This edition of the Lotus Esprit S3 2.0L is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1981. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V and the 1982 Lamborghini Countach LP500S.This particular Lotus Esprit has a 2174cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.
The Esprit shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the Esprit's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.
Weighing in at 1067 kgs (2352 lbs) this makes the Lotus Esprit S3 2.0L in the same weight category as the 2016 Abarth 124 Spider 1.4 Turbo or the give or take 50kg.
The Lotus Esprit shares the same bhp with the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp)
In terms of power the 2174cc 16V St4 engine produces 160 bhp (119 kW) @ 6500 rpm similar to the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (148 bhp) or the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (177 bhp).
The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 160 lb-ft (216.9 Nm) @ 5250 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (184 lb-ft).
If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Lotus Esprit you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.
The 2009 Audi A5 S5 3.0 Quattro Cabriolet (174.9 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Esprit.
The Lotus Esprit has a Power to weight ratio of 149.9 bhp per ton and 149.9 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1981 Esprit competing with the 2009 Audi A5 S5 3.0 Quattro Cabriolet (174.9 bhp per ton) or the 1971 Pontiac Tempest GT-37 6.6 V8 (174.9 bhp per ton).
If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Lotus Esprit generating around 149.9 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2016 Audi A3 2.0 TDI Quattro (174.9 lb-ft per ton) or the 2011 BMW Z4 sDrive28i E89 (174.9 lb-ft per ton).
With a 0-60mph time of 6.50 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 6.7 secs, this made the Lotus Esprit S3 2.0L as fast as the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (6.50 secs) the 2018 Abarth 595 Competizione 1.4 Turbo (6.50 secs) the 2016 Subaru Legacy 3.6 R (6.50 secs) the or the 2016 Abarth 124 Spider 1.4 Turbo (6.50 secs). This Lotus Esprit S3 2.0L is also faster than the 2018 Toyota Sequoia TRD Sport 5.7 V8 (6.60 secs) the 2016 Audi A3 2.0 TDI S-tronic Quattro Sportback (6.60 secs) the 2014 Audi A1 1.8 TFSI S-TRONIC (6.60 secs) the and the 2013 Ford Fiesta ST 1.6 Turbo (6.60 secs).
When talking about the performance of the Lotus Esprit on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 15.48 secs @ 88.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2016 Ford Fiesta ST 200 1.6 Turbo (15.41 secs), the 1996 Honda Integra 1.8 Type R DC2 (15.42 secs), and the 1984 Porsche 911 Carrera (15.42 secs).
Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1981 version of the Lotus Esprit S3 2.0L has a maximum speed of 135mph.
If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1981 Lotus Esprit S3 2.0L then how about the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (146 mph), the 2018 Alfa-Romeo Giulia Ti 2.0 Turbo (146 mph), or the 2018 Alfa-Romeo Giulia Q4 2.0L Turbo (146 mph).
Ultima GTR 5.7
Engine: Naturally Aspirated Petrol | 5666cc 16v V8
Top Speed: 157 mph
0-60mph: 3.30 seconds
Lamborghini Urus Performante Twin Turbo
Engine: Twin Turbo Petrol | 3996cc 32v V8
Top Speed: 305.7 kph
0-100kph: 3.2 seconds