Simon Cars - Lotus Esprit Type 79

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Lotus Esprit S1, S2, S3, S4, V8

Lotus Esprit S1. Newly formed ItalDesign exhibited a Lotus Europa-based styling exercise at the 1972 Turin Motor Show and this became the Lotus Esprit in 1976. From 1978-80 the S2 was produced, gaining vents behind the rear side windows to improve cooling and a from air dam. A larger 2.2litre engine was given in 1980 for the Esprit S2.2, and also the Turbo Esprit was launched that year. The S3 was launched in 1981, and an improved Turbo Esprit was put onto the market. A High Compression Turbo Esprit HC was launched in 1987. Peter Stevens designed the next Turbo Esprit (X180/S4) which was launched in October 1987. In 1989 further improvements resulted in the SE model, and also a less equipped sportier Esprit S model. The 300hp X180R (or Sport 300) were also produced for a short time. In 1994 the S4 was launched with a redesign by Julian Thompson, and the S4S followed in 1995 with a 300bhp engine. The Esprit V8 appeared in 1997 with the lotus 3.5litre V8, but a turbocharged 2-litre 4-cylinder car was sold as the Esprit GT3. The final development was the Sport 350 which was a 350bhp V8 version. Production continued until 2004 when 10,600 cars had been built.

Lotus Esprit S1 1979 - badge on c-pillar with fuel filler	Lotus Esprit S1 1979 - badge on bootlid	Lotus Esprit S2 1980 - badge on bonnet. By this time some Lotus cars were being fitted with black badges, and there are many myths surrounding this, but the green and yellow badge was still the official one.	Lotus Esprit S2 1980 - badge on c-pillar with fuel filler	Lotus Esprit S3 - wing badge
Lotus Esprit S3 - badge on bonnet. Lotus badges were usually green and yellow but black badges had sometimes been worn, although stories about black badges (1) to commemorate the death of Jim Clark (1972), or (2) to commemorate the death of Colin Chapman are now regarded purely as myths.	Lotus Esprit Turbo 1981 - badge on bonnet	Lotus Esprit S4 Turbo SE 1990. The badge reflects the fact that the S4 is no longer the car that Giugiaro designed	Lotus Esprit S1 1978. In this view the 'folded paper' lines of Giorgetto Giugiaro are evident, and quite pure in the S1 Esprit	Lotus Esprit Turbo 1981
Lotus Esprit SE. The Peter Stevens X180 Lotus Esprit was launched in 1987, and the SE model in May 1989.	Lotus Esprit S1. Newly formed ItalDesign exhibited a Lotus Europa-based styling exercise by Giorgetto Giugiaro at the 1972 Turin Motor Show and this became the Lotus Esprit in 1976.	Lotus Esprit S1 1978. Tail lamps on the S1 were from the Fiat X1/9, and were changed to Rover SD1 lamps for the Esprit S2.	Lotus Esprit S2 JPS 1979. In late 1978 Coilin Chapman commissioned a special edition version of the Lotus Esprit S2 to commemorate winning the 1979 Formula One World Championship. About 147 were produced	Lotus Esprit S2 1979. The S2 Esprit launched in 1978 attempted to resolve some of the problems experienced with the S1, and the engine now had cooling intakes behind the rear side windows
Lotus Esprit S2 1980. The S2 was given an integrated front spoiler, and was commonly fitted with Speedline alloys specially made for Lotus.	Lotus Esprit S3. The S3 was launched in April 1981, but it was an evolutionary car, taking the 2174cc Lotus 912 dohc engine from the Esprit S2.2, and some of its chassis and mechanics from the Lotus Essex Turbo Esprit. 767 were sold until 1987.	Lotus Esprit S3. The S3 was launched in April 1981, but it was an evolutionary car which consolidated the features of the Essex Esprit, Esprit 2.2 and Turbo Esprit which had used different chassis and body moulds. The S3 was much more of a single car with variations.	Lotus Esprit S3 1986. This is the final incarnation of the Giorgetto Giugiaro design for the Esprit because the S4 was launched in 1987 with Peter Stevens revised body.	Lotus Esprit S3 1986. The S3 had 15-inch BBS alloy wheels
Lotus Esprit Turbo 1981. The first Turbo Esprit had been the Essex Esprit of 1980, but the Esprit Turbo of 1981 was based on the S3 platform that considated chassis and body improvements into a single car used for both turbo and normally aspirated cars	Lotus Esprit S3 1985 Turbo	Lotus Esprit 1989. This is the new X180 body designed by Peter Stevens, and manufactured by Vacuum Assisted Resin Injection process	Lotus Esprit SE 1989. The Peter Stevens X180 Lotus Esprit was launched in 1987, and the SE model in May 1989 which was the most expensive Esprit at that time. The engine gave 264bhp from its charge-cooled engineering, and 563 were sold until it was replaced by the Esprit S4	Lotus Esprit Turbo SE 1990. This is the Peter Stevens X180 body mated to a 264bhp turbocharged 2174cc Lotus engine.
Lotus Esprit S4 1994. The Esprit S4 was launched in 1993 with the body restyled by Julian Thompson. Standard power was the turbocharged 264bhp Lotus 2174cc 910 engine	Lotus Esprit S4 S 1995. Julian Thompson redesigned the Lotus Esprit as the S4 for 1993, and this was sold with the 264bhp turbocharged engine. In 1995 the S4 S was launched with the 300bhp engne from the Sport 300 car.	Lotus Esprit S4 V8 1995. Powered by a twin turbocharger Lotus 918 3506cc V8 developing 355bhp	Lotus Esprit S2 1980. The profile of the Esprit S2 is quite close to the original design by Giorgetto Giugiaro, but a cooling intake has been added in the c-pillar.	Lotus Esprit SE. The Peter Stevens X180 Lotus Esprit was launched in 1987, and the SE model in May 1989. Apparently Giugiaro like the Stevens restyle, which in silhouette still retains the shape of the original
Lotus Esprit Turbo SE 1990.	Lotus Esprit S4 S. Julian Thompson redesigned the Lotus Esprit as the S4 for 1993, and this was sold with the 264bhp turbocharged engine. In 1995 the S4 S was launched with the 300bhp engne from the Sport 300 car.	Lotus Esprit S2 1980. In 1980 the Lotus Esprit was still fitted with the 1973cc Lotus 907 dohc engine, but an S2.2 edition from May 1980 was given the Lotus 912 2174cc engine which offered more torque.	Lotus Europa (Type 46, 47, 54, 65, 74)	Giorgetto Giugiaro

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