Supercharged version under development...

[kaiynne]

Originally Posted by robains

Come on folks, the Evora as it stands is lame, nobody will buy it and it might just make Lotus look for another big funding company.

Put 2 turbos on it and it might just raise some interest, but again it's a Toyota motor.

I just hope Lotus have enough other eggs so that this basket doesn't make them bankrupt. It's one of those "what were they thinking" moments.

Rob.

Well I for one definitely plan on buying one. If lotus can rustle up another 1000 or so idiots like me then they should be ok. How many people live in this country again?

[kbob]

And according to Clarkson, we're all idiots...

[Rei]

I like it but the engine setup has me wanting more. I'm one of those sitting and waiting for final numbers of the Evora S to come out. It'll make for a good daily driver.

[9doors]

Same here...Just drooling over a SC 2+0 option...

[Bavarian Motorist]

I am not a fan of the engine at all. I accepted the Elige engine because the car is extremely light weight and the engine was good enough to do the job, but this car is not light weight in any way and it has a mere Camry motor... Is the Camry motor even suitable for high performance?


I like Porsche motors better.

[9doors]

I could be completely wrong (and probably am), but I thought I read that Lotus used the Camry motor that they did since it would be much better from a SC and tuning perspective??

[Bavarian Motorist]

That's a good excuse.

[SouL]

Lotus Evora: Lotus Confirms 400 HP Supercharged Evora Convertible

400hp, SC, fabric top (Elise-like).

[def]

Assuming that "Auto Express" isn't pulling this out of thier butts, thats good news that it is like the elise. Lighter than an automatic full top, but also a targa, I assume, which I absolutely LOVE the look of compared to a convertible

[Aero.Racer]

I'd like to see future versions with weight reductions versus just engine upgrades. The PLUS Zero option maybe will help with weight a bit. I'm not saying to strip the interior, but redesigning the heavier parts of the car. Given the car is ~1000 lbs more than an Elise, I expect there'd be some room for improvement in some areas.

[JohnnyQuest]

I personally don't understand why Lotus is talking about a supercharged version of the Evora before they talk about the DI. To me it sounds as if Toyota won't sell them the rights to their DI engine that they use on the Lexus GS so they think the supercharger is the only option to get more power. I believe the 2010 Camry will have the new DI heads. If so, it will be very strange for Lotus to be selling their exotic sports car with an older version of an engine that makes less power than the 2010 boring family sedan.

The DI V6 in the Lexus GS makes 303 bhp and 275 ft-lbs of torque. With Lotus tweaking, that engine could make 310 - 320 bhp. That would make the Evora scream with its (slightly) < 3,000 lbs and IMHO make the supercharger superfluous. I'd think the DI power delivery would be so much better than what would be produced by a supercharger.

Who still sells cars with superchargers? For that matter, what high-end manufacturer still sells cars with a single turbo and no DI?

[wallabyguy]

Originally Posted by JohnnyQuest

......
Who still sells cars with superchargers? For that matter, what high-end manufacturer still sells cars with a single turbo and no DI?

Audi just introduced a new supercharged engine for the S4, S5 cabriolet and A6 line. I also think (but am not sure) that the Subaru BOXER engine in the WRX is single turbocharged and does not have DI.

[JohnnyQuest]

Originally Posted by wallabyguy

Audi just introduced a new supercharged engine for the S4, S5 cabriolet and A6 line. I also think (but am not sure) that the Subaru BOXER engine in the WRX is single turbocharged and does not have DI.

Ok, I really should have know that. I thought all the "t" Audis were turbos. I didn't know they used superchargers in their "t" engines as well. I think Mitsubushi and Mazda use single turbos w/o DI, but I wouldn't consider them "high end manufacturers."

I thought that the main reason turbos (and superchargers) were staging a comeback (as with Audi and BMW) was because DI technology significantly cools the intake charge to allow for increased fuel mass at a given pressure. Perhaps Lotus will introduce the blown engine with the DI.

[robains]

Originally Posted by JohnnyQuest

Ok, I really should have know that. I thought all the "t" Audis were turbos. I didn't know they used superchargers in their "t" engines as well. I think Mitsubushi and Mazda use single turbos w/o DI, but I wouldn't consider them "high end manufacturers."

