TDevelopment started on the Lotus Turbo Esprit in late 1977. The car featured the new 2174cc 910 engine (based on a redesigned 907 engine) with a dry sump (initially) and a Garrett AiResearch Turbocharger, producing 210bhp. The car also had a redesigned, stronger galvanised chassis with new spaceframe transmision cradle and wider front boxed section, with better torsional stiffness. There were larger brakes, revised rear suspension and additions to the bodywork, including front spolier and rear intergrated spolier and sills. The car was released in February 1980 at a party in the Royal Albert Hall, and sported Essex Turbo livery. In 1981 the car was sold as the Turbo Esprit and sold better. In 1986 the car was updated to the Lotus Turbo Esprit HC, with a high compression engine, producing another 5bhp. In 1987, the car was redesigned by Peter Stevens and Colin Spooner and named the Esprit Turbo (code named by the Lotus factory X180). It featured a more contemporary body shell, renault gearbox and out border rear brakes. The SE was launched in 1989 with a charger cooled, fuel injected 910 engine producing 264bhp, a top speed of 164 mph and 0-60 of 4.7 seconds. The car had a rear spoiler, revised front spoiler and sills and revised front suspension geometry and larger rear OZ wheels. In 1993 the Lotus Esprit S4 was launched, with further body modifications, including a new front bumper, sills, new rear spoiler and number plate panel and 5 spoke alloys. The car also had revised suspension and power steering. THe S300 was also launched as a limited production light weight supercar, producing 300bhp. The S4s was launched in 1995, with wheel arches, rear spolier and an increase in power to 300bhp. The Lotus Esprit V8 was released the following year, with a new front spoiler, Awi monobloc alloy wheels and a 3506cc 32 valve 918 V8 engine, with SE and GT derivatives. The GT3 was introduced in 1997, as a light weight alternative, with a 2 litre engine. A high performance limited edition Sports 350 was introduced in 1999 and the V8 was again updated in 2002.