Published in March 2006, Lotus Esprit, The Official Story is a plushly presented story of Britain's longest lived supercar which has the advantage of perspective over Walton's earlier Esprit epics. This title covers the Esprit's headline-grabbing existence from seventies Giugiaro prototype to the end of production in 2004.

Less than 11,000 Esprits were made at the Lotus factory in Hethel, Norfolk, UK, between 1975-2004. Yet they made an enormous film impact from two James Bond appearances (remember the submarine Esprit? - thousands do) and cameos in Basic Instinct and Pretty Woman.

Sold in four cylinder, four cylinder turbo and V8 motor formats through an elongated 29-year manufacturing life, the Esprit inevitably raced, their most successful seasons in the 1990s USA.

As usual with Lotus, Jeremy Walton was given outstanding access to the men who engineered against the financial odds. They made the Esprit happen from Lotus founder Colin Chapman's era, right into the 21st century. The result is an insider tale of the type that's not possible within the spin doctor world of bigger corporations.

As with the Lotus Elise, the miracle is that the engineers ever brought the Esprit to market, then kept it at the forefront of want lists despite ever tightening legislation around an aging structure.

Follow the links provided in our links section to buy a copy from the publishers Coterie Press. Signed copies are available by arrangement with the author through our e-mail address.