Lotus Cars Korea has started exhibiting the Esprit Final Edition at the Lotus showroom from the 1st, following the 340R. The Esprit, a legendary model of Lotus, began production in 1976 and has maintained its lineage for 28 years.
Before the discontinuation of the Esprit in 2003, Lotus produced just 79 limited Final Editions. One of those 79 units is now on display at the Gangnam Lotus showroom. This 21-year-old black Esprit, located in the basement level 1, displays a stunning silhouette.
Measuring 4,368 × 1,867 × 1,150 mm, it resembles a sharp dancer clad in a black suit. With a wheelbase of 2,438 mm, it is a low-slung sports car. You have to squeeze into the seat, almost reclining. Yet, it offers a relatively comfortable seating position compared to other sports cars. The red interior showcases Lotus’ passion that rivals any sports car brand.
The center fascia houses five buttons clustered around the hazard light. Press the button on the far left, which is adorned with a light bulb icon. Suddenly, the creature, which had its eyes closed, opens them wide, playfully responding.
It features a midship engine. As I lift the trunk, the red lettering spelling ‘LOTUS’ captures the eye immediately. The sun visor and engine bear the engraver’s name. Having the engraver’s name engraved shows Lotus’ commitment to quality craftsmanship.
The Esprit Final Edition boasts a maximum output of 355 horsepower and a maximum torque of 40.8 kg·m from its V8 3.5-liter twin-turbo engine, paired with a five-speed manual transmission. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.8 seconds.
The Esprit Final Edition will be exhibited at the Lotus Dosan-daero showroom until the end of February and will be replaced by another model afterward.
Lee Sang-jin daedusj@autodiary.kr