While it's nice to finally put that rumor to rest, I'm a bit disappointed by the implied schedule slip. The press release states the Lotus Elise will go on sale in nine months. That puts the US release date at the beginning of JUNE!!!! :-<
Official Lotus Cars Press Release!
HI All,
Reprinted from the Lotus UK website:
It's officiallly official:
>>>>>A High Revving High Power Engine for the US Version of the Lotus Elise
Hethel, UK
8th September 2003
Nine months before the Lotus Elise goes on sale in the U.S., Lotus Cars Ltd. announces its choice of powertrain for the "Federal" version of the "world’s finest sportscar".
The 2ZZ-GE 1.8 litre 4 cylinder 16-valve engine with Variable Valve Timing and Lift-Intelligent (VVTL-i) system has been chosen. This class-leading engine, mated to a six-speed gearbox and mounted amid-ships, has been tuned by Lotus specifically for the U.S. Elise and produces around 190hp.
Manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation, the VVTL-i engine was selected after a thorough and extensive study of all the possible powertrain units available. The Toyota engine and gearbox was selected as it is lightweight, with a high power output and most importantly, ideally suited to the character of the Elise.
By choosing this engine, Lotus has once again ensured that the pure character of the Elise – a racecar for the road – is exploited. The VVTL-i system affords the car increased low end torque for greater acceleration from low engine speeds, before unleashing the full 190hp at the higher end of the rev range.
In January 2003, Lotus announced it will expand its presence in the U.S. with the introduction of a U.S. specific version of the world-acclaimed Elise. U.S. sales of the 2005 Elise are scheduled to begin in mid 2004. The "Federal" Elise will retain the benchmark performance, handling and dynamics that have proven so popular particularly in the U.K. and Europe while being fully compliant with U.S. regulations.
The recipient of numerous industry awards and accolades for design, performance, drivability, and handling, the Elise is constructed around a strong, rigid, yet lightweight extruded and bonded aluminium chassis. Consistent with the Lotus design philosophy of achieving performance and efficiency through lightweight, this high tech chassis weighing less than 150lbs allows for a complete vehicle weight of less than 2000lbs.
A comprehensive study of the U.S. market and the success of the Elise in Europe and world markets have shown that there is a demand for a small, lightweight and very high performance sportscar in the U.S. While remaining a hand-built car, a new state of the art manufacturing facility at its Headquarters in Hethel, England has enabled Lotus to build cars at a higher volume and introduce unprecedented quality standards, vital for today’s discerning customer.
Lotus Cars U.S.A. is implementing a plan to provide the highest quality sales and service support throughout the dealer network and is adding new dealers in key market areas, making the brand more accessible to its expanded customer base.
Complete specifications and price for the U.S. Elise will be published in the next few months.<<<<<<<
Reprinted from the Lotus UK website:
It's officiallly official:
>>>>>A High Revving High Power Engine for the US Version of the Lotus Elise
Hethel, UK
8th September 2003
Nine months before the Lotus Elise goes on sale in the U.S., Lotus Cars Ltd. announces its choice of powertrain for the "Federal" version of the "world’s finest sportscar".
The 2ZZ-GE 1.8 litre 4 cylinder 16-valve engine with Variable Valve Timing and Lift-Intelligent (VVTL-i) system has been chosen. This class-leading engine, mated to a six-speed gearbox and mounted amid-ships, has been tuned by Lotus specifically for the U.S. Elise and produces around 190hp.
Manufactured by the Toyota Motor Corporation, the VVTL-i engine was selected after a thorough and extensive study of all the possible powertrain units available. The Toyota engine and gearbox was selected as it is lightweight, with a high power output and most importantly, ideally suited to the character of the Elise.
By choosing this engine, Lotus has once again ensured that the pure character of the Elise – a racecar for the road – is exploited. The VVTL-i system affords the car increased low end torque for greater acceleration from low engine speeds, before unleashing the full 190hp at the higher end of the rev range.
In January 2003, Lotus announced it will expand its presence in the U.S. with the introduction of a U.S. specific version of the world-acclaimed Elise. U.S. sales of the 2005 Elise are scheduled to begin in mid 2004. The "Federal" Elise will retain the benchmark performance, handling and dynamics that have proven so popular particularly in the U.K. and Europe while being fully compliant with U.S. regulations.
The recipient of numerous industry awards and accolades for design, performance, drivability, and handling, the Elise is constructed around a strong, rigid, yet lightweight extruded and bonded aluminium chassis. Consistent with the Lotus design philosophy of achieving performance and efficiency through lightweight, this high tech chassis weighing less than 150lbs allows for a complete vehicle weight of less than 2000lbs.
