Motorweek Lotus Esprit Turbo SE

[fre2fly]

drove one of these today

DAMN, i wasnt expecting it to be that quick, got abit of a shock, lit up the tires in 1st and 2nd

[TheTallMan35]

Looks like a cross between a Lamborghini Diablo and a Vector w8.

[NorthEast81]

I love her fingernails! Sooo late 80s!

[Veee8]

Wow these cars could really hook up - 4.5 0 to 60 and 12.9 qtr mile is extremely quick for a stock car 20 years ago and very quick today....impressive.

[S14VH45]

wow 0-60 in 4.5 seconds! how many other cars in the day of the testerossa could do that? and all this time i thought these weren't fast!

[jamesjr934]

What is this from 1970? That car is butt ugly, compared to todays cars...

[PentruRasaAlba]

I want one!

[TadMoody]

Nice car, but engine sounds like ass.

[dalejrfan800]

No, the engine doesn't sound like ass...

[vfIskullangel]

I'm thinking about one of these next. These things are now a bargan and with all the aftermarket now its an affordable exotic. :)

[LR3GUY]

@vfIskullangel

Anyone thinking about buying one these now because they have got so cheap should think again. The reliability SUCKS, between the electrical problems, gas leaks and a charge box that goes every 15000 miles these cars will nickle and dime you to death. They were great when new, but after 6 months they were absolute junkers.

[vfIskullangel]

@LR3GUY Consider this, I won't be driving it daily to work and back nor to go get food. Plus I could pull the motor and put something else in there. Plenty of V6's and V8's out there that can be swapped in for more power and better reliablity.

[mediacritic]

I always loved this car. Very different. Quirky. Fast as hell. Sharp looking. Wish I was rich.

[dalejrfan800]

They're not that expensive anymore... there's an '88 turbo on ebay with 33,000 original miles for $17,000

[lotusexcelsa]

Don't need to be rich

got £10,000?

[RacerE7773]

@lotusexcelsa If I was, that would be sitting next to a 2009 Charger, 2009 Mustang, and a DeLorean and a couple others I hadn't thought of yet. :)

[Mking0072121]

those numbers are amazing, outstanding,remarkable i cant think of anything that has those kind of times with a 4 banger. Fuckin awesome

[SLAMMED87GT]

I love the retro Esprit's...superior performance in their day, and cool accessories...i.e. the fake fan vents to cover that badass Sony radio!! Hahah! I really love this car highly though.

[dalejrfan800]

Their performance is still superior to most!

[Doonantubes]

that's clever to hide the radio and I like to drive that espirt turbo SE, maybe I play the lotus turbo challenge music from amiga.

[54spiritedwill54]

indeed can still be a very fast car even today

[TimothyLM]

Those times are impressive today- they must have been mind blowing 20 years ago. I don't think a Ferrari 348 or Acura NSX could touch it. The Esprit wouldn't get substantially quicker until the V8 of 1996, so you don't give up much performance by opting for an SE rather than an S4 or S4s. Refinement is another matter, but isn't that why God created Toyotas?

[lotusexcelsa]

The 348 0-60 times were about 5.5 seconds, while the Esprit was under 5, I have read many scans of older magazines which say that the Esprit is the fastest, but still prefer the rivals, The Porsche 911 3.8, Ferrari 348 and the Honda NSX

[lilPat]

ohh...nice way to hide the radio :)

[lilPat]

OMG am having fun watching old skool road test thanks for the upload mate :D

[LycanValvaro]

Aww man this vid just made my favorite car more favorite.

[AllSingingAllDancing]

Thanks for posting this. You folks really love cars! I'm more passive I guess. I mean I watch TOP GEAR religiously, but that's just because it's so much fun!

Lotus will always hold a special place in my heart. Why? The Spy Who Loved Me. AWESOMENESS. Admit it!

My only disappointment is this=I had a chance to sit in one of those years ago. It was heartbreaking to realize I'd not be able to drive one. I'm 6'5" and I had to squeeze in. How does Jeremy Clarkson do it?

[revolutionday1]

I can't believe this asshat is STILL hosting this show, to this day!!!

[SLAMMED87GT]

One of my fave vehicles EVAR! I will own one soon, sold my M3 earlier this year and I plan to buy one of these next summer if I don't decide on another M. In the meantime I'll drive my 325I for this winter! :D

[lotusexcelsa]

Selling an M3 to buy a Esprit eh?

A great replacement, just don't try to use it as a daily driver, even in the summer, its more usable than a Ferrari or Lamborghini of similar years

My dad has a 1990 Turbo SE, on full boost it'll pull 0-60mph in 4.7 and will go on to do over 160mph

but it also has no power steering and the air con system can go a bit funky, if you get a 1987-92 model it also has a lift out, Targa roof

for a 20 year old car, its beyond amazing

[TAMBOREBRIO]

Agree still be a very fast car even today, thanks for upload these video

[joyanne62]

For a car that's almost 20 yrs old it still out performs a lot of high end cars built today.. 1/4 mile in 12.9!!! What other 4 cyl can pull that off?

[lewis72]

An Exige R?

This Esprit would have been built about 50 metres away from where I sit at work. Yep... at Lotus!