Lotus

Lotus Esprit build years & generations

Coverage 1976-20043 named generationsCoupePETROL

The Lotus Esprit spans several build years and named generations (1976-2004). Match a build year to its generation, then see how each group of build years does at its MOT.

Which year is which

Build years & generations, side by side

Find the build years you're looking at and see which generation they are. You'll also see which group of build years the MOT figures come from.

Built 1976-1986
Generation
S1–S3
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted together with S1–S3, X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300) and V8 era (X180R) cars built in the same years.
Built 1987-1995
Generation
X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300)
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted together with S1–S3, X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300) and V8 era (X180R) cars built in the same years.
Built 1996-2004
Generation
V8 era (X180R)
Figures from
cars built before 2005
Counted together with S1–S3, X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300) and V8 era (X180R) cars built in the same years.

Build years	Generation	Figures from cars built	What to know
1976-1986	S1–S3	Before 2005	Counted together with S1–S3, X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300) and V8 era (X180R) cars built in the same years.
1987-1995	X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300)	Before 2005	Counted together with S1–S3, X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300) and V8 era (X180R) cars built in the same years.
1996-2004	V8 era (X180R)	Before 2005	Counted together with S1–S3, X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300) and V8 era (X180R) cars built in the same years.

“Figures from cars built” is the group of build years behind each row's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

“Figures from” is the group of build years behind each card's MOT figures. Years where one generation gave way to the next can sit in a wider group until there's enough history to split them.

By build-year group

How each group of build years performs

Each card shows MOT results for one group of Lotus Esprit build years. “Age” means the car's age on the day of its MOT, not its build year. “25+” groups every test on cars aged 25 or older.

Built

Before 2005

A mix of S1–S3, X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300) and V8 era (X180R)

These build years include both S1–S3, X180 (S4/SE/Sport 300) and V8 era (X180R) cars, so the figures are less exact than for a single generation.

Fail rate at 25+ years old

12.7%

UK average for cars this age: about 1 in 4 (23%)

Ages with data

25 years old or more

MOT tests counted

762

Chart shows

Age at the MOT

Not the build year

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rateUK average for all vehicles this age

AgeFail rateMOT tests

25+ years

76212.7%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Highest fail rate at 25+ years old.