Lotus Esprit
Sold prices, market value and cars for sale
As of October 21, 2026, Shifty has recorded 188 public sales of the Lotus Esprit. The records run from February 2018 to October 2026. In the past 12 months, 32 sold at a median of $41,375. 5 are listed for sale now. The Shifty Estimate runs from $30,300 for the S2 Esprit to $42,000 for the X180 Turbo.
Generations
Versions
About the Lotus Esprit
- Built
- 1976 to 2004
- Versions
- 8
- Body styles
- Coupe
- Engine
- Turbocharged Inline-4, 2.2L
- Power
- 160 to 370 hp
- 0 to 60
- 4.2 to 6.8 s
- Top speed
- 138 to 176 mph
- Designers
- Peter Stevens, Giorgetto Giugiaro, Julian Thomson
The Lotus Esprit was built from 1976 to 2004.
The V8 Esprit, the most traded version: 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.
The market
Recent sales
For sale now
Common questions
How much does a Lotus Esprit cost?
In the past 12 months, 32 sold at a median of $41,375. Half of the 20 most recent sales landed between $35,500 and $77,000. The Shifty Estimate runs from $30,300 to $42,000, depending on version.
What is a Lotus Esprit worth today?
The Shifty Estimate depends on the version. Each describes a well-kept example. X180 Turbo: $42,000. S3 Turbo: $40,300. S4s: $38,000. X180 SE: $31,800. S2 Esprit: $30,300.
What is the cheapest Esprit to buy?
The S2 Esprit has the lowest Shifty Estimate, at $30,300.
Which Esprit is worth the most?
The X180 Turbo has the highest Shifty Estimate, at $42,000. In the past 12 months, 3 sold at a median of $40,000.
What is the most expensive Lotus Esprit ever sold?
The highest sale on file is $220,000, for a 2003 Lotus Esprit at Bring a Trailer. It sold on Jun 6, 2023. It showed 2,500 miles.
How many Lotus Esprits have sold?
Shifty has recorded 188 public sales since February 2018. 32 came in the past 12 months. The most recent sold for $55,000 on Oct 11, 2026.
How many Lotus Esprits are for sale right now?
5 are listed for sale today. The newest asks $79,490 for a 1997 Lotus Esprit with 10,730 miles.
What generations of the Lotus Esprit are there?
Shifty tracks 6 generations of the Lotus Esprit. In order: S1 (1976 to 1978), S2 (1978 to 1981), S3 (1980 to 1987), X180 (1987 to 1993), S4 (1988 to 2004) and V8 (1996 to 2004). The busiest is the S4, with 13 sales in the past 12 months. The V8 has the highest 12-month median, at $74,499.
Which Esprit sells most often?
The S3 Turbo trades most often, with 26 recorded sales. 6 came in the past 12 months. More sales make its value the firmest to read.
Where do Lotus Esprits sell?
Of the last 20 sales with a known venue, 14 were at Bring a Trailer. The rest: Car & Classic (2), Barrett-Jackson (1), Cars & Bids (1) and Hagerty Marketplace (1).
How many miles do Lotus Esprits have when they sell?
Across the last 17 sales with a recorded odometer, the median was 27,000 miles. The lowest showed 10,000 miles and the highest 108,000 miles.
Where do Shifty's Lotus Esprit prices come from?
Every figure here comes from recorded public sales and live listings of the Lotus Esprit. Each sale is filed by version and year. Shifty leaves out cars without a clean title, mismatched cars and implausible prices. The Shifty Estimate weights the most recent sales most heavily. These figures were read on October 21, 2026.