Rare Car Archive

Makes › Lotus United Kingdom › Esprit › Esprit (North America via Lotus Cars USA) · Rare specification Very Rare

Lotus
Esprit (North America via Lotus Cars USA)

Esprits (Turbo, then V8, Sport 350) officially imported to the US/North America in the final six years of production, 636 cars in total.

Still being researched: identification guide. Everything shown is checked against the cited sources. Know more? Send us a source.

IDENTIFICATION CARD · LOTUS ESPRIT (NORTH AMERICA VIA LOTUS CARS USA)
No licensed photograph yet. Photographs are published only when their licence permits it.
636BuiltIndependently researched
0Chassis documentedin this archive
?SurvivingNot yet verified
Contents
  1. 01Overview
  2. 02Production & history
  3. 03Specifications
  4. 04Colours & options
  5. 05Individual cars
  6. 06Reference

01Overview

At a glance

Built
636 Built
Years
Not yet verified
Engine
90-degree V8, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, turbocharged · 3,506 cc / 3.5 LFactory: 3,506 cc
Power
261 kW / 355 PSFactory: 350 hp · converted
Top speed
282 km/hFactory: 175 mph · converted
Body
Not yet verified
Designer
Not yet verified
In this archive
Not yet verified
Surviving
Not yet verified

Sources and any conflicting figures are in the sections below.

Why it matters

The Esprit V8 used a turbocharged 3.5-litre V8. The Motor Trend road test says Lotus Engineering intended to sell this engine to others, and calls it a showpiece for a luxury-car engine.

How rare is it?

Six separate kinds of rarity – never combined into one number.

Model rarityNot yet assessed
Specification rarityVery Rare 636 · Built1
Colour rarityNot yet assessed
Individual rarityNot yet assessed
Historical rarityNot yet assessed
Survival rarityNot yet assessed

Each kind of rarity is rated separately and never combined.

02Production & history

Production

Every figure says what it counts.

What is countedFigureBasisStatus
Factory package productionEsprits imported to North America through Lotus Cars USA, 1997-2002 (132, 95, 121 incl. 8 Sport 350, 91, 97, 100) 6361 Factory production Independently researched

Independent counts (e.g. engine and colour) are never combined into a calculated figure. Surviving examples are never presented as original production.

History

The US road test lists a base price of 78,950 dollars and a price as tested of 81,245 dollars.

Variants

How each version differs from the standard Esprit (North America via Lotus Cars USA).

No variants documented yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

03Specifications

Technical specifications

Engine

Engine familyNot yet verified
Engine codeNot yet verified
Layout90-degree V8, DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder, turbocharged2 Independently researched
Cylinders82 Independently researched
Displacement 3,506 cc / 3.5 LFactory: 3,506 cc2 Independently researched
BoreNot yet verified
StrokeNot yet verified
Compression ratioNot yet verified
ValvetrainDOHC, 4 valves per cylinder2 Independently researched
Fuel systemNot yet verified
InductionTurbocharged2 Independently researched
Power 261 kW / 355 PSFactory: 350 hp · converted2 Independently researchedRating: SAE net
Power at 6,500 rpm2 Independently researched
Torque 400 NmFactory: 295 lb-ft · converted2 Independently researchedSAE net, as stated by the test.
Torque at 4,250 rpm2 Independently researched

Transmission & drivetrain

Gearbox5-speed manual2 Independently researched
Gears52 Independently researched
Final drive3.89:12 Independently researched
Driven wheelsNot yet verified

Chassis, body & dimensions

ChassisNot yet verified
Front suspensionDouble wishbones, coil springs,2 Independently researched
Rear suspensionUpper and lower links, coil springs, anti-roll bar2 Independently researched
BrakesVented discs front and rear with ABS2 Independently researched
SteeringRack and pinion, power assist2 Independently researched
Body constructionNot yet verified
Wheelbase 2,420 mmFactory: 2,420 mm2 Independently researchedSource also gives 95.3 in.
Length 4,414 mmFactory: 4,414 mm2 Independently researchedSource also gives 173.8 in.
WidthNot yet verified
HeightNot yet verified
Front trackNot yet verified
Rear trackNot yet verified
Kerb weight 1,380 kgFactory: 3,042 lb · converted2 Independently researchedBase curb weight per the test.
Dry weightNot yet verified

Performance

Maximum speed 282 km/hFactory: 175 mph · converted2 Independently researched
0–100 km/hNot yet verified
0–60 mph 4.4 s2 Independently researched
Fuel tankNot yet verified

“Not yet verified” means no source has been checked for that value yet. Nothing is estimated to fill a gap.

04Colours & options

Factory colours & interiors

Original paint and trim, with the number of cars in each where a source gives it.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Factory options & codes

Codes are shown exactly as written by the manufacturer.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

05Individual cars

Chassis register

Every documented car, with its colours, history and where it is now. Open a row for the full record. Known chassis are not automatically authenticated originals.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Competition history

Every race result of the individual cars, in date order. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Auction & sale history

Documented public sales of the individual cars. Click a chassis number to open its full record in the register.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

See one in person

Museums where an example of this car can be seen.

No example is documented on public display yet. Have a source? Contribute it.

06Reference

Identification guide

How to tell an original from a replica or later conversion.

Not yet documented. Have a source? Contribute it.

Sources

Each number links to the exact facts it supports.

  1. 1
    Lotus Esprit World: Production Figures Level C
    • 636 Esprits imported to North America through Lotus Cars USA, 1997-2002 (132, 95, 121 incl. 8 Sport 350, 91, 97, 100)
    Accessed 2026-11-13
  2. 2
    Lotus Esprit V8 - Specifications Level C Motor Trend Magazine
    • Turbocharged 90° V-8, DOHC
    • 214/3506
    • 4 valves/cylinder
    • 350 @ 6500
    • 295 @ 4250
    • 5-speed manual
    • 3.89:1
    • Double wishbones, coil springs,
    • upper and lower links,
    • Vented discs/vented discs, ABS
    • Rack and pinion, power assist
    • 95.3/2420
    • 173.8/4414
    • 3042
    • 175
    • 4.4
    Accessed 2026-11-13

Keep exploring

More from Lotus

See all 77 cars by Lotus →

United Kingdom More from United Kingdom

134 other makes from United KingdomACAiredaleAlan Mann RacingAllardAlvisArabArashArielArmstrong SiddeleyArrowsAscariAston MartinAtalantaAtlantisAustinAustin-HealeyBedfordBentleyBerkeleyBluebirdBMCBondBrabhamBristolBritish LeylandBroadspeedBrookeBrough SuperiorCampbell-RailtonCaparoCaterhamChevronConnaughtCooperCrayfordDaimlerDavid BrownDawsonDeLoreanDuttonAll makes →