✦ Shifty Estimate
$76,900
▼ 4.9% · 12 mo- 12 months median
- $72K
- Sales, 12 months
- 8
- Original MSRP
- $90,000 · ▼ 15% since
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1996 Lotus Esprit
1996 to 2004 · Coupe
Price history
Recent sales
More sales on file
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Specifications
- Engine
- Twin-Turbo V8, 3.5L
- Power
- 350 hp
- Torque
- 295 lb-ft
- 0 to 60
- 4.4s
- Top speed
- 175 mph
- Transmission
- Manual
- Drivetrain
- RWD
- Curb weight
- 3,020 lb
- Original MSRP
- $90,000
- Designer
- Julian Thomson
Common questions
How much does a Lotus Esprit cost?
A 1996 Lotus Esprit cost $90,000 new. Over the past 12 months, 8 have sold publicly at a median of $72,172. The Shifty Estimate for a well-kept example is $76,900. Cars have changed hands anywhere from $50,500 to $94,027, depending on mileage, color, and history.
What is a 1996 Lotus Esprit worth today?
The Shifty Estimate is $76,900, down 4.9% over the past 12 months. Confidence is high: 8 public sales in a year gives a firm read.
Is a Lotus Esprit a good investment?
It has depreciated 15% against its $90,000 list price. Values are down 4.9% over the past 12 months. The caution is spread, not direction: across the sales we have on file, prices ran from $46,750 to $100,067, and mileage explains most of that.
What has a Lotus Esprit sold for at auction?
The 3 most recent public sales we have on file:
- $71,000Apr 15, 2026Norfolk Mustard · 18,000 mi
- $88,888Mar 31, 2026Azure Blue Metallic · 16,000 mi
- $74,499Feb 13, 2026Black · 27,000 mi
The V8 Esprit marked Lotus's boldest transformation since the original 1976 launch. Thomson's comprehensive redesign created a more muscular, aggressive aesthetic to house the all-new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 producing 350 hp. This wasn't just more power—it was a complete character change. The V8's torque delivery and intoxicating soundtrack transformed the Esprit from nimble sports car to genuine supercar. Performance was devastating: 4.4 seconds to 60 mph and 175 mph top speed rivaled anything from Maranello or Sant'Agata. Eight years of production created the largest pool of V8 Esprits, making them relatively accessible today. These cars represent the ultimate expression of Lotus ambition—combining legendary handling with supercar straight-line performance.