Ranger

Make
Ford
Segment
Sports Car

As Lotus plans the new Esprit for a spring 2013 launch, the automaker is also going to build its own V8 engine for the car. According to a report from Autocar, CEO Danny Bahar has revealed that Lotus is conducting a feasibility study on the possibility for an all-new Hethel-engineered V8 for the new Esprit. It doesn't stop there. Lotus would also like to build a new V6 to power the upcoming Elan and various other models.

According to Bahar: "The engine is the heart of a sports car; we should do our own product." Although the company usually powers their car with Toyota-derived and modified engines, Bahar has stated that negative customer reaction to using a Toyota engine in the Esprit is behind the new strategy, stating that "in the mind of sports-car enthusiasts, Toyota power might not be good enough." Lotus is currently looking at their cash flow before making a final decision. At the same time, Bob Lutz has given a rare indication to Lotus' future success.

The former GM VP, and now member of the Lotus senior advisory board, has stated that his new company has a "60 percent chance at least" to succeed with their aggressive revival plans. Lutz admitted that Lotus owner Proton is taking a "pretty big gamble" with their $1.2 billion investment, but the company stands a better chance because of it than the current money-draining status quo.