Lotus Esprit: A Submarine Car Made It Famous, But the Shape Made It Great
Long before it turned into a submarine on the big screen, this car had already established itself as one of the most dramatically styled British sports cars of its era.
Illustration for editorial purposes
The Wedge That Defined a Design Era
Sharp, angular "wedge" styling briefly defined an entire generation of sports car design in the 1970s and 80s. Few examples of that era executed it as dramatically or as memorably as this one.
History & Development
Introduced in 1976, its dramatic wedge-shaped body was styled by Giorgetto Giugiaro, one of the era's most celebrated automotive designers, translating angular concept-car drama into a genuinely producible mid-engined road car. Lotus's characteristic lightweight engineering philosophy, carried over from the Elan, kept performance strong despite a relatively modest four-cylinder engine in early versions.
Design & Engineering
Its fibreglass body, a Lotus signature material, kept weight low while allowing for the complex angular surfaces the wedge design required. Later versions gained a turbocharged engine, addressing earlier criticism about modest power and bringing performance more in line with the car's dramatic visual promise.
Cultural Significance
Its appearance in the 1977 James Bond film "The Spy Who Loved Me," memorably transforming into a submarine, cemented its place in popular culture far beyond typical sports car enthusiast circles. That single film appearance arguably did more for the car's lasting fame than its two-decade production run and genuine engineering merits combined.
Value Today
Well-preserved examples, particularly later turbocharged versions and cars with documented film connections, command solid prices among collectors specifically drawn to the car's distinctive wedge styling and cinematic history.
Watch & Explore
More Lotus Icons
- Lotus Emira Overview — Modern Icon
- Lotus Elan Overview — Classic Icon
Sources: Lotus Heritage archives, Wikipedia.