Evora S announced! 400hp

[Dmbrown34]

Originally Posted by fitfan

lotus should just introduce the supercharged version at the same time and let the customers decide how much HP they wanna pay for... get all the good press up front!

if they drag it out, its like the "fiero" all over again - by the time its kick ass, nobody cares anymore!

Well, as long as the car doesnt get a rep for catching on fire...I dont think it would be anything like the Fiero. Fiero never really improved on power - you had only 2 choices - none or a little.

[brgelise]

Let's not get so carried away with what's a few 10ths faster or has more horsepower. How about the uniqueness of Lotus, its special history, its laser line steering feel etc. Evora will start out as a very sexy alternative for all of us who think the 911 is dated looking regardless of its performance, or for those of us that love British style instead of the Germans etc. I didn't buy my Lotus to be the fastest guy on the block (but I am the coolest!!, wife kids me if she ever died, I'd just need to go out in the Lotus and give rides till I found what I wanted for a replacement). I thinks its great to see the company is doing well and is on a controlled growth curve!!

[Harbir]

I wonder why Lotus isn't using their own V8 for this car.

I am sure that the Toyota is a nice engine, but I think having your own engine is a positive, and the Lotus 3.5L flat plane crank V8 was a pretty exotic engine. I am certain that it could be made to pass new and future emissions. And I'd hazard that it has a lot more than 400hp in it without too much fettling.

I guess Lotus doesn't want to get a low volume production line going for the engine again. Just cheaper to buy the Toyota Camry V6

A pity.

[wallabyguy]

Originally Posted by Harbir

I wonder why Lotus isn't using their own V8 for this car.

I am sure that the Toyota is a nice engine, but I think having your own engine is a positive, and the Lotus 3.5L flat plane crank V8 was a pretty exotic engine. I am certain that it could be made to pass new and future emissions. And I'd hazard that it has a lot more than 400hp in it without too much fettling.

I guess Lotus doesn't want to get a low volume production line going for the engine again. Just cheaper to buy the Toyota Camry V6

A pity.

You pretty much answered your own question. The Lotus V8 was VERY expensive to produce and it would add something in the range of an additional $15-20k in todays exchange rates to use. Its simply not a financially sound option. Besides, the V8 produced 450 in it's most powerful street guise and would likely need to be reworked to meet current emission standards. The Toyota unit is much easier to use and keeps the R&D expenditures focused on the other aspects of the car.

Remember that traditionally Lotus has always used other manufacturers engines until really the 70s.

BTW, I know you sent me a PM on Miata.net. I cleared out the box so you can resend there or here. Dealer's choice.

[MickOpalak]

Here's a Lotus diagram of the Evora's engine with a supercharged installed, from LOG 28.

[shay2nak]

uh oh...

[FLuXeXigeS]

Originally Posted by MickOpalak

Here's a Lotus diagram of the Evora's engine with a supercharged installed, from LOG 28.

awesome!