Cam-Shaft Gives the Lotus Esprit V8 a Power Boost and a JPS Styling Treatment

The Esprit is one of the most famous and longest-living Lotus models ever having remained in production for close to three decades (!), from 1976 to 2004. Originally penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Esprit's design was freshened up initially by Peter Stevens in 1987 and later on by Julian Thompson in 1993.

Another landmark in the Esprit's lifespan was the presentation of a V8-powered model in 1996, the first of its kind for Lotus. Aptly named the Esprit V8, the British sports car was powered by an in-house developed, all-aluminum, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V8 rated at 350hp (355PS) and 400Nm (295 lb-ft).

And it is this model that has fallen into the tuning hands of Germany's Cam-Shaft, which has introduced a new package with both styling and performance modifications.

A series of under-the-hood upgrades that include a software optimization, racing exhaust system, modified turbos and a new intercooler sourced from the Lotus Omega (Vauxhall Lotus Carlton), bump output to 485-horses (492PS). The tuner also replaced the stock 5-speed manual with a new 6-speed transmission.

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Cam-Shaft Gives the Lotus Esprit V8 a Power Boost and a JPS Styling Treatment

The Esprit is one of the most famous and longest-living Lotus models ever having remained in production for close to three decades (!), from 1976 to 2004. Originally penned by Giorgetto Giugiaro, the Esprit's design was freshened up initially by Peter Stevens in 1987 and later on by Julian Thompson in 1993.

Another landmark in the Esprit's lifespan was the presentation of a V8-powered model in 1996, the first of its kind for Lotus. Aptly named the Esprit V8, the British sports car was powered by an in-house developed, all-aluminum, twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V8 rated at 350hp (355PS) and 400Nm (295 lb-ft).

And it is this model that has fallen into the tuning hands of Germany's Cam-Shaft, which has introduced a new package with both styling and performance modifications.

A series of under-the-hood upgrades that include a software optimization, racing exhaust system, modified turbos and a new intercooler sourced from the Lotus Omega (Vauxhall Lotus Carlton), bump output to 485-horses (492PS). The tuner also replaced the stock 5-speed manual with a new 6-speed transmission.

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Proton Refutes Reports that it will sell Lotus to Genii Capital

Proton, the Malaysian owner of Lotus, released a statement where it dismisses reports that appeared in several media outlets and which said that it is planning to sell a stake of the British sports car manufacturer.

Here’s what the company stated: "The alleged moves between Group Lotus and Genii Capital are untrue and the reports are highly speculative in nature. Proton’s relationship with Group Lotus is as good as it has ever been.”

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Lotus Wants to Make the World Notice its Cars to Increase Disheartening Sales

Lotus is a brand with a long and distinguished history – yet that's not enough if your present situation is dire. In the first eight months of the year, Lotus sales were merely a blip in the UK sales chart as only 272 cars were delivered, a 24% decrease to the already depressing 358 units of the same period in 2010.

Karl Heinz Kalbfell, who used to work for BMW, was brought in last year in an effort to increase sales. He says that the reason Lotus can’t sell more cars is that the public isn’t aware of the company's products.

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Lotus Aims to Better Ferrari’s 458 Italia and McLaren’s MP4-12C with New Esprit

Lotus has lofty aspirations for its all-new supercar, the Esprit, which was presented as a concept at last year’s Paris motor show along with four other concepts. According to the company’s CEO, Dany Bahar, the new supercar will be launched in 2013 and will offer a “more authentic driving experience than both the Ferrari 458 Italia and the McLaren MP4-12C”.

Bahar revealed that development of the the new Esprit is already under way, with prototypes up and running.

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New Photo Gallery of Lotus' Future Sports Car Lineup

You may have to ask a second time for their name and you probably need to take more than a couple of looks to tell them apart, but that doesn't mean we're not impressed by the next generation of Lotus sports cars.

Unveiled for the first time as concept studies at the Paris Motor Show in October, with the North American debut taking place at the Los Angeles Auto Show in November, the new Elise, Esprit, Elite, Elan are a wild bunch. And while we don't have anything new to add about the four sports coupes, Lotus has unleashed a beautiful photo gallery shot in Hollywood, which you can enjoy in high-resolution quality right after the jump.

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Lotus Metamorphosis: An artistic take on the firm's future models [with Video]

To show that the brand is going through a metamorphosis after the presentation of five new models at the Paris Show, Lotus has joined forces with award winning French artist Gérard Rancinan to create seven artistic images that will be showcased alongside a new book by French writer, Caroline Gaudriault, at a special event in Los Angeles on Friday, November 12.

As you may have guessed, the collection of photos is called "Metamorphosis" and the focus is on the five new Lotus models that made the trip to this year's Paris Motor Show: the Esprit, Elan, Elite, Elise and Eterne, plus two extra large montages.

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Paris Show: New Lotus Esprit Flagship with 620HP Lexus V8 in the Flesh and on Video

[Updated gallery] Lotus pounced on Paris like a rabid hyena, debuting no less than 6 all-new models. With the new Esprit, a car everyone has been waiting for, Lotus answered some important questions regarding its future mid-engined 2-seat monster. Scroll on down for video, pics, and all the basic info necessary to make a very important decision: to buy an Esprit or not to buy an Esprit?

Using the same supercharged 620-horsepower 5.0-liter Lexus V8 found in the Elite GT we recently showed you, and coming in at 1,450 kg, the Esprit is going to be a bit on the fast side (even in optional hybrid form).

If you're interested in picking up the new Lotus performance flagship, the price of entry will start at a cool £110,000 (about US$175,00 at today's exchange rates) come spring 2013.

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Paris Show: Lotus Unveils New Esprit, Elan, Elise, Eterne Sports Sedan and Concept City Car

Possibly one of the biggest surprises of the 2010 Paris Motor Show, was the unveiling of six new models from Lotus. Aside from the Elite GT (see here) that we've already told you about, the British sports car maker revealed not one, not two but five more new models and concepts!

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