Hot on the heels of last week's virtual unveiling of the Lotus Evora S and Evora IPS, new reports have surfaced suggesting that the barely-secret Lotus Esprit due to debut at Paris next month will draw power from a Toyota-supplied V10 engine.

Eager to take the supercar fight right up to the likes of Ferrari and fellow British outfit Aston Martin, Lotus will reportedly exploit its long-standing engine alliance with Toyota by utilising the 4.8 litre V10 engine that drives the limited-edition Lexus LFA supercar.

According to US website Inside Line, the 412kW V10 will feature in a similarly-limited range-topping version of the new Esprit, with the 'regular' Esprit potentially drawing power instead from the 311kW V8 powering the Lexus IS F.

Click to read TMR's review of the Lexus IS F

Whatever these latest reports might suggest, Lotus itself has revealed little of the new Esprit - including whether the secret new concept destined for Paris is in fact a new Esprit at all.

Opening on September 30, the Paris Auto Show holds the answers.

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• reply ” like !

  

  Wheelnut says,
  2 years ago

  Takes away from the "exclusivity" of owning-leasing a $750k Toyota doesn't it?
  • reply ” like !

    says,
    2 years ago

    2 likes

    Nope, the LFA isn't just an engine on wheels.
• reply ” like !

  

  Godspeed says,
  2 years ago

  Can't imagine that engine will come cheap.
  
  All the same though, that will make for an f'ing awesome Esprit. The old Esprit V8 didn't have much of an exhaust note; and the new Lexus engines both take some beating in that department.
• reply ” like !

  

  toesonthenose says,
  2 years ago

  1 like

  Don't think it takes anything away for the "exclusivity" of owning a LFA ( and if you're silly enough to call it a $750k Toyota, let's call a Lambo a $400k VW......sure Toyota own Lexus, but they're a completely different company!).
  
  It does say that the LFA V10 will be used in a "limited" range topping Espirit. Not to mention it would be tuned differently than a LFA.