A really comprehensive look at the development of supercars.
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From the Publisher
1980s Renaissance Lotus Esprit Turbo
Of all the four-wheeled wedges to populate the supercar universe, the Lotus Esprit might have been the most improbable.
While the British manufacturer certainly had the chops thanks to its countless innovations within the world of Formula 1 racing, the Esprit began life in 1976 as a small, meagerly powered four-cylinder car—hardly supercar material.
Key to the Esprit’s David-like ability to battle Goliaths was its potent power-to-weight ratio, which took full advantage of its Lilliputian size and enabled responsive handling and blistering acceleration. By using special manifolds and high-pressure Garrett T3 turbochargers, the tiny 2.2-liter four-cylinder delivered lively throttle response and 210 horsepower, enough to sprint as quickly as some Ferraris; later iterations produced enough grunt to outrun the high-dollar, hyper exotic competition from Italy.
Though the small, turbocharged engine packed within the engine bay of the Giugiaro-designed body became a signature of the Esprit, later reaching its zenith with 1995’s 302-horsepower Sport 300 model, the Esprit’s final Series 4 iteration saw a twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V-8 thatproduced 264 horsepower.
Added power and increased reliability made the S4 models desirable, but many hold the earlier turbocharged four-cylinder Esprits in the highest esteem, praising their so-called 'folded paper' designs and minimalist executions.
Fun Facts, Historical Tidbits, And Key People
- Roger Becker stepped in during the filming of The Spy Who Loved Me to pilot the Esprit Series 1
- The Esprit earned notoriety in The Spy Who Loved Me, in which the car transformed into a submarine.
- The white Series 1 car from the film was purchased by Elon Musk in 2013.
- A 1981 Esprit Turbo was also featured in For Your Eyes Only.
- Lotus founder Colin Chapman was an advocate for 'simplifying and adding lightness.'
Carroll Shelby
Carroll Hall Shelby’s automotive endeavors and racing career, took him from driving diminutive Allards to racing for Aston Martin and Maserati factory teams in the 1950s. Though his successes led him from the Bonneville Salt Flats to Le Mans, a bad heart took him out of competition and forced him into his defining role as the founder of Shelby-American. He became a legend by outfitting the British AC Ace with American V-8 powerplants to create the Shelby Cobra. Wishing to take on Ferraris in higher speed endurance races, he and Pete Brock conceived the Shelby Daytona Cobra Coupe, of which only 5 were built.
Shelby worked with Ford Motor Company to create the Ford GT and eventually pulled off a stunning 1-2-3 finish at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in 1966. He later worked with Ford on special edition cars, such as the GT350R and the GT500KR. Shelby’s most notorious creations were the ones in which he used his know-how and pluck to concoct memorable performance cars.
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