The Lotus Esprit V8 Is an Underrated Exotic Sports Car

Massive respect to Doug DeMuro for remembering his fanbase on reviewing retro cars.

I have a 1989 turbo and it’s been in my family since 900 miles (1995). 2.2 4cyl with no power steering. It’s absolutely incredible! I once did 155 mph when I was 21 when my dad allowed me to take it to work. I was pulled over about a mile later doing 103 and he never found out. Phew. Anyway, I’m 43 now. Nothing like pulling up to a coffee shop for my shift as a 21 year old in Monterey, CA. What great memories I have with this car. So happy to see Doug finally review one. Anytime you want to review the OG just let me know, Doug! I’m in Phoenix now and we did an engine out restoration last year and she has been such a great car all these years! I may start doing more with my channel so anyone interested stay tuned.

IMO it's one of the most beautiful cars designs of all time

To me it looks timeless. If it never came out before and it came now, it still looks modern. Love it

For me the Lotus Esprit has always been among the most beautiful cars ever built. It almost triggers me only looking at it. Maybe because I am born 82 and all my toy cars looked like it in that Era. Unfortunately I will never be able to drive one. Glad to see Doug also loves it ❤️

I love Schrodinger's handbrake.

An Esprit V8 in yellow was a dream car for me back as a kid in the 90s.

This car impressed me when it survived the trio from 'Top Gear' through Argentina in the 'Patagonia Special' . The other two were constantly breaking down , yet this little Lotus kept on going . They were forced to abandon it in Argentina when the crew ran into a bunch of locals who were still pissed off about the Falklands war . I still wonder what became of it .

Fun fact: The Esprit's V8 was able to easily put out 500 HP, but Lotus decided to de-tune it to 350 because they couldn't get a gearbox strong enough to handle that much power. Also, a correction: The Esprit V8 had a slight redesign in 2002, the main changes done at the rear, where it swapped the Corolla tail lights by the circular ones from the Elise S2.

How did Doug make it through this ENTIRE video and not talk about the bright RED “EJECT” button?

Recently saw one as I was coming out of a multi level carpark. I stopped the car, and left my wife waiting while I looked at it and took photos. ALWAYS a beautiful car I remember it from Hot Pursuit. seeing one in real life made me so happy! I wish I could buy one

The Esprit V8 is definitely an undervalued car. Lotus engineering, good powertrain, great chassis, awesome wedge styling that manages to still be unique. I knew the tail lights were parts bin (they almost always are on cars like this), but I never realized they came from the Corolla. That actually makes me love it even more. Seems a lot more practical than a Countach or Diablo, too. Probably way more fun to drive, as well.

This is one of my favourite cars period. It looks amazing, has pop up headlights and goes like hell. My want for one only got stronger after the Top Gear Patagonia Special.

Oh the Lotus Esprit! It’s perfect. One of my favourite cars EVER!

The keyless entry is an aftermarket device made by cobra alarms, I had the exact same one on a 96 astra (saturn). The other button is for the alarm ultrasonic sensors and if you push both buttons together at the same time it activates the alarm as a panic mode setting

I owned a Asuna Sunfire/Isuzu Impulse '94 in the early 2000's. This car was made from about every companies' parts. Lotus provided the whole handling (direction and suspension). That thing was really fun to drive. Let's just say I made it see some serious action 😅

It was a rare sight to see a Lotus Esprit in the late 70's through the 1990's! When I saw one in person it just looked so cool! I was sort of disappointed Lotus Esprit couldn't actually turn into a submarine...Lol! They are still one of the coolest looking exotics ever made in my opinion.

I was an engineering intern in Dayton, Ohio with Delco Products (GM) in 1990. GM either partnered or owned (can't remember) Lotus at that time when they released the Lotus Elan. I got to drive a pre-production Elan since it was treated as a "competitor evaluation" car, and even engineering interns could drive these cars. The looks we got driving that car around the campus of the University of Dayton is a highlight of my time in college; what a hoot. That job was the closest I got to being Doug Demuro, a college kid driving cars like the Elan, Merc E300, Pontiac GTA, etc.

From the 1980s to the early 2000s, my dad was an engineer and eventually managing director of Lotus Engineering. Worked on some great engines for lotus and quite a few other companies like GM and mercury marine. He has a lot of opinions on the v8 power train for the esprit. Mostly that the original 4 cylinder was categorically a better engine!

this is one of my top dream cars, i have always loved the way it's designed