BMW Power announced for new Esprit.

[Gizmo3000]

Originally Posted by climb4fun

I'm hoping to see the new Esprit at 2700 lbs and around 450 hp, if not better. And that's more than enough.

After all, Lotus is great and maybe the best in handling, driving sensation and style.

Power to Weight ratio shouldn't be Lotus top priority.

I wonder if they'll produce touring/sport variations for it as well, as I'm sure they'll want to target the different segments?

[lotuson74]

Originally Posted by fitfan

...i am such a fan of the new BMW "M" engines - so thats a bit of bitter sweet news. i suppose if your going to go F/I then thats as good of a V8 as any, but that M V8 (V10) is such a N/A piece or amazing harware! - kinda wish they were going with the more sophisticated (imo) solution - but i am sure it will be spectacular non the less!

I do also really love my M5 V10 BUT... it has some bad issues!! It burns oil, a lot of oil. BMW claims (after my complaints) that "normal oil consumption is as much as two and a half quarts per 1000 miles"!!! Anyone WITH A BRAIN knows THAT IS NOT N-O-R-M-A-L!!!!!!!!!! Also, BMW has bought back my good friend's M5 after he threatened to go to the Lemon Law about the oil issue. I am about to do the same!!
B.M.W. = I am not that sure anymore, but I do still love that V10 (I wish it did not burn oil) but it does run great. All their other motors, I have had... were awsome so, I will hold out hope.
Now... 500hp?? Ok - If I can turn up the boost??? Lotus... PLEASE LISTEN - PLEASE GIVE US F-O-R-G-E-D that is: FORGED (FORGED or F-O-R-G-E-D) pistons!!!!!!! & a 2 speed "power-glide" automatic transmission.

[lotuson74]

Originally Posted by jlj3394

I was hoping they would use BMW power. Kind of gives both companies a nice PR boost.

I'm not sure how 500 HP will make the Esprit a pig - I doubt Lotus goes with a heavy chassis.

In fact, I would imagine that the same techniques used to make the Elise so light will be incorporated on the Esprit - I think ~2600 lbs s probably what we'll see.

Does anyone know if the 4.4l uses an aluminum block?

Not aluminum, it is made of pressed potato chips with cross sections of sasquach hair.

[StallionX]

Originally Posted by climb4fun

I'm hoping to see the new Esprit at 2700 lbs and around 450 hp, if not better. And that's more than enough.

After all, Lotus is great and maybe the best in handling, driving sensation and style.

Power to Weight ratio shouldn't be Lotus top priority.

that would put the new car at very close to the 04 esprit

[jlj3394]

Originally Posted by lotuson74

Not aluminum, it is made of pressed potato chips with cross sections of sasquach hair.

Sasquatch hair? That is really gonna cause some overheating issues in the warmer climates.

[Bavarian Motorist]

2700 lbs is very optimistic. I bet you'll see the Eagle at around 2700 lbs and the Esprit closer to 3000.

[lotustt]

Im guessing the new Esprit will be somewhere around 2900 pounds as well. With 500 bhp, that should do fairly well. Remember MJK sent the original car back to infuse more Lotus DNA.

[azmurciev12]

if the esprit can weigh about 2900-3000 lbs and have 450-500hp with a turbo giving it alot of torque on the lowend, i think it will be a great car. just look at the porsche gt3 and that i believe weighs a tad over 3100lbs.

[Bavarian Motorist]

I'd guess the ceiling is 3200

[codymac]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

I'd guess the ceiling is 3200

My understanding is that the design goal is 2800 lb.s.

If they get it to 2900 or so, keep it slippery, and mate up the Cima gearbox I'm thinking of, it should be capable of an honest 200mph at the mentioned power levels.


I'd expect 0-60 to come in somewhere around 3.5.

And being a Lotus, it should take corners like a cat on a shag rug.

[Bavarian Motorist]

2800?


If it weighs 2800 lbs and has 500hp, I think it would steal the crown of "Best Bang for the Buck" that the Z06 currently holds.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

2800?


If it weighs 2800 lbs and has 500hp, I think it would steal the crown of "Best Bang for the Buck" that the Z06 currently holds.

2800 is certainly very, very aggressive, especially for a GT. The question may become, are they going to make a GT or a Supercar?

Hmm... I think the Z06 is still going to be tough to knock off the top of that hill. I doubt the price will be close enough to make the Esprit the "best bang for the buck." IMHO, the 'Vettes have had that category clinched for a while now. While I can't see myself ever owning one, I do respect what GM has been able to deliver at that price point - it's really nothing short of amazing.

Me? I'm holding out for the new Esprit in the hopes that Lotus recognizes that it really needs to be 'all that and a bag of chips.'


Once the BMW tuners get ahold of that engine, forget it... 500hp will be nothing. Bye-bye warranty, hello warp speed.


eta: it's all speculation though and I've been saying, for at least two years, that the next Esprit would have a BMW engine in it.

[Bavarian Motorist]

I don't think Lotus would skimp out on options for its flagship $130k+ supercar. That's usually the weight-killer 3000 lbs base....3200 lbs with options. Like the GT3.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

I don't think Lotus would skimp out on options for its flagship $130k+ supercar. That's usually the weight-killer 3000 lbs base....3200 lbs with options. Like the GT3.

I agree - it will likely have power windows and a radio.

[CosmosMpower]

I can't believe people are complaining about 2800-3000 pounds with 500 hp. If it really ends up being built to those specs people will wrap them around trees/light poles right and left. In the meantime if you want lightweight and lots of power just get a dual GT35R powered Noble.

[codymac]

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

I can't believe people are complaining about 2800-3000 pounds with 500 hp. If it really ends up being built to those specs people will wrap them around trees/light poles right and left. In the meantime if you want lightweight and lots of power just get a dual GT35R powered Noble.

Nobles are great but it's tough to escape that from any closer than 10 feet they look as if they were built in a shed in Leicester by a man called Lee.

Oh, wait...

[esprit89]

Originally Posted by Bavarian Motorist

2700 lbs is very optimistic. I bet you'll see the Eagle at around 2700 lbs and the Esprit closer to 3000.

Although a little dated, the weight target published four years ago was 1300kg (2866lb): Autocar - Feb 2004

For comparison the new Porsche 997 GT2 is 3175lb with 530hp, 505 lb·ft torque and the Ferrari F430 Scuderia is 2976 lb 510hp 347 lb·ft. The final 2003.5 Esprit V8 was 1380 kg (3042 lb).

[Allan Gibbs]

3,000 to 3,200 pounds isn't bad for modern supercar standards if it's powered properly. "Heavy" is a relative term.

[Bavarian Motorist]

Originally Posted by CosmosMpower

I can't believe people are complaining about 2800-3000 pounds with 500 hp. If it really ends up being built to those specs people will wrap them around trees/light poles right and left. In the meantime if you want lightweight and lots of power just get a dual GT35R powered Noble.

I didn't see anyone complaining.




3200 lbs is perfectly fine. That's Ferrari F430-esque. Any more and I'd begin to get worried that we'd be getting something more like a 911 turbo.

[clayton]

Originally Posted by codymac

My understanding is that the design goal is 2800 lb.s.

If they get it to 2900 or so, keep it slippery, and mate up the Cima gearbox I'm thinking of, it should be capable of an honest 200mph at the mentioned power levels.


I'd expect 0-60 to come in somewhere around 3.5.

And being a Lotus, it should take corners like a cat on a shag rug.

Make it 0-60 3.3 and it'll slaughter the competition like what the new Skyline is doing.