Lotus Esprit 2002–2004 car dimensions: 4369 mm long, 1883 mm wide and 1150 mm high. Unladen weight is 1,380 kg. Boot space with the seats up is 200 litres.
The two-seat cabin is snug and low with high-backed leather seats that can be two-tone. Air conditioning is standard with rotary controls, as are power windows, central locking, heated power mirrors and an Alpine CD stereo. Dual front airbags and ABS brakes are fitted. Cruise control is not available. Satellite navigation was a UK option. No other driver aids appear.
Boot space measures 200 litres behind the mid-engine. Cabin storage is limited to a small pocket between the seats.
No towing figures are published for the Esprit V8. Payload is listed at 250 kg on some specs. This is a pure two-seat sports coupe with no work-oriented equipment.
The two-seat cabin feels snug and low-slung with hand-finished leather upholstery on high-backed seats that carry an embossed Lotus logo and come in optional two-tone trim. Aluminium accents appear on the gear lever, handbrake, door panels and sills. Air conditioning, power windows, central locking, tinted glass and heated power mirrors are fitted as standard along with an Alpine CD stereo. An optional glass roof panel lets in light. Space is tight for drivers over six feet.
Combined fuel use 21.2 mpg (13.3 l/100 km), urban 14.1 mpg, extra-urban 30.4 mpg.
Fuel tank holds 70 litres. minimum 95 RON petrol.
Service every 6,000 miles or 12 months. cam belts renewed every 24,000 miles.
Standard dual front airbags, four-wheel ABS and Kevlar-reinforced safety cell.
Three-point belts, immobiliser, alarm and remote keyless entry included.
Official combined fuel consumption stands at 21.2 mpg with urban figures of 14.1 mpg and extra-urban 30.4 mpg. The 70-litre tank accepts 95 RON minimum unleaded.
Servicing follows an A/B schedule starting with minor work every 6,000 miles or annually. Cam belts need replacement every 24,000 miles. Transmission oil and other fluids change on the major intervals.
Safety kit includes driver and passenger airbags, four-wheel ABS with AP Racing discs and calipers, a Kevlar-reinforced passenger cell, three-point retractable belts and a full anti-theft package with immobiliser and alarm. No formal crash-test rating is published.
Keep the cooling system and turbos in good order with regular warm-up and cool-down routines. Full service history is essential because parts and specialist labour add up quickly on this mid-engined V8.
Length 4369 mm, Width 1883 mm, Height 1150 mm, Wheelbase 2420 mm (Esprit 2002–2004)
Sources: manufacturer data, Lotus model-year 2002 Esprit technical specification, Lotus Esprit V8 technical specification, Lotus Cars Esprit V8 statistics.