Images of supercars, Prototypes, Concept cars and sports cars including the Lotus Esprit M70 Concept Car

The Lotus Esprit is a sports car built by Lotus Cars from 1976 to 2004 at their Hethel, England factory. It has a rear mid-engine, rear-wheel-drive layout . Together with the Lotus Elise / Exige , it is one of Lotus' most long-lived models.

Nov 28, 2022 · Codenamed M70, the mid-engined sports car had first featured in Lotus’s long range plans drawn up in 1970. The idea was to use as many parts from the yet-to-be-released Elite as possible, including the 16-valve four-cylinder engine then being developed, and a futuristic wedge-shaped body.

In 1970, Tony Rudd, who had joined Lotus in 1969 and would soon be appointed Technical Director, had recommended the design of two major new Lotus models: the first, the M50, was the front-engined Elite and the second was the M70, a mid-engined machine intended to take over the mantle of the Europa.

The concept, named the M70 project and Kiwi in some circles, evolved into the Esprit a year later when it debuted at the Geneva Auto Show. The vehicle was visually stunning with its wedge shape and clean flowing lines. It was hailed as 'Star of The Show' at the 1975 Paris Motor Shows.

M70 was envisaged as a two-seater fixed-head coupe, with something of a wedge theme in its shape, and it was always intended to use a much as possible of the new running gear being developed for the M50/M52 Elite/Eclat cars.

Information on the Lotus Esprit Turbo, M70 Concept, S1, S2, Garrett AiResearch T3 Turbo Charger, the 910 Engine, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Colin Chapman, Peter Stevens and press pictures and brochures

The final design for what would be known as the M70 Lotus Esprit Concept was completed in the latter half of 1973. The “Silver Car” showcased Giugiaro’s signature angular design, which would become a hallmark of the 1970s sports cars.

Nov 6, 2013 · The Lotus Esprit concept car was first displayed at the Turin Motor Show in 1972, designed by Giugiaro from . Work began on the car in mid-1971, and was completed before the end of the year, as a full-size mock-up. A second more advanced car, based on the Europa chassis, followed in 1972.

Colin Chapman had instigated Lotus Project M70, to produce a new car ro bring Lotus into full competition with the likes of Ferrari and Porsche and by 1970 the design team had the basic concept done - the story goes that while Colin was at the 1971 Geneva Motor Show, he approached by Giorgetto Giugiaro and they discussed him working on the ...