, becoming central to a crime that remains unsolved to this day. '40 RA is a Vauxhall Lotus Carlton that was nicked up in the Midlands, West Midlands, by a gang of robbers,' he said. 'The car was actually used in a number of robberies around the West Midlands for several days and was never caught by the police.' This specific Carlton, stolen from Worcestershire, was used by criminals largely due to its wicked speed - which was more than enough to escape the cops. . 'The police only had little Pandas [smaller patrol cars, such as a Rover Metro] which would only top out at 55 to 60 mph. 'And all they saw was this black Lotus Carlton disappearing in the sunset with a boot full of liquor and cigarettes. 'They never ever caught it.' There are even rumours the car was rapid enough to outpace the West Midlands police helicopter. Rees added: 'They were that brazen, they did a burglary literally opposite the police station and still got away. 'It was later found in a canal in Null, where the thieves had dumped it. 'A barge went over it and crushed the roof in, and that's how they found it. 'But the thieves were never ever caught.' Influx, powered by insurance brokers - offers enthusiasts and petrolheads an eclectic mix of the world's finest cars and bikes, plus rarely seen glimpses of the people and cultures behind them.
The Advertiser
10-05-2025
- Automotive
- The Advertiser
Audi cost cutting could see it sell Italdesign
Automotive design firm Italdesign may be sold by owner Audi as the Volkswagen Group seeks to tighten its financial belt. Union sources in Italy have told Corriere della Sera Audi has taken the first steps to offloading the famed automotive design firm, with Italdesign undergoing due diligence and valuation. Although no potential buyers have been named, a meeting has been scheduled with Italdesign employees for May 12 at the company's headquarters at Moncalieri, a suburb on the southern fringe of Turin. The company currently employs around 1000 people in studios across the world, including Italy, Spain, Germany, China and the United States. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Audi's move to offload Italdesign is part of a wider push within the Volkswagen Group to cut costs and free up cash due to softening sales across Europe and increasing competition from Chinese automakers. As part of its cost-cutting efforts, in February Audi closed its factory in Brussels, where it had been making the Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback. It will also reduce its workforce in Germany by 7500 people by the end of 2029. Once one of the most profitable parts of the Volkswagen Group, Audi's operating margin fell to just 1.5 per cent in the first quarter of this year; automakers typically see 6 to 8 per cent as a good figure. Italdesign was founded in 1968 by designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and engineer Aldo Mantovani. The company's extensive credit roll includes a clutch of iconic supercars, including the DMC DeLoren, Lotus Esprit, and the BMW M1 supercar. One could argue Italdesign's work at the more affordable end of the spectrum has been even more influential, with the original Volkswagen Golf, and Fiat Panda, Punto and Uno are all penned by the company. Other credits include the first-generation Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Excel, Lancia Delta, Audi 80, and Lexus GS. Volkswagen purchased 90 per cent of Italdesign in 2010, with the remaining 10 per cent kept by Giorgetto Giugiaro and his family. In order to keep its Italian holdings together, Italdesign was placed with Lamborghini under Audi's ownership. The Giugiaro and his son sold their remaining stake to Volkswagen in 2015, and left the firm to setup their own design consultancy. Under Volkswagen ownership Italdesign continued to work with other automakers, although the volume of commissioned products has slowed significantly. Cars developed since 2010 include the Audi Q2, the limited edition Nissan GT-R50, and the Voyah Free for Chinese automaker Dongfeng. MORE: Everything Audi Content originally sourced from: Automotive design firm Italdesign may be sold by owner Audi as the Volkswagen Group seeks to tighten its financial belt. Union sources in Italy have told Corriere della Sera Audi has taken the first steps to offloading the famed automotive design firm, with Italdesign undergoing due diligence and valuation. Although no potential buyers have been named, a meeting has been scheduled with Italdesign employees for May 12 at the company's headquarters at Moncalieri, a suburb on the southern fringe of Turin. The company currently employs around 1000 people in studios across the world, including Italy, Spain, Germany, China and the United States. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Audi's move to offload Italdesign is part of a wider push within the Volkswagen Group to cut costs and free up cash due to softening sales across Europe and increasing competition from Chinese automakers. As part of its cost-cutting efforts, in February Audi closed its factory in Brussels, where it had been making the Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback. It will also reduce its workforce in Germany by 7500 people by the end of 2029. Once one of the most profitable parts of the Volkswagen Group, Audi's operating margin fell to just 1.5 per cent in the first quarter of this year; automakers typically see 6 to 8 per cent as a good figure. Italdesign was founded in 1968 by designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and engineer Aldo Mantovani. The company's extensive credit roll includes a clutch of iconic supercars, including the DMC DeLoren, Lotus Esprit, and the BMW M1 supercar. One could argue Italdesign's work at the more affordable end of the spectrum has been even more influential, with the original Volkswagen Golf, and Fiat Panda, Punto and Uno are all penned by the company. Other credits include the first-generation Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Excel, Lancia Delta, Audi 80, and