Lotus Esprit Replacement Included In Lotus' Future Plans

Proton subsidiary Lotus may have some intriguing plans for the future. As part of Lotus CEO Danny Bahr's yet-to-be-released seven-year plan to propel the Lotus brand back to the top of the automotive world, an Esprit replacement is planned, with a target power-to-weight ratio of 275-325 bhp per tonne. By comparison, Audi R8 V10 has 319 bhp per tonne, while Ferrari California has 261 bhp per tonne.

Esprit will be Lotus' flagship model, positioned to be a “high-status purchase” for buyers and “the ultimate expression of the brand”. In Lotus' planned three-tier line-up, the four-cylinder Europa, Exige and Elise belong to the entry-level group, with the V6 Evora in the middle, and Esprit at the top.

Another highlight of the business plan is the offering of the Versatile Vehicle Architecture (VVA) to smaller companies seeking a relatively low-cost platform. The VVA was used to form Evora's platform and can be used to create anything from coupe to SUV. For now, Lotus is working on eight hybrid and electric projects for several unnamed companies.

AboutSeow Yaohan

Seow Yao Han strives to bring you the latest and the most comprehensive information on cars available in Malaysia. But it's never easy for him to talk and write cars in this part of the world because what you lust after is often not what you drive home. When the euphoria of test-driving that branded, super-expensive sports car dies down, he just goes home in his less-than-glamorous ride.