Lotus Esprit

Lotus Esprit: which generation to buy

Power per litre (hp per litre of displacement): 4 generation 2.2 MT 304 hp is 139.8 hp/l (304 / 2.174). 5 generation 2.2 MT 288 hp is 132.5 hp/l. 4 generation 2.2 MT 268 hp is 123.3 hp/l. 5 generation 2.0 MT 243 hp is 123.2 hp/l. 5 generation 3.5 MT 354 hp is 101.0 hp/l — more peak power, less specific output, because displacement is 3506 cm³ against 2174 cm³.

1 generation (1976-01-01 to 1979-12-31): one version, Coupe. This is the entry to the name, not to the power list.

2 generation (1978-01-01 to 1981-12-31): two versions, Coupe. Overlaps the first generation in calendar years. Ground clearance is 104 mm on both generations; from 3 generation onward it is 150 mm except the 5 generation 2.2 MT at 147 mm.

3 generation (1981-01-01 to 1987-12-31): three 2.2 MT versions, Coupe. This is the only generation with measured fuel use. Boost arrives: No on the 162 hp car, Turbo on 218 hp and 231 hp.

4 generation (1987-01-01 to 1993-02-28): two 2.2 MT versions, Coupe. Power density and 0–100 peak here.

5 generation (1993-03-01 to 2004-11-30): three versions, Coupe. First 2.0 MT since 2 generation, first 3.5 MT, first 8-cylinder listing. Longest production window in the data.

Specs: engine options compared

Power per litre (hp per litre of displacement): 4 generation 2.2 MT 304 hp is 139.8 hp/l (304 / 2.174). 5 generation 2.2 MT 288 hp is 132.5 hp/l. 4 generation 2.2 MT 268 hp is 123.3 hp/l. 5 generation 2.0 MT 243 hp is 123.2 hp/l. 5 generation 3.5 MT 354 hp is 101.0 hp/l — more peak power, less specific output, because displacement is 3506 cm³ against 2174 cm³. 3 generation 2.2 MT 231 hp is 106.3 hp/l; 218 hp is 100.3 hp/l; 162 hp is 74.5 hp/l. 1 generation and 2 generation 2.0 MT 142 hp are 72.0 hp/l.

Valves per cylinder are 4 on every version. Compression ratio is 8 on the Turbo 2.2 MT and 3.5 MT cars where it is measured, and 9.5 on the No-boost 2.2 MT 162 hp cars in 2 generation and 3 generation. Bore × stroke is 95.4 × 76.2 on 5 generation 2.2 MT, 95.3 × 76.2 on the 4 generation pair and the 162 hp cars, 95.29 × 76.2 on the 218 hp and 231 hp cars, 83 × 81 on 3.5 MT. Compression and bore × stroke on 5 generation 2.0 MT, both 2.0 MT 142 hp cars, are not measured.

Performance, mpg, horsepower

0–100 km/h (this catalogue does not list 0–60): fastest is 4 generation 2.2 MT 304 hp at 4.5 s. Next: 4 generation 2.2 MT 268 hp at 4.8 s. 5 generation 2.2 MT 288 hp and 3.5 MT 354 hp both 4.9 s. 5 generation 2.0 MT 243 hp is 5.2 s — 0.3 s slower than the 288 hp 2.2 MT in the same generation, for 45 hp and 81 Nm less. 3 generation 2.2 MT 231 hp is 5.5 s; 218 hp is 5.6 s. 2 generation 2.2 MT 162 hp is 6.9 s. 1 generation 2.0 MT 142 hp is 6.8 s. Not measured: 3 generation 2.2 MT 162 hp, 2 generation 2.0 MT 142 hp.

