Performance Review: Lotus Esprit S2.2 Turbo - [1980]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Lotus Esprit Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Lotus Esprit S2.2 Turbo is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 1980. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 1981 Porsche 924 Carrera GTS 937 and the 1980 Porsche 928 S 4.7L V8.This particular Lotus Esprit has a 2174cc Turbo Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

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.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 1219 kgs (2687 lbs) this makes the Lotus Esprit S2.2 Turbo in the same weight category as the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line or the give or take 50kg.

The Lotus Esprit shares the same bhp with the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp)

In terms of power the 2174cc 16V St4 engine produces 210 bhp (156 kW) @ 6500 rpm similar to the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (228 bhp) or the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (225 bhp).

The Turbo St4 throws out 200 lb-ft (271.1 Nm) @ 4500 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 lb-ft) or the 2020 Audi A1 A1 Sportback 35 TFSI S tronic S line (184 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

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 2017 Dodge Challenger RT 5.7 V8 (197.2 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Lotus Esprit.

The Lotus Esprit has a Power to weight ratio of 172.2 bhp per ton and 164.0 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 1980 Esprit competing with the 2017 Dodge Challenger RT 5.7 V8 (197.2 bhp per ton) or the 2002 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VII GSR (197.1 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

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 164.0 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 2018 BMW X7 xDrive 50i 4.4 V8 Turbo (188.9 lb-ft per ton) or the 2007 Mazda 3 MPS 2.3T (188.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 5.60 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 5.8 secs, this made the Lotus Esprit S2.2 Turbo as fast as the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T AWD (5.60 secs) the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Arteon 2.0T (5.60 secs) the 2020 Maserati Ghibli GranSport Petrol Hybrid (5.60 secs) the or the 2019 Tesla Model 3 Standard Range (5.60 secs). This Lotus Esprit S2.2 Turbo is also faster than the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (5.70 secs) the 2019 Ford Focus ST 2.3 EcoBoost Wagon (5.70 secs) the 2016 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi 2.0 Turbo Clubsport (5.70 secs) the and the 2014 Renault Megane RenaultSport 275 Trophy (5.70 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the Esprit and the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo

When talking about the performance of the Lotus Esprit on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 14.74 secs @ 92.8 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2023 Porsche Cayenne 3.0 V6 Turbo (14.67 secs), the 1970 Oldsmobile Delta 88 Royale 7.5L V8 (14.70 secs), and the 2007 Vauxhall-Opel Vectra 2.8T V6 VXR (14.70 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 1980 version of the Lotus Esprit S2.2 Turbo has a maximum speed of 152mph.

Top Speed of the 1980 Esprit equals the 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8 (163 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 1980 Lotus Esprit S2.2 Turbo then how about the 2020 Ford Mustang Bullitt 5.0 V8 (163 mph), the 2019 Renault Megane RS 1.8 Turbo 300 Trophy-R (163 mph), or the 1996 Lotus Esprit 2.0 Turbo GT3 (163 mph).

Related Links:

1980 Esprit Rivals List.

A Brief History of Lotus

Car Comparison