1994 Lotus Esprit S4

Description

Sometimes you just know you'll be the only one of your kind at the car show. This 1994 Lotus Esprit S4 has smart engineering, a turbocharged motor, and just enough obscurity to draw a crowd wherever it goes.

There's something timelessly cool about the Esprit. It goes beyond the Hollywood glamour of watching James Bond turn one into a submarine, or Richard Gere picking up Julia Roberts. Its wedge shape was revolutionary when it first came out, and then was allowed to evolve into elegance over the Esprit's 28-year run. This S4 model is final design progression and arguably the sleekest of the bunch. The lightweight fiberglass body carries no chrome, but you won't miss it with the clean, shiny silver paint that perfectly complements the factory five-spoke alloy wheels.

Stepping into a Lotus is a true sports car experience. It envelops the driver and passenger with tall and deep Connolly leather bucket seats. Most of the interior components are mounted low to give the cabin an airy feel, and the sunroof adds even more room. The only tall part is in front of the driver so that there is enough space to read the full set of gauges. Most of the S4 Esprits had an oddly large steering wheel that was shared with GM's Saturn division, but this one instead has a handsome three-spoke unit that still keeps the airbag. Other features include an updated AM/FM/CD stereo, power steering, passenger airbag, power windows, electric rear window defrost, cruise control, and air conditioning.

What makes the Esprit such a great sports car is the engineering. This coupe's original 2.2-liter motor is fuel-injected and turbocharged, and it has only averaged about 2,800 miles per year. It's not the largest engine out there, but that is not Lotus' style. They were more about brains than brute force, and so this high performing turbo motor is mounted in the center of a featherweight frame. The result is an exceptionally well-balanced coupe that can accelerate quicker, and corner better, than cars twice its price or power. Anyone who has taken one of these on the curvy backroads instantly falls in love with the harmonious feeling between the race-inspired suspension, five-speed manual transmission, and four-wheel disc brakes.

This is a hand-built coupe that didn't need to age a quarter-century before it's considered a classic. A Lotus is a car for the few who know the difference. Are you distinguished enough? Call today!!