Top speed: highest is 5 generation 3.5 MT at 282 km/h. That is 22 km/h above the 5 generation 2.2 MT (260 km/h) and 19 km/h above the 5 generation 2.0 MT (263 km/h). The 2.0 MT in 5 generation is 3 km/h faster than the 288 hp 2.2 MT despite 45 hp less. 4 generation 2.2 MT 304 hp is 270 km/h; 268 hp is 265 km/h. 3 generation 231 hp is 250 km/h; 218 hp is 241 km/h. 1 generation 2.0 MT and 2 generation 2.2 MT 162 hp are both 222 km/h. Not measured: 3 generation 162 hp, 2 generation 2.0 MT.

Fuel consumption (mpg in this file is litres/100 km): only two cars are measured, both 3 generation 2.2 MT. 218 hp: city 17.2, highway 8.3, mixed 10.6. 231 hp: city 15.7, highway 8.3, mixed 9.9. Same highway figure; city is 1.5 lower and mixed 0.7 lower on the 231 hp car, which also weighs 100 kg less (1270 kg vs 1370 kg). Every other version: city, highway, mixed, CO2, eco class — not measured.

Weight, dimensions, tank

Lightest measured kerb: 2 generation 2.2 MT 162 hp at 1120 kg. Then 4 generation 2.2 MT 304 hp at 1215 kg. 3 generation 2.2 MT 231 hp 1270 kg. 5 generation 2.2 MT 288 hp 1305 kg. 4 generation 2.2 MT 268 hp 1330 kg. 5 generation 2.0 MT 243 hp 1340 kg. 3 generation 2.2 MT 218 hp 1370 kg. Heaviest: 5 generation 3.5 MT 1380 kg. Not measured: 1 generation 2.0 MT, 2 generation 2.0 MT, 3 generation 2.2 MT 162 hp.

kg per hp (kerb / hp), measured kerb only: 5 generation 3.5 MT 3.90 kg/hp (1380 / 354). 4 generation 2.2 MT 304 hp 4.00 kg/hp (1215 / 304). 5 generation 2.2 MT 288 hp 4.53 kg/hp. 4 generation 2.2 MT 268 hp 4.96 kg/hp. 5 generation 2.0 MT 243 hp 5.51 kg/hp. 3 generation 2.2 MT 231 hp 5.50 kg/hp. 3 generation 2.2 MT 218 hp 6.28 kg/hp. 2 generation 2.2 MT 162 hp 6.91 kg/hp.

Gross weight is measured only in 5 generation: 2.2 MT 1566 kg, 2.0 MT 1590 kg, 3.5 MT 1630 kg. Payload from those figures: 261 kg, 250 kg, 250 kg. Other generations: gross not measured.

Tank: 73 litres on every 3, 4, and 5 generation version. 1 generation and 2 generation: not measured.

Ground clearance: 104 mm on 1 generation and both 2 generation cars; 150 mm from 3 generation onward except 5 generation 2.2 MT at 147 mm.

Wheels measured: 5 generation 2.0 MT 215/40 R17 and 245/40 R17; 5 generation 3.5 MT 235/40 R17 and 285/35 R18; 3 generation 218 hp and 231 hp both 215/50 R15 and 245/50 R16. 5 generation 2.2 MT, both 4 generation cars, 3 generation 162 hp, both 2 generation cars, 1 generation: not measured.

Front / rear suspension on every version: Independent, spring / Independent, spring.

Brakes as labelled in the data: 5 generation all three — front Disc, rear Disc ventilated. 4 generation 268 hp — Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated. 4 generation 304 hp — Ventilated disc / Disc. 3 generation all three — Ventilated disc / Disc ventilated. 2 generation and 1 generation — Disc / Disc.

Which version to choose

Want the shortest 0–100 and a 4 Inline Turbo: buy 4 generation 2.2 MT 304 hp. It is 36 hp and 35 Nm above the other 4 generation 2.2 MT (268 hp / 354 Nm), 115 kg lighter (1215 kg vs 1330 kg), 0.3 s quicker (4.5 vs 4.8), 5 km/h faster at the top (270 vs 265). Engine position is Central vs Rear. Fuel 95. That 304 hp car is also 16 hp above the later 5 generation 2.2 MT 288 hp, 90 kg lighter, and 0.4 s quicker, with a 10 km/h higher top speed (270 vs 260). What you do not get is the 8-cylinder 3.5 MT or a measured tank on the two earliest generations — tank here is 73 litres.

