2001 Lotus Esprit

An Esprit makes sense based on performance and price, but it falls short on craftsmanship and materials

by David Slama

Although the wedge-shaped Lotus Esprit has been around long enough to be something of a 1970s retro car, it has gone through significant changes since it first appeared in 1976. To most people the Esprit conjures up exciting scenes from the 1977 James Bond film “The Spy Who Loved Me,” where Roger Moore escaped dangerous moments thanks to Q’s outfitting of his Esprit. Most memorable was when the Esprit turned into a submarine and dived to the bottom of the sea, surely a one-way trip with Lucas electrics. This pristine example may not be able to excite that kind of theatrical performance, but it does perform on the road. The 2001 Lotus Esprit coupe comes equipped with well-proven mechanical roots that have continually been improved. The revamped composite plastic body dates back to 1987 on this still-contemporary supercar. A completely redesigned, luxurious leather interior was fitted in 1998 and has been continually upgraded since then. The 3.5-liter,...