Editing Lotus Esprit (section)

==Background==
In 1970 [[Tony Rudd]], who had started at Lotus the previous year, proposed two new model development projects. The first, Project M50, resulted in the 1974 [[Lotus Elite#Types 75 and 83 .281974.E2.80.9382.29|Elite]]. The second, Project M70, meant to develop a successor to the [[Lotus Europa|Europa]] which, like the Europa, was to be a two-door fixed-head [[Mid-engine design|mid-engine]] [[coupé]].<ref name="sincethe70s">{{cite book |last=Robson  |first=Graham  |date=23 July 1993 |title=Lotus Since the 70s: Esprit, Etna And V8 Engine |publisher=Motor Racing Publications Ltd |isbn=978-0947981693 }}</ref>

A meeting between [[Colin Chapman]] and Giugiaro was arranged in 1971 by designer [[Oliver Winterbottom]], who also suggested that Giugiaro use his [[Maserati Boomerang]] [[Concept car|concept]] as the inspiration for the new Lotus.<ref name="winterbottom">{{cite magazine |last=Taylor |first=Mike |date=July 2017 |title=Straight to the Point |magazine=Classic & Sports Car |page=164 |location=Twickenham UK |publisher=Haymarket Media Group }}</ref>

Work began on the new car in mid-1971 with production of a 1:4 scale model. According to Italdesign, Chapman was disappointed with the wind-tunnel test results with the model and halted the project, but the Italian coachbuilder pressed on and built a full-size mock-up on a stretched, modified Europa chassis. That nameless prototype, often simply called "the Silver Car", appeared on the Italdesign stand at the [[Turin Auto Show#1972|1972 Turin Auto Show]] and the positive reception convinced Chapman to approve further development.<ref name="italdesign">{{cite web|url=http://www.italdesign.it/project/esprit/|title=Esprit|work=www.italdesign.it}}</ref>

Development continued with production of a second prototype, registered as "IDGG 01" and known as "the Red Car", that would be a functional car.<ref name="redcar">{{cite web|url=http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EPictures/donington04_carpark.html|title=Donington 2004|work=www.lotusespritworld.com}}</ref> Design of the car's mechanical systems progressed, but was not complete when the Esprit was officially announced.<ref name="sincethe70s"/>

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