Esprit model history - '88 to '92 (including '93 M.Y. USA)
'88 Model Year Introduction: Oct '87
- Esprit (N.A.); U.K. & Export 85 D 3000, 85 A/E/G/H/S 1000
- Esprit Turbo; U.K. & Export 82 D 3000, 82 A/E/G/H/S 1000
- Esprit Turbo (H.C.P.I.); USA F - 2000
As prior '88 M.Y. cars except:
- Peter Stevens designed body; Lotus O.Z. wheels; open back (N.A.) or glazed (Turbo) tailgate. Non-USA cars; Renault transmission. USA spec.: Citroen transmission (as prior '88); Bosch fuel injection.
USA Esprit Turbo 'Limited Edition': March '88
As '88 M.Y. USA cars except:
- Pearlescent white body, wheels & mirrors; open back tailgate; strut mounted rear spoiler; Sony compact disc autochanger; elm instrument masks; silver fascia plaque.
'89 Model Year: Oct '88
- Esprit (N.A.); U.K. & Export 85 D 3374, 85 A/E/G/H/S 1087
- Esprit Turbo; U.K. & Export 82 D 3374, 82 A/E/G/H/S 1087
- Esprit Turbo (M.P.F.I.); USA F - 2500
As '88 M.Y. cars except:
- Heated door mirrors; central door locking; electric filler flap release. USA spec.: Lotus/Delco multi-point fuel injection; Renault transmission.
40th Anniversary Commemorative Esprit Turbo (Except USA): Nov '88
As '89 M.Y. cars except:
- Carburettor Turbo (U.K.) or M.P.F.]. versions. Pearlescent white body, wheels & mirrors; strut mounted rear spoiler; front spoiler bib; Sony compact disc autochanger; elm instrument masks; silver fascia plaque.
Esprit Turbo 'S.E.' (Chargecooler): May '89; 82/F - 5000
As '89 M.Y. cars except:
- Air/water charge air cooled turbo engine with Lotus/Delco fuel injection; 16" rear wheels and Goodyear Eagle tyres; revised suspension geometry; restyled front spoiler and sill ducts; strut mounted rear spoiler.
Commonisation of 'Eagle Chassis': May '89
- N.A. RHD 85 D 3582
- Turbo RHD 82 D 3587
- N.A. & Turbo LHD 85/82 - 1152
- USA spec. RHD 82/F - 2728
- USA spec. LHD 82/F - 2749
As '89 M.Y. cars except:
- Chargecooler type chassis and suspension, with 16" rear wheels and Goodyear Eagle tyres.
'91 Model Year Esprit, Esprit 'S' & Esprit 'S.E.': Oct '90; M 0001
- U.K. only - Carburettor Turbo (Esprit)
- U.K. only - M.P.F.I. Turbo (Esprit 'S')
- Export - M.P.F.I. Turbo (Esprit)
- Worldwide - Chargecooled M.P.F.I. Turbo (Esprit S.E./Esprit)
'SE' designation dropped for chargecooler cars in non-USA LHD markets to avoid trademark infringement. (N.A. model discontinued)
As 'Eagle Chassis' or Esprit Turbo S.E. except:
- ABS brakes. Carburettor model has open back tailgate, 4-slot rear valance (as previous N.A.), and 'no fogs' front spoiler.
USA 'Indianapolis 25th Anniversary Esprit': Nov '90
As '91 M.Y. USA Chargecooled Esprit except:
- British Racing Green with Yellow side stripes and detailing. Yellow wheel centres and polished rims. Yellow/gold leather trim with 'Indianapolis 1965' embossed in headrests. Stainless steel dashboard plaque.
'92 Model Year Esprit & Esprit 'S.E.' (Except USA): Oct '91; N 0001
- U.K. only - Carburettor Turbo (Esprit)
- Worldwide (Except USA) - Chargecooled M.P.F.I. Turbo (Esprit S.E./Esprit)
'SE' designation dropped for chargecooler cars in LHD markets to avoid trademark infringement.
As '91 M.Y. cars except:
- Increased interior space with revised pedal box and interior trim, wider door opening. C/cooler models; open
back tailgate with oval vents and high mounted spoiler, front spoiler bib. Carb. model; 'S.E.' type sills.
USA '93 Model Year (Phase 1) Esprit 'S.E.': Jan '93; P 0186 & P 0190 to P 0244
As '91 M.Y. Chargecooler except:
- Increased interior space with revised pedal box and interior trim, wider door opening. Open back tailgate with
oval vents. Re-angled (low mounted) rear spoiler. 5-spoke gunmetal centre road wheels. P 0190 & P192 RH shift transmission. Front spoiler bib.
USA '93 Model Year (Phase 2) Esprit 'S.E.': April '93; P 0245 to P 0306
As 'Phase 1' except:
- New door lock mechanism & CDL, with single key operation of vehicle locks; new window lift mechanism; Megamoss vehicle alarm. Restyled interior trim ('S4' style); P 0257 & P 0259 onwards - 'High Torque' RH shift transmission; new wheelchanging jack.
MARKET ABBREVIATIONS
Specifications which apply to particular markets are indicated in the remarks column using the following abbreviations:
AUL = Australia; CDN = Canada; 3 = Japan; USA = United States of America;
Read on to Lotus Esprit model history - '93 M.Y. onwards.
