Editing Lotus Esprit (section)

==={{anchor|V8}}V8 (1996)===
[[File:Lotus Esprit (2724227240).jpg|thumb|left|Lotus Esprit V8]]

In 1996, Lotus launched the '''Esprit V8'''. The car came equipped with Lotus' own [[Lotus 900 series#Type 918|Type 918 V8 engine]]. The engine is an all-aluminium 90° [[Overhead camshaft#Dual overhead camshaft|DOHC]] [[Multi-valve#Four-valve cylinder head|4 valve]]s per cylinder with a [[flat-plane crank]]shaft and two Garrett T25/60 turbochargers but with no Chargecooler. The transaxle used was the same [[Renault]] unit as before but upgraded by Lotus. Despite having a modified transaxle, the Type 918 engine was detuned from a potential {{convert|507|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} to {{convert|355|PS|kW hp|0|abbr=on}} to prevent gearbox damage.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.espritfactfile.com/Mod_Info.html#2004 |title=Esprit |publisher=Espritfactfile.com |date=9 October 1990 |access-date=10 October 2010}}</ref> In period tests, acceleration from 0&ndash;97&nbsp;km/h (60 mph) was achieved in 4.1 seconds, with a {{convert|1/4|mile|m|0|order=flip|abbr=in}} of 12.7s at {{cvt|112|mph|km/h|0|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a44702420/1998-lotus-esprit-v-8-by-the-numbers |title=1998 Lotus Esprit V-8: About Darn Time|publisher=Car & Driver Magazine|access-date=13 March 2024}}</ref>
The top speed is at {{convert|174|mph|kph|abbr=on|order=flip}}.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/112_9611_lotus_esprit_v8/specifications.html |title=Lotus Esprit V8 - European Car - Specifications - Motor Trend Magazine |publisher=Motortrend.com |access-date=16 May 2010 |archive-date=4 June 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604100054/http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/112_9611_lotus_esprit_v8/specifications.html |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| first = Sam | last = Mitani | url = http://www.lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/RoadnTrack_Nov97.html | title = Ferrari F355 Berlinetta vs. Lotus Esprit V8 | page = 73 | journal = [[Road & Track]] | publisher = [[Hearst Corporation|Hearst]] |date=November 1997 | access-date=17 March 2012}}</ref>

In 1998 the V8 range was split into '''SE''' and '''GT''' models. Both cars had revised interiors and similar performance with the SE being the more luxurious of the two and the GT being more lightweight and performance focused. 
 
The ultimate incarnation of the Esprit was the 1999 '''Sport 350'''. Only 50 were made.<ref name="lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/350">{{cite web|url=http://www.lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/350_topgear.html|title=Lotus Esprit 350|access-date=17 December 2007|work=lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/350}}</ref> the ECU in the Sport 350 was remapped to have the same Lotus type 918 power output of 350 horsepower (per the name), but in different rpm / gear range (turbo spool characteristics) compared to the normal SE/GT sales version and had chassis, body and braking improvements that included thinner fibre layer in the body, AP Racing brakes and stiffer springs .<ref>{{cite web|author=kato |url=http://www.lotusespritworld.com/EModels/350.html |title=Esprit Models |publisher=Lotusespritworld.com |access-date=16 May 2010}}</ref> Among the visual changes was a large carbon fibre rear wing on aluminium uprights in place of the standard fibreglass rear wing. The Sport 350 weighed {{convert|1300|kg|lb|0|abbr=on}} and could accelerate to {{convert|60|mph|kph|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} in 4.3 seconds and to {{convert|100|mph|kph|0|abbr=on|order=flip}} in under 10 seconds.<ref>{{cite web|last=Kuah |first=Ian |url=http://www.lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/350_racecar.html |title=Esprit Road Tests |publisher=Lotusespritworld.com |access-date=16 May 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=kato |url=http://www.lotusespritworld.com/ERoadtests/Evo_Dec04.html |title=Esprit Road Tests |publisher=Lotusespritworld.com |access-date=16 May 2010}}</ref>