Lotus, Esprit V8 S4, 1997

"The Lotus Esprit Series 4 Twin Turbo V8 ticks almost every box for an investable classic. Massive engine with 2 Garret turbo chargers, 350HP, Analogue driving and Iconic status thanks to its headline role in one of the most memorable games of the 90s. Its no surprise that appreciation has been soaring over the past 4 years and with little over 1000 made they are becoming a very rare and very sought after piece of motoring history." - David Spickett, Expert at TheCarCrowd

Why The Lotus Esprit V8
V8 Power
Released as the successor to the hugely popular Lotus Elan, the Esprit was unveiled to the world at the Paris Motor Show in 1975. The Series 4 Esprit’s styling was a huge leap forward compared to the original Series 1, however that was nothing compared to the progress made under the bonnet. In 1996 the Series 4 Lotus Esprit received the twin turbo V8, a replacement and serious upgrade over the previous 4-cylinder powertrain.

Sleek Design and Performance
The Esprit S4 V8 featured a low, wide and sleek stance, creating the epitome of the mid-engine supercar. High level acceleration and attention-grabbing styling are only part of the Esprit V8's impressive C.V. Exhilarating handling and phenomenal levels of roadholding are also in the package, together with high levels of refinement and the iconic pop-up headlights, has made the Esprit V8 ever popular amongst collectors.

Lotus Engine Innovation
At the heart of the Esprit V8 sits a fully Lotus developed 3.5 litre all aluminium V8, This was a new development for Lotus and not a re-hash of the ever popular Rover V8's that were being used by most other manufactures in the 90's. The Lotus engine boasted twin overhead camshafts and four valves per cylinder pushing out 350hp, mated to a 5 speed manual transmission rocketing the Esprit from 0-60 in approx. 4.4 seconds and with a top speed of 175 mph.

Rare Production and Nostalgic Status
The Series 4 Esprit also benefited from incredibly low production numbers with a total of approx. 1231 produced across its short lifespan, making this a highly rare model. The S4 Lotus Esprit V8 also boasts a level of nostalgic status due to its provenance in the game Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge from the mid 90s. Many enthusiasts will have played the game and remember this car, therefore increasing its desirability and status as an investible modern classic among collectors.

Supercar Legacy
Overall, the Lotus Esprit V8 is often remembered as being an ultra-rare high performance supercar that managed to combine Ferrari beating performance, with sleek design and the focussed driving experience that Lotus is known for.

Why this, S4 Esprit
Desired By Collectors
The Lotus Esprit V8 features a timeless and exotic design that has captivated enthusiasts since its introduction. Its sleek and aerodynamic shape, coupled with pop-up headlights and distinctive lines, gives it a unique presence on the road. The Esprit model has a rich heritage, having been featured in several James Bond films and more specifically S4 model spearheading one of the most successful games of the 90s; the Lotus Turbo Challenge. As with many limited-production exotic cars, the Esprit V8 has shown strong appreciation in value over recent years as collectors turn to more analogue, 90s supercars.

The Lotus Esprit meets many conditions of TheCarCrowd investment thesis with it’s low production numbers, iconic status and striking styling as well as an incredibly strong YOY appreciation figure since 2020, its a very strong option for future appreciation.

This specific Esprit has seen a well loved and well documented life. The car comes with the original Lotus Green service book present, documenting a strong history and low ownership.

This car has recently seen a mechanical refresh and recommissioning after a number of years in storage totalling over£21,000. The car is mechanically perfect with all required work carried out at the key intervals and to this day remains in its British Racing Green original paint that sits in fantastic condition as expected given the detailed history and low mileage.

True Investment Mileage
This particular example has covered less than 1500 miles per year in its 27 years of life with a comprehensive history fully documented at the key intervals.

Past Performance
The Lotus Esprit S4 V8 has seen an average price increase of 45.51% from 2018 and 2023 (9.1% annually) but has accelerated to 102.04% (34.01% annually) since 2020. According to data taken from The Classic Valuer.

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