Lotus->ke49' on-again, off-again stance on the production of the since stalled Esprit V8 supercar has seen its fair share of fence-jumping.
But recently, a high-ranking Lotus->ke49 executive brought new life to the Esprit V8, even if he stopped short of confirming that the company was going to build it.
Speaking to Motoring Australia during the recent launch of the 2014 Exige S Roadster, Lotus brand manager for Australia and New Zealand, Alastair Manihera, hinted that the company hasn't completely abandoned the Esprit V8, or at least not to the extent that has been reported in the past.
"Contrary to popular belief the factory is keeping its options open," Manihera said, before adding that no timetable has been set on when or where the super car is going to be built.
While that's far from a confirmation, Manihera did leave out the possibility of Lotus eventually building the supercar and that's more than you can ask for given the spate of ever-changing directions the company has been having in the past few years.
What we do know is that there's interest, both within Lotus and fans of the Esprit to see the supercar->ke177 return for the first time since 2004. It's no secret that the Esprit, specifically the concept version that was shown at the 2010 Paris Motor Show, has a future in the industry as a car that could be a nice alternative to more high-priced models out there.
So even if there's still no commitment coming from Lotus regarding the fate of the Esprite V8, the mere fact that one executive is still optimistic about its chances is good enough for us to keep hoping and praying that the concept that wowed us in Paris back in 2010 will finally get to strut its stuff on the road.
Click past the jump to read more about the Lotus Esprit Supercar.
Considering how much hype the Lotus has received for the return of the Esprit, the automaker should be smart enough to listen to all that clamoring. After all, one look at the supercar and you immediately understand why there's a need for the Esprit to return from the grave.
The supercar styling of the Esprit is evident on every crease and angle of the supercar.
Plus, the car was touted to receive Lotus’ in-house V-8 that develops 570 horsepower and 398 pound-feet of torque, That's a lot of ponies under its hood, justifying the car's place in the supercar market as a true, worthy, and slightly more affordable purchase than most exotics in its class.
Hopefully, a clear decision on the Esprit V8 is made sooner than later. We've all waited long enough.