About this Collectable

The Esprit is just as much of a head turner today as it was back in the '80s and driving it is a very special occasion. This is a Turbo from '87, the fifth 'Stevens-Esprit' ever built.

The original Lotus Esprit is one of the most recognizable designs from the 1970s, designed by the grandmaster Giorgetto Giugiaro. The fact that the Esprit had a role in two James Bond films also contributed to the legendary status of this car.

At the end of the 1980s, Lotus didn't think of ending the production, but decided the design needed an update. Peter Stevens was asked to revise the design so the Esprit would look fresh and modern once again. Stevens would later gain fame as the designer of the McLaren F1.

Stevens gave the Esprit a more modern and rounded design. Every panel is different, but the Esprit's iconic shape has remained intact. This version of the Esprit (the X180) is therefore still a very impressive car to see. In fact: with the redesign the Esprit has only become more impressive, especially with the new rear spoiler.

Engine-wise, this Esprit is largely the same as the Series 3. In the case of the Turbo, this means that it uses a mid engine turbocharged 2,2 liter four-cylinder, producing 218 hp and 298 Nm of torque.

That might not sound spectacular, but the Esprit Turbo could be classified as a supercar in the 1980s. This Lotus could reach a top speed of 240 km/h and accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 5,5 seconds. In terms of acceleration, the Esprit Turbo is almost as fast as its contemporary the Ferrari 328.

The design is not the only aspect that has been updated with Esprit X180. For example, the body is 22% stiffer, thanks to the use of Kevlar. The Citroën gearbox was also replaced by a more modern Renault gearbox and the interior was given a makeover.

This renewed Esprit has also starred on the silver screen, being the protagonist in films like Pretty Woman and Basic Instinct.

Just like the Esprit from Basic Instinct, this example is finished in black, with the rear spoiler. What makes this car special: it is one of the very first examples with the new Stevens design. This is chassis number 005. The car was originally delivered in Germany and has been in the Netherlands since 1996.

Equipment

This car is equipped from factory with:
Leather upholstery
Air conditioning
Targa roof
Spoiler

Modifications

The car received the following modifications:
Two foglights in the front bumper
Power steering from EZ Powersteering (original steering housing present)
Kenwood KDC-108 radio (not connected yet, original radio present)
Cruise control (disabled due to malfunctions)

Remarks

There are of course some traces of use, documented on the photos:
Damaged spot on the top of the boot lid
Scratch on the hood
Damaged spot on the outside mirror on the right
Damaged spot on the rear bumper
Dashboard trim above the steering wheel is coming loose
The odometer reads 7.700 km, but the odometer was reset after reaching 99.999 km in 2004 (verifiable through the NAP report). The actual mileage is therefore 107.700 km.

Service history

In March 2021, the timing belt was replaced at 106.523 km at Van der Kooi Lotus. Apart form that, little maintenance has been carried out in recent years, as the car has only driven about 2.000 kilometers in the period from 2012 to 2021.

Included with sale

Indoor car cover
Original owner's handbook
Original radio
Original steering column (without power steering)

For over 150 photos and the complete description, please visit www.thecollectables.com