Want the Lotus Esprit V8 in this catalogue: that is only 5 generation 3.5 MT. 354 hp is 66 hp more than 5 generation 2.2 MT 288 hp and 111 hp more than 5 generation 2.0 MT 243 hp. Torque 400 Nm vs 375 Nm vs 294 Nm. 0–100 is a tie with the 288 hp 2.2 MT at 4.9 s; the extra cylinders buy top speed (282 vs 260) and 8-cylinder V-shaped layout, not a shorter sprint. Fuel is 98, same as the 2.0 MT, not 95 like the 2.2 MT. Kerb 1380 kg is the highest measured. Wheels 235/40 R17 and 285/35 R18 are unique in the table.

Want a 5 generation four-cylinder without the 3.5 MT: 2.2 MT 288 hp beats 2.0 MT 243 hp on power, torque, 0–100, and kerb: +45 hp, +81 Nm, −0.3 s, −35 kg, fuel 95 vs 98, clearance 147 mm vs 150 mm, engine Rear vs Central. Top speed goes the other way: 260 vs 263 km/h. Wheels on the 2.2 MT are not measured; the 2.0 MT lists 215/40 R17 and 245/40 R17. Displacement 2174 vs 1973. Specific output is higher on the 2.2 MT (132.5 vs 123.2 hp/l).

Want Turbo without jumping to 4 or 5 generation: 3 generation 2.2 MT 231 hp over 218 hp. Same displacement, same Rear Turbo, same wheels where listed, same highway 8.3. You gain 13 hp, lose 3 Nm (295 vs 298), cut 0.1 s (5.5 vs 5.6), add 9 km/h (250 vs 241), drop 100 kg (1270 vs 1370), switch from Carburetor to Central injection (single-point or single- point), and use 1.5 less city fuel. The 162 hp 2.2 MT in the same generation is the No-boost, Carburetor, 9.5 compression alternative: 217 Nm, 0–100 not measured, top speed not measured, kerb not measured, fuel grade not measured. It matches the 2 generation 2.2 MT 162 hp on power, torque, rpm, displacement, boost, Carburetor, and compression; the later car has tank 73 litres and clearance 150 mm vs 104 mm, while the earlier car has the only early kerb figure (1120 kg) and a measured 6.9 s / 222 km/h.

Want the lightest measured Esprit: 2 generation 2.2 MT 162 hp at 1120 kg. That is 95 kg under the 4 generation 304 hp car and 260 kg under the 3.5 MT. You give up Turbo, 142 hp versus that 304 hp car, and 2.4 s on 0–100 (6.9 vs 4.5). The 2.0 MT 142 hp in 2 generation has no measured 0–100, top speed, torque, tank, or kerb; it matches 1 generation 2.0 MT 142 hp on power, displacement, 4 Inline, No boost, Manual 5, RWD, 104 mm. The 1 generation car is the one of those two with measured 6.8 s and 222 km/h.

What the extra displacement buys in 5 generation: going from 1973 cm³ (2.0 MT) to 2174 cm³ (2.2 MT) is +201 cm³ for +45 hp. Going from 2174 cm³ to 3506 cm³ (3.5 MT) is +1332 cm³ for +66 hp over the 288 hp car — more litres than horsepower gained, which is why hp/l falls to 101.0. The 3.5 MT does not beat the 288 hp 2.2 MT to 100 km/h. If the buy decision is sprint time in 5 generation, 2.2 MT 288 hp and 3.5 MT are equal at 4.9 s; if it is top speed or cylinder count, only 3.5 MT.

Problems and reliability are not in this dataset. Engine swap, rebuild cost, and removal are not measured here. Production in the file ends 2004-11-30; there is no 2026 or 2028 version in the data.