'88 Model Year Introduction: Oct '87
- Esprit (N.A.); U.K. & Export 85 D 3000, 85 A/E/G/H/S 1000
- Esprit Turbo; U.K. & Export 82 D 3000, 82 A/E/G/H/S 1000
- Esprit Turbo (H.C.P.I.); USA F - 2000
As prior '88 M.Y. cars except:
- Peter Stevens designed body; Lotus O.Z. wheels; open back (N.A.) or glazed (Turbo) tailgate. Non-USA cars; Renault transmission. USA spec.: Citroen transmission (as prior '88); Bosch fuel injection.
USA Esprit Turbo 'Limited Edition': March '88
As '88 M.Y. USA cars except:
- Pearlescent white body, wheels & mirrors; open back tailgate; strut mounted rear spoiler; Sony compact disc autochanger; elm instrument masks; silver fascia plaque.
'89 Model Year: Oct '88
- Esprit (N.A.); U.K. & Export 85 D 3374, 85 A/E/G/H/S 1087
- Esprit Turbo; U.K. & Export 82 D 3374, 82 A/E/G/H/S 1087
- Esprit Turbo (M.P.F.I.); USA F - 2500
As '88 M.Y. cars except:
- Heated door mirrors; central door locking; electric filler flap release. USA spec.: Lotus/Delco multi-point fuel injection; Renault transmission.
40th Anniversary Commemorative Esprit Turbo (Except USA): Nov '88
As '89 M.Y. cars except:
- Carburettor Turbo (U.K.) or M.P.F.]. versions. Pearlescent white body, wheels & mirrors; strut mounted rear spoiler; front spoiler bib; Sony compact disc autochanger; elm instrument masks; silver fascia plaque.
Esprit Turbo 'S.E.' (Chargecooler): May '89; 82/F - 5000
As '89 M.Y. cars except:
- Air/water charge air cooled turbo engine with Lotus/Delco fuel injection; 16" rear wheels and Goodyear Eagle tyres; revised suspension geometry; restyled front spoiler and sill ducts; strut mounted rear spoiler.
Commonisation of 'Eagle Chassis': May '89
- N.A. RHD 85 D 3582
- Turbo RHD 82 D 3587
- N.A. & Turbo LHD 85/82 - 1152
- USA spec. RHD 82/F - 2728
- USA spec. LHD 82/F - 2749
As '89 M.Y. cars except:
- Chargecooler type chassis and suspension, with 16" rear wheels and Goodyear Eagle tyres.
'91 Model Year Esprit, Esprit 'S' & Esprit 'S.E.': Oct '90; M 0001
- U.K. only - Carburettor Turbo (Esprit)
- U.K. only - M.P.F.I. Turbo (Esprit 'S')
- Export - M.P.F.I. Turbo (Esprit)
- Worldwide - Chargecooled M.P.F.I. Turbo (Esprit S.E./Esprit)
'SE' designation dropped for chargecooler cars in non-USA LHD markets to avoid trademark infringement. (N.A. model discontinued)
As 'Eagle Chassis' or Esprit Turbo S.E. except:
- ABS brakes. Carburettor model has open back tailgate, 4-slot rear valance (as previous N.A.), and 'no fogs' front spoiler.
USA 'Indianapolis 25th Anniversary Esprit': Nov '90
As '91 M.Y. USA Chargecooled Esprit except:
- British Racing Green with Yellow side stripes and detailing. Yellow wheel centres and polished rims. Yellow/gold leather trim with 'Indianapolis 1965' embossed in headrests. Stainless steel dashboard plaque.
'92 Model Year Esprit & Esprit 'S.E.' (Except USA): Oct '91; N 0001
- U.K. only - Carburettor Turbo (Esprit)
- Worldwide (Except USA) - Chargecooled M.P.F.I. Turbo (Esprit S.E./Esprit)
'SE' designation dropped for chargecooler cars in LHD markets to avoid trademark infringement.
As '91 M.Y. cars except:
- Increased interior space with revised pedal box and interior trim, wider door opening. C/cooler models; open
back tailgate with oval vents and high mounted spoiler, front spoiler bib. Carb. model; 'S.E.' type sills.
USA '93 Model Year (Phase 1) Esprit 'S.E.': Jan '93; P 0186 & P 0190 to P 0244
As '91 M.Y. Chargecooler except:
- Increased interior space with revised pedal box and interior trim, wider door opening. Open back tailgate with
oval vents. Re-angled (low mounted) rear spoiler. 5-spoke gunmetal centre road wheels. P 0190 & P192 RH shift transmission. Front spoiler bib.
USA '93 Model Year (Phase 2) Esprit 'S.E.': April '93; P 0245 to P 0306
As 'Phase 1' except:
- New door lock mechanism & CDL, with single key operation of vehicle locks; new window lift mechanism; Megamoss vehicle alarm. Restyled interior trim ('S4' style); P 0257 & P 0259 onwards - 'High Torque' RH shift transmission; new wheelchanging jack.
MARKET ABBREVIATIONS
Specifications which apply to particular markets are indicated in the remarks column using the following abbreviations:
AUL = Australia; CDN = Canada; 3 = Japan; USA = United States of America;
Read on to Lotus Esprit model history - '93 M.Y. onwards.