A comprehensive study of the U.S. market and the success of the Elise in Europe and world markets have shown that there is a demand for a small, lightweight and very high performance sportscar in the U.S. While remaining a hand-built car, a new state of the art manufacturing facility at its Headquarters in Hethel, England has enabled Lotus to build cars at a higher volume and introduce unprecedented quality standards, vital for today’s discerning customer.
Lotus Cars U.S.A. is implementing a plan to provide the highest quality sales and service support throughout the dealer network and is adding new dealers in key market areas, making the brand more accessible to its expanded customer base.
Complete specifications and price for the U.S. Elise will be published in the next few months.<<<<<<<
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
The press release can also be found here.
Interesting that there is expected to be a clamour from UK lotus bods for the car.
If it really does weigh 900Kg, I'll happily have a higher power to weight ratio with just 155bhp!
Craigy
If it really does weigh 900Kg, I'll happily have a higher power to weight ratio with just 155bhp!
Craigy
I am hoping that they mean *way* under 2000lbs. I wish they would announce the weight. We've known about the engine for quite a while. I am not expecting much tuning either as 190bhp is what the engine currently generates. Looking like the K20 for me . I *REALLY* hope the weight has not gone up too much.
I think in the US the same engine in the celica makes about 180bhp.. it does say that lotus have tuned it a bit.
Info on the base engine (link shamelessly copied from Liam Crilly of SELOC: http://www.c7performance.com/data/2zz_ge_article.pdf
Turns out the 2zz-ge is supercharger friendly... mmmm
Craigy
Info on the base engine (link shamelessly copied from Liam Crilly of SELOC: http://www.c7performance.com/data/2zz_ge_article.pdf
Turns out the 2zz-ge is supercharger friendly... mmmm
Craigy
Thanks for the link. The motor in Euro and Far East trim puts out 190hp, also think they rased the redline 500rpm, that said hope Lotus does tunes it for a more linear output.
perhaps that's to do with the octane rating of the fuel in the US versus what we have in europe.LarryB said:Thanks for the link. The motor in Euro and Far East trim puts out 190hp, also think they rased the redline 500rpm, that said hope Lotus does tunes it for a more linear output.
Craigy
But Lotus is quoting 190 hp for the US engine which means it's been tweaked, certainly they wouldn't quote hp for a euro spec engine when we're talking US market.
Adamant, might want to wait until you actually drive a US spec car first before you consider plunking down what 10-15 k for the Honda conversion?
Chris
Adamant, might want to wait until you actually drive a US spec car first before you consider plunking down what 10-15 k for the Honda conversion?
Chris
Actually I hope you're right: we might then be able to get over 190 in europe?zvezdah1 said:But Lotus is quoting 190 hp for the US engine which means it's been tweaked, certainly they wouldn't quote hp for a euro spec engine when we're talking US market.
Adamant, might want to wait until you actually drive a US spec car first before you consider plunking down what 10-15 k for the Honda conversion?
Chris
I'm not mechanical at all: it just seems to follow.
Craigy
Yep, the environmental standards are more strict in the US than the rest of the world, which is why we got the 142HP wonder-Miata in 2001 when Japan and Australia got the full 155HP.
I don't think the fuel is different in Europe and the UK, but it uses a different scale. Two scales are RON and MON; the US uses the average of the two. I know that Australia uses a different rating system that places their premium grade at 98 octane, while in the US premium gas is 92 octane. The fuels are nearly equivalent, though.
It's possible that the UK version will still have more power than the US version, although the European emissions standards are getting stricter.
I don't think the fuel is different in Europe and the UK, but it uses a different scale. Two scales are RON and MON; the US uses the average of the two. I know that Australia uses a different rating system that places their premium grade at 98 octane, while in the US premium gas is 92 octane. The fuels are nearly equivalent, though.
It's possible that the UK version will still have more power than the US version, although the European emissions standards are getting stricter.
It will be intresting to find out what Lotus means by "tune". If it the US or Euro Spec of the Toyota motor. Redline in US trim pretty sure is 8000 rpm and Euro 8500 rpm . Don't know if the Exige(S2) spec is telling us much, set at 8350rpm. Suppose it really doesn't matter it's been retune either way.
Don't get me wrong. I am not just looking for hp. But when the car is plumped up by ~200Kg as Craigy said the 150bhp version has a better hp/weight ratio.
The Engine was no big surprise other than I was hoping for the originally announced 200hp. I am just worrying that the weight will have increased sufficiently from making the Elise a true Road legal Racecar to something far more ordinary.
The Engine was no big surprise other than I was hoping for the originally announced 200hp. I am just worrying that the weight will have increased sufficiently from making the Elise a true Road legal Racecar to something far more ordinary.
1 - 14 of 14 Posts
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