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Lotus Esprit V8 Red AUTOart 1:18

Lotus Esprit V8 Red AUTOart 1:18
Current price: £305.00

Price shown excluding UK VAT. Import VAT and the courier's customs clearance fee are collected on delivery.

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Specifications
Car Brand
Lotus
Model Manufacturer
AUTOart
Scale
1:18
Material
Diecast
Model Condition
Used Model
SKU
75311
Genuine articles Sourced from manufacturers
5-layer carton Foam-filled interior
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About the Lotus Esprit V8 Red AUTOart 1:18

TL;DR: AUTOart's 1:18 diecast Lotus Esprit V8 reproduces the 1996 model in red with opening doors and rear engine access. It is a used example, box showing traces of storage. The V8 marked the Esprit's most powerful and refined form, closing out nearly two decades of wedge-shaped evolution.

By 1996 the Esprit had softened its original razor-edged wedge into rounder, more contemporary lines, and gained a twin-turbo V8 to match. This version represents Lotus's final, most capable take on the theme.

AUTOart's Diecast Build of the Esprit V8

The zinc alloy body carries the softened 1990s Esprit profile with confident weight, and the paint's red finish reads with real depth under direct light, a contrast to the flatter colours common on entry-tier diecast. Opening doors and rear engine access let a collector see the V8 layout that set this generation apart from earlier turbocharged four-cylinder Esprits, a feature that rewards close inspection rather than simply implying it through sculpted vents. As with any diecast built for mechanical access, panel tolerances run a shade wider than a sealed body could achieve. This is a used example, and the box shows traces of storage; the casting's paint and glazing are what to check on arrival rather than the carton.

The Esprit V8's Position in Lotus History

The V8 Esprit closed out a model line that had run since the mid-1970s, evolving from Giugiaro's sharp wedge into a rounder, more usable supercar. It never chased outright top-speed records the way Italian rivals did, instead trading on handling balance, a Lotus hallmark carried through every Esprit generation.

Building an Esprit Generational Shelf

Paired with an earlier S1 or turbo Esprit, this V8 model completes a visual timeline of how the shape softened over nearly twenty years. Its red paint and opening rear panel make it a natural focal point at the end of that row.

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