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2004 Lotus Esprit Twin-Turbo V8 Road Test

Last of a Classic Breed

The Esprit is the automotive equivalent of David Bowie. Both have been British glam-stars for decades, both are chameleons with the uncanny ability to adapt to current trends, both are long, lean and (if you ask my wife) sexy, and both look amazingly good for their age.

I fell for the Esprits edges and angles at a local car show about the first time I heard my first Bowie album, Young Americans. I quickly ran out and bought Hunky Dory and Ziggy Stardust, followed soon after by Aladin Sane, and the list went on and on.

Unfortunately I wasnt fortunate enough to be able to run out and buy an Esprit, but on occasion a bright yellow example would charge up the

The automotive equivalent of David Bowie, the Lotus Esprit has the uncanny ability to adapt to current trends and always look fresh. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

highway as I was walking home from a night out playing with my band, probably driven by some well-healed businessman saying under his breath, "Hey look, theres a kid trying to look just like David Bowie!"

Inspired by Mr. Bowie, my music career took me across Europe, throughout the West Coast of the U.S. and Canada, as well as various forgettable locations

So close, yet so far to achieving my two childhood dreams, being a musical superstar and owning my own Lotus Esprit. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

in the interior wastelands of both countries - what an American friend of mine affectionately refers to as the fly-over states. I came close, or so I figured, but never achieved superstardom, what it was going to take for me to buy the Lotus.

Due to my lifelong passion for the marque, it didnt take much coaxing to accept an invitation from Vancouvers Weissach Performance to drive the latest and last Esprit. Somehow the car looks more stunning than it did when

Somehow the car looks more stunning than it did when it debuted so many years ago. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

it debuted so many years ago, and worthy to share showroom space with the likes of a Lamborghini Murciélago, a row of brand new Gallardos, and a bevy of Porsches, some of which had been massaged by Alois Ruf himself - Weissach is also the Lamborghini and RUF dealer in Vancouver.

Over the years most of the Esprits I had seen were coated in silver, black, red or yellow, the odd one in BRG, so the sight of my test cars deep red metallic paint scheme came as a surprise. It still looks stunning, but in a much more adult fashion.

The choice of color

Youd better get used to people gawking if you plan to drive your Esprit on a daily basis. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

didnt seem to put off the train of cars that followed me up the highway a short while after leaving the dealership. They were admirers, one group of youth in a fairly new Mercedes sedan and another lone assailant in of all things, dads Camry. They each pulled up beside me with their thumbs extended and big silly grins plastered across their faces, a sight youd have to get used to if you were to live with a Lotus on a daily basis.

Say what, living with a Lotus every day? Why not? The Esprit comes across like a car that could serve just as well commuting to work as it does charging up the racetrack on weekends. Sure theres no dead pedal for the left foot, a little

The 3.5-L 4-cylinder supercharged V8 is a little charmer, managing a substantial 350-hp and 295 lb-ft of torque. (Photo: Shawn Pisio, American Auto Press)

disconcerting at first but once I learned to let my leg lie a little sideways I found it quite comfortable. The seats too, are firm and wonderfully supportive, but just the same extremely comfortable even after a solid two hours behind the wheel.

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