I thought that the main reason turbos (and superchargers) were staging a comeback (as with Audi and BMW) was because DI technology significantly cools the intake charge to allow for increased fuel mass at a given pressure. Perhaps Lotus will introduce the blown engine with the DI.

Not a chance, Lotus doesn't do engines. It'll be someone else's motor only with a higher rev limiter -- dooh!

[...m...]

Originally Posted by JohnnyQuest

I personally don't understand why Lotus is talking about a supercharged version of the Evora before they talk about the DI. To me it sounds as if Toyota won't sell them the rights to their DI engine that they use on the Lexus GS so they think the supercharger is the only option to get more power.

...not at all, it's a packaging issue...the the 2GR-FSE, while a great motor, doesn't fit transverse-mount applications, so until toyota adapts their twin injection system to a front-wheel-drive platform, the best lotus can manage is the older 2GR-FE...

...of course, if lotus goes longitudinal for the new esprit, that opens up a completely different range of possibilities...

edit: ...incidentally, lotus does design motors, a great many highly-regarded cutting-edge models for a host of different manufacturers in fact, but due to economies of scale they don't have the resources to build and support their own in-house...

[robains]

Hmmm...so why isn't Lotus providing F1 motors to Proton's Lotus F1 efforts?

But I would like to know what motors Lotus recently designed that is being used? I know they've "consulted" on projects but my understanding is they don't really have any "designed by" rights to any motor.

Rob.

[Aedo]

Originally Posted by robains

Hmmm...so why isn't Lotus providing F1 motors to Proton's Lotus F1 efforts?

Because someone has to fork out the $$$$$ and it also seems that Cosworth power was a key to entry into F1 2010. On top of that Lotus has never made F1 engines...

[wallabyguy]

Originally Posted by robains

Hmmm...so why isn't Lotus providing F1 motors to Proton's Lotus F1 efforts?

But I would like to know what motors Lotus recently designed that is being used? I know they've "consulted" on projects but my understanding is they don't really have any "designed by" rights to any motor.

Rob.

As far as the F1 matter is concerned, besides the benefits that are obvious by using the Cosworth plant and the financial issues mentioned by Aedo, there is a ban on new engines until 2013. And Aedo was also right that Lotus never produced F1 engines.

As far as road going units, the one that immediately jumps to mind is the Ecotech series from GM. 15% of all engines currently in Europe were designed by Lotus. But just like their chassis technology (Aston Martin and Jaguar) and suspension design (Nissan, Proton, Ford, Toyota, Aston Martin, Jaguar, GM, Renault, BMW, Hyundia, etc.), the manufacturers don't necessarily want you to know that they can't get their results on their own and rely on another company to do it for them. This isn't the 80's and Isuzu had a very unique deal with Lotus that included engines for the Elan for suspension design. GM at the time owned Lotus and wanted to try to promote the Fiero which was suffering in the sales arena. Proton does utilize Lotus badging on it's "sport" models but they own Lotus so they can do pretty much what ever they want and are using the name to improve their image.

[Darth G-F]

Originally Posted by JohnnyQuest

Who still sells cars with superchargers? For that matter, what high-end manufacturer still sells cars with a single turbo and no DI?

Well the ZR1 and CTS-V are both supercharged. The Ford Gt and Mustang Gt500 also were. A whole bunch of Mercedes also are...

I really don't get you point. You'd rather gain 20hp from DI than 100+hp from supercharging???

DI is useful to keep low emission and run higher compression. But if you want to make power, DI falls way short compared to forced induction.

[ads_green]

Originally Posted by robains

Hmmm...so why isn't Lotus providing F1 motors to Proton's Lotus F1 efforts?

But I would like to know what motors Lotus recently designed that is being used? I know they've "consulted" on projects but my understanding is they don't really have any "designed by" rights to any motor.

Rob.

The type 918 3.5 V8 twin turbo in the esprit is a pure lotus in house design and build. ok, no recent but recent enough for Lotus to realise the costs involved of building an engine from scratch need to be offset against more cars than they traditionally sell.