< minor hijack >
Man, I'd like to see the supercharged 300hp Ariel Atom Ecotech dropped into an Elise/Exige. It appears to be a pretty stout motor and the Brammo folks regularly sing its praises. Given GM's cash position I bet they're not too proud to selll it to Lotus/Proton... I wonder what a crate version of that motor costs and how hard it would be to swap into an existing car.
From Ariel's drivetrain spec page:
Introduced in 2004 on the Saturn ION Red Line, the Ecotec 2.0L SC (supercharged) also powers the 2005 Chevrolet Cobalt SS Supercharged coupe. It is compact and lightweight (see specs), and its Eaton M62 supercharger adds 40 percent more power to the Ecotec 2.0L engine compared to a naturally aspirated version. The M62 supercharger utilizes a helical roots compressor and integral pressure control and produces a maximum of 12 psi of boost. The boosted intake flow exits into an all-new matched intake manifold with an integral air-to-liquid heat exchange intake charge cooler system. A compact single-track, six-rib belt supercharger drive system utilizes a linear tensioning device to further strengthen the already impressive system performance and durability. A microprocessor manages the M62 supercharger, fuel, direct spark delivery systems and the engine’s 68-mm electronic throttle control (ETC) system. ETC delivers outstanding throttle response, improved reliability and better integration with cruise control electronics for greater overall performance and driveability.
With supercharged engines it is especially important to maintain a high level of lubrication that is effectively distributed to all moving parts. To that end, the Ecotec 2.0L SC engine is built with a large seven-quart oil sump and a crankshaft-driven pump. A block-mounted oil cooler is included to ensure proper lubricant cooling that promotes long engine life.
The Ecotec 2.0L SC engine is equipped with sequential port fuel injection and a 380 KPa /19.0 g/s returnless fuel delivery system that helps keep fuel cooler for more efficient combustion.
The 2.0L SC engine is built exclusively at the FGP (Fiat-GM Powertrain) engine facility in Kaiserslautern, Germany. This plant uses a die-cast production technique that yields a block that is well suited for high-stress applications including turbocharging and supercharging. Variations of this block are also found in various Saab and Opel models. Compared to the original 2.2-liter Ecotec, the 2.0L SC features the same cylinder bore with a shorter stroke (94.6mm vs. 86.0mm). The shorter stroke helps the engine rev quickly and deliver lively throttle response.
Often referred to as the Global Four Cylinder, the starting point for the 2.0L SC is the Ecotec 2.2L (RPO L61). This engine has leveraged GM Powertrain’s worldwide design and engineering capability by drawing on the best practices of technical centers in North America and Europe. The Ecotec 2.2L created a template for subsequent global powertrain development that laid the groundwork for engines such as Powertrain’s new Global 3.6L V6. Most important, the Ecotec 2.2L is a world-class gasoline engine with obvious benefits for the customer. At 307 pounds fully dressed, the L61 is the lightest engine GM has produced in its displacement class, and one of the most compact four-cylinders in the world.
Before going into production, every Ecotec engine variant is subjected to the toughest and most comprehensive validation process ever carried out at GM, having to pass all of the dynamometer and vehicle tests traditionally run by various GM organizations worldwide, including the most severe trials. Coinciding with the rollout of the Ecotec program, general engine durability testing on lab dynamometers was increased by 60 percent. This has been carried forward to the new Ecotec supercharged engine.
