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Supercar mystery (2007)
By
Ben Pulman
Spy shots
28 September 2007 04:06
Lotus Esprit? McLaren supercar? A new Noble? Help us identify this mystery sports car
CAR has spotted this mystery sports car testing at a UK facility, but we can't pin down exactly what it is. And this is where you, our army of knowledgable CAR Online readers, come in. Do you know what it is? We need your help. Our first reaction when we saw this low-slung mid-engined supercar? We reckoned it was the new Esprit, although Lotus's next supercar - due in 2009 - won’t carry that name. But all our inquiries so far suggest that it isn't. Click 'Next' to find out why...
So what do we know about this prototype?
As we say, it's mid-engined, and it's registered as having a 7.0-litre engine, probably a big US-spec bent eight. The Corvette Z06 engine fits the bill nicely, developing 512bhp and a tarmac-shredding 470lb ft. The Esprit, and indeed all Lotuses, have always relied on light weight and small-capacity engines for their thrills, suggesting this prototype doesn't hail from Hethel. Besides, last year CAR reported that the Norfolk-based company had signed a deal with BMW for a supply of engines; Munich doesn't make a 7.0-litre engine...
