Autoblog

While the accompanying photo is only a rendering of the upcoming 2008 Lotus Esprit provided by Hans G. Lehmann via The Car Connection, it further brings into focus the upcoming halo car from the British builder of lightweight sportscars. TCC goes on to say that the V8 sourced from BMW will be the company's 4.8L and produce 367 horsepower. Due to the expertise Lotus has in building featherweight frames, the Esprit will be able to reach an estimated top speed of 180 mph and no doubt spring to 60 mph in the four-second range. The U.S. is first in line for the Esprit and will get the bulk of between one- and two-thousand units planned for production.

The styling shown in this rendering features a front end that looks like a cross between a Lamborghini Gallardo and a Lotus Elise. The only look at the Elise we've had so far are from spy photos of a mule running the Nurburgring in Germany wearing the sheetmetal of the last generation Esprit.

[Source: The Car Connection]

On June 17th Julien's will be auctioning one of two 1980 Lotus Esprit Turbos that was used in the James Bond film For Your Eyes Only. Originally seen wearing white paint in the beginning of the movie, the car was painted a copper color for later scenes in order to contrast with the snowy backdrop of the Italian Alps.

The iconic supercar is beginning to show its age with a leather interior that's beginning to crack and a shattered Lotus emblem on the steering wheel. Still, it's got custom ski racks, which, along with the Bond connection should be more than enough to justify the opening bid of $250,000. Seems like the perfect winter beater for the obnoxiously wealthy.

Thanks Noonz for the tip!

[Source: eBay via NoonzWheels]