Lexus GS. Volkswagen purchased 90 per cent of Italdesign in 2010, with the remaining 10 per cent kept by Giorgetto Giugiaro and his family. In order to keep its Italian holdings together, Italdesign was placed with Lamborghini under Audi's ownership. The Giugiaro and his son sold their remaining stake to Volkswagen in 2015, and left the firm to setup their own design consultancy. Under Volkswagen ownership Italdesign continued to work with other automakers, although the volume of commissioned products has slowed significantly. Cars developed since 2010 include the Audi Q2, the limited edition Nissan GT-R50, and the Voyah Free for Chinese automaker Dongfeng. MORE: Everything Audi Content originally sourced from: Automotive design firm Italdesign may be sold by owner Audi as the Volkswagen Group seeks to tighten its financial belt. Union sources in Italy have told Corriere della Sera Audi has taken the first steps to offloading the famed automotive design firm, with Italdesign undergoing due diligence and valuation. Although no potential buyers have been named, a meeting has been scheduled with Italdesign employees for May 12 at the company's headquarters at Moncalieri, a suburb on the southern fringe of Turin. The company currently employs around 1000 people in studios across the world, including Italy, Spain, Germany, China and the United States. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Audi's move to offload Italdesign is part of a wider push within the Volkswagen Group to cut costs and free up cash due to softening sales across Europe and increasing competition from Chinese automakers. As part of its cost-cutting efforts, in February Audi closed its factory in Brussels, where it had been making the Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback. It will also reduce its workforce in Germany by 7500 people by the end of 2029. Once one of the most profitable parts of the Volkswagen Group, Audi's operating margin fell to just 1.5 per cent in the first quarter of this year; automakers typically see 6 to 8 per cent as a good figure. Italdesign was founded in 1968 by designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and engineer Aldo Mantovani. The company's extensive credit roll includes a clutch of iconic supercars, including the DMC DeLoren, Lotus Esprit, and the BMW M1 supercar. One could argue Italdesign's work at the more affordable end of the spectrum has been even more influential, with the original Volkswagen Golf, and Fiat Panda, Punto and Uno are all penned by the company. Other credits include the first-generation Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Excel, Lancia Delta, Audi 80, and Lexus GS. Volkswagen purchased 90 per cent of Italdesign in 2010, with the remaining 10 per cent kept by Giorgetto Giugiaro and his family. In order to keep its Italian holdings together, Italdesign was placed with Lamborghini under Audi's ownership. The Giugiaro and his son sold their remaining stake to Volkswagen in 2015, and left the firm to setup their own design consultancy. Under Volkswagen ownership Italdesign continued to work with other automakers, although the volume of commissioned products has slowed significantly. Cars developed since 2010 include the Audi Q2, the limited edition Nissan GT-R50, and the Voyah Free for Chinese automaker Dongfeng. MORE: Everything Audi Content originally sourced from: Automotive design firm Italdesign may be sold by owner Audi as the Volkswagen Group seeks to tighten its financial belt. Union sources in Italy have told Corriere della Sera Audi has taken the first steps to offloading the famed automotive design firm, with Italdesign undergoing due diligence and valuation. Although no potential buyers have been named, a meeting has been scheduled with Italdesign employees for May 12 at the company's headquarters at Moncalieri, a suburb on the southern fringe of Turin. The company currently employs around 1000 people in studios across the world, including Italy, Spain, Germany, China and the United States. Hundreds of new car deals are available through CarExpert right now. Get the experts on your side and score a great deal. Browse now. Audi's move to offload Italdesign is part of a wider push within the Volkswagen Group to cut costs and free up cash due to softening sales across Europe and increasing competition from Chinese automakers. As part of its cost-cutting efforts, in February Audi closed its factory in Brussels, where it had been making the Q8 e-tron and Q8 e-tron Sportback. It will also reduce its workforce in Germany by 7500 people by the end of 2029. Once one of the most profitable parts of the Volkswagen Group, Audi's operating margin fell to just 1.5 per cent in the first quarter of this year; automakers typically see 6 to 8 per cent as a good figure. Italdesign was founded in 1968 by designer Giorgetto Giugiaro and engineer Aldo Mantovani. The company's extensive credit roll includes a clutch of iconic supercars, including the DMC DeLoren, Lotus Esprit, and the BMW M1 supercar. One could argue Italdesign's work at the more affordable end of the spectrum has been even more influential, with the original Volkswagen Golf, and Fiat Panda, Punto and Uno are all penned by the company. Other credits include the first-generation Daewoo Matiz, Hyundai Excel, Lancia Delta, Audi 80, and Lexus GS. Volkswagen purchased 90 per cent of Italdesign in 2010, with the remaining 10 per cent kept by Giorgetto Giugiaro and his family. In order to keep its Italian holdings together, Italdesign was placed with Lamborghini under Audi's ownership. The Giugiaro and his son sold their remaining stake to Volkswagen in 2015, and left the firm to setup their own design consultancy. Under Volkswagen ownership Italdesign continued to work with other automakers, although the volume of commissioned products has slowed significantly. Cars developed since 2010 include the Audi Q2, the limited edition Nissan GT-R50, and the Voyah Free for Chinese automaker Dongfeng. MORE: Everything Audi Content originally sourced from:
