History

The history of Lotus and the history of the orginal Lotus Project M71 are, of course, very relevant to this project

Both the original 160 bhp 907 engine, which entered production in the S1 Esprit in 1976, and the turbocharged 210 bhp 910 engine, which first appeared in the Essex Esprit Turbo in 1980, were canted at a 45 degress to the left, leaving a space to the right which could be utilised by another bank of cyliners

The photo below shows the canted 4 cylinder turbo engine and the space available to th right of it, in the engine cradle

In fact, the Turbo Esprit would have received a Lotus designed V8 in 1980, if Chief Engineer Tony Rudd (ex-BRM) had had his way

There were two competing approaches to providing the Esprit with the desired power at the time - the 4 cylinder turbo type 910 engined Esprit, codenamed Project M72 and the V8 type 909 engined Esprit, codenamed Project M71

It's a little known fact that Lotus actually built a running 400+ bhp V8, called the type 909...

Click the buttons above for the 909 V8 engine and 007 Esprits
and Sub Menus on Esprit History and Lotus History