The Esprit was designed by Giorgetto Giugiaro and the prototype shown at the Turin Show in 1972. Initially the design did not meet with Colin Chapman’s approval, but he was soon won over. lt was designed to take Lotus from the sports car bracket into the supercar league and did that with progressive updates: the original two—litre car had only 160 bhp, but power output rose progressively over the years. The Series 2 car, introduced in 1979, was still a two-litre, but the 2.2 Turbo Esprit of 1980 took power up to 216 bhp. That in turn was boosted even further by the more efficient intercooled SE, with a massive 264 bhp. There has been one really major change in appearance over the years, when Giugiaro's original sharp-edged design was softened to the current, more rounded shape in 1988.
Specification 1991 Lotus Esprit Turbo SE
ENGINE
Type: inline four-cylinder, twin~cam
Construction: light alloy block and head
Bore*stroke: 3.75 in*3 in (95.3 mm*76.2 mm}
Displacement: 2174 cc
Compression ratio: 8.0:1
Valve gear: four valves per cylinder operated
Fuel system: electronic multi-point fuel injection with Garrett AiResearch TBO3 turbocharger with intercooler
Ignition: electronic mapped
Maximum power: 264 bhp at 6,500 rpm (PS Din)
Maximum torque: 261 Ib ft at 3,900 rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type: five·speed manual
Ratios: 1st 3.360:1
2nd 2.050:1
3rd 1.380:1
4th 1.030:1
5th 0.820:1
Final drive ratio: 3.890:1
BODY/CHASSIS
Type: steel backbone chassis with glassfibre bodyshell
RUNNING GEAR
Steering: rack and pinion; three turns lock-to- lock
Suspension: front; independent with doublewishbones, coil springs, telescopic
dampers and anti-roll
bar rear: independent with double radius arms and transverse links,
coil springs, telescopic dampers and anti-roil bar
Brakes: ventilated discs front, 10.2-in (259-mml diameter, solid discs rear 10.8- in (274 ·mm) diameter
Wheels: cast alloy 7 in*15 in front. 8.5 in*16 in rear
Tyres: Goodyear Eagles, 215/50 ZR16 rear
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Length: 171.0 in (4343 mm)
Width: 73.2 in (1859 mm)
Height: 45.3 in (1151 mm)
Fuel system: electronic multi-point fuel injection with Garrett AiResearch TBO3 turbocharger with intercooler
Ignition: electronic mapped
Maximum power: 264 bhp at 6,500 rpm (PS Din)
Maximum torque: 261 Ib ft at 3,900 rpm
TRANSMISSION
Type: five·speed manual
Ratios: 1st 3.360:1
2nd 2.050:1
3rd 1.380:1
4th 1.030:1
5th 0.820:1
Final drive ratio: 3.890:1
BODY/CHASSIS
Type: steel backbone chassis with glassfibre bodyshell
RUNNING GEAR
Steering: rack and pinion; three turns lock-to- lock
Suspension: front; independent with doublewishbones, coil springs, telescopic
dampers and anti-roll
bar rear: independent with double radius arms and transverse links,
coil springs, telescopic dampers and anti-roil bar
Brakes: ventilated discs front, 10.2-in (259-mml diameter, solid discs rear 10.8- in (274 ·mm) diameter
Wheels: cast alloy 7 in*15 in front. 8.5 in*16 in rear
Tyres: Goodyear Eagles, 215/50 ZR16 rear
DIMENSIONS AND WEIGHT
Length: 171.0 in (4343 mm)
Width: 73.2 in (1859 mm)
Height: 45.3 in (1151 mm)
Wheelbase: 96.0in (2438 mm)
Track: 60.0 in (1524 mm) front; 61.2 in(1554mm)rear
PERFORMANCE
Acceieration: 0-30 mph 1.9 sec
0-40 mph 2.7 sec
0-50 mph 3 8 sec
0-60 mph 4.9 sec
0-70 mph 6.6 sec
0-80 mph 8.2 sec
0-90 mph 10.0 sec
0-100 mph 12.4 sec
0-110 mph 15.2 sec
0-120 mph 18.5 sec
Standing 1/4 mile: 13.5 sec
Maximum speed: " 161 mph (259 km/h)
Track: 60.0 in (1524 mm) front; 61.2 in(1554mm)rear
PERFORMANCE
Acceieration: 0-30 mph 1.9 sec
0-40 mph 2.7 sec
0-50 mph 3 8 sec
0-60 mph 4.9 sec
0-70 mph 6.6 sec
0-80 mph 8.2 sec
0-90 mph 10.0 sec
0-100 mph 12.4 sec
0-110 mph 15.2 sec
0-120 mph 18.5 sec
Standing 1/4 mile: 13.5 sec
Maximum speed: " 161 mph (259 km/h)
Overall fuel:23.5 mpg
