Lotus Esprit: forgotten car (1976 and 2004)

Usually when we talk about Lotus cars what comes to our mind is usually the Lotus Elise. Maybe after being featured quite frequently in Need for Speed game series, the Lotus Elise has become synonymous with the brand itself. However, not many people know of the existence of the Lotus Esprit. Made between 1976 to 2004, the Esprit spanned several generations:

Lotus Esprit S1 (1976)
Engine: Lotus 907 2.0L 4 cylinder - 140-160bhp
140 lb·ft (190 N·m) 
Transmission: 5 speed manual
claimed 0-100km/h - 6.8 seconds
Top Speed: 222km/h
Weight: 1000kg

Lotus Esprit S2 (1978)
New air duct near rear window
Integrated front spoiler

Lotus Esprit S3 &Turbo variant (1981)
engine: Lotus 912 2.2L 4 cylinder - same 140-160bhp
160 lb·ft (217 N·m)

Turbo engine: Lotus 910, 2.0L 215bhp-250bhp
220 lb·ft (300 N·m)
0-100km/h in 5.4-6.1 seconds
Top speed 263km/h

The S3 is followed by several redesigned versions. 

Doesn't the Lotus Esprit look very much like the DMC Delorean? Yes because:

"The DeLorean (also known as the DMC-12) was designed by DeLorean. John

DeLorean contracted with a specialist U.S. subcontractor to design andbuild a prototype based on some ideas that he had. He then contractedLotus to develop and certify the production car and set up themanufacturing system. The final chassis design looks very much likethe Esprit chassis. The cars were actually built at the DeLoreanfactory in Dunmurry, south of Belfast, Northern Ireland."
Read more:http://stason.org/TULARC/vehicles/lotus-cars/B5-Is-the-DeLorean-a-Lotus.html#ixzz1pwLK0bOF

Keywords: Lotus Elise, Lotus Esprit, Lotus Esprit S1,Lotus Esprit S2, Lotus Esprit S3, Lotus Esprit Turbo, Lotus turbo