Lotus in the post DB era

[TBD]

OK, lets assume for a moment the in-house V8 is canned. What are the options then?

• A US Big Block V8: Right, a great way to add lightness. Which Lotus owner would go for it?
  
• A Toyota Engine: Worked well in the Elise, just made it in the Evora (but a s**t gearbox), unimaginable as an option for your flagship sports car
  
• AMG/Daimler: As big and heavy as the US engine, again not adding lightness
  
• VW/Audi: Why buy the Esprit when you get the same engine together with top-notch build quality in the original R8? Fact is the 4.2 Ltr V8 is nearing end-of-life, the RS4 is probably the last new model to get it.
  
• Porsche, Ferrari:They're not selling, but even if, why not buy the original?
  
• BMW: That could work but there is no BMW transaxle to use.
  
• Jaguar: Might as well use a Toyota.
  
• Aston Martin: The V8 doesn't even work in the Vantage
  
• McLaren: Your're dreaming!
  

So, who has the great idea for an alternative to the in-house V8? We've got so any people here telling Lotus to scrap the engine, but I haven't seen one proposal for an alternative.

Edited July 27, 2012 by TBD

[richardvg]

Lexus V8 ....light and compact and lots of Horses

[TBD]

Lexus V8 ....light and compact and lots of Horses

Like I said, Toyota! I'm not buying.

[Bibs]

Has there been an official announcement that the V8 has been canned?

As you can imagine, Lotus would have entered into some very expensive contracts with 3rd parties to build this engine, I'm sure it's not as simple as just calling up and apologising that you've got to ditch the deal!

[racefan]

Volvo V8 made by Yamaha great engine or Hyundai 5.0 V8 Tau engine............

[Moxie]

Whoa. Personally, I have no trouble with a Lexus engine, but I'd draw the line at a Hyundai. I'm still scarred from my old Excel. Biggest POS I ever owned.

[Iconic Ride]

V6 in the Esprit? Never let the logic of emissions and fuel economy stand in the way of the development of a "true supercar." Flagship models, of any marque, are not intended as political statements. Quite the contrary, they are buyers' statements of "in your face, top of the line" performance prowling animals. There are more than enough electric, hybrid, and uber-small displacement offerings out there for the "save the planet" crowd. (can't believe a tree hugger like me is even saying this, but it's true nonetheless)

To run with the current era "supercar" big dogs, you have to have the street cred that can only be imparted by 8 holes in the block. 10 is even better, but I'm not holding my breath, though the Beemer V10 (with Lotus mods) would be a sweet consolation prize to the likely binned in house lump.

Can't prove it yet, but my gut feeling is that Zimmerman is "hasta la vista, baby" at this point. Without him, the in house V8 is like a block of ice rapidly melting in the noonday sun.

[hedgerley]

It would be a crying shame if they aborted the in-house V8 and transmission but the commercial reality is they will probably have to. I've just read the CAR test of the Pagani Huyra which has a twin turbo V8 AMG engine which gets rave reviews - this was the last engine Zimmermann oversaw before he left to join Lotus. Its pretty obvious this guy knows his engines and if he can't ply his trade at Lotus I guess he will be gone.

So, do they go back to MJK Plan A for the 'MSC' and use the BMW V8 or Plan B which saw them move to the Lexus IF V8. Or will it be something different again. Either way, as iconic says above, there is nothing sensible about the top car in any manufacturers range. Its about emotion and buying with the heart, not the head. I hope DRB appreciate that.

The lack of visibility of DRBs plan is getting very frustrating!

[TBD]

The lack of visibility of DRBs plan is getting very frustrating!

+1!

[Mario]

A new Esprit with Evora chassis bmw or toyota engine and at 911 price and performance is not bad to me.

[DarrylV8]

Gents,

Elise & Elise S

Exige S

Evora & Evora S

No announments till they are confident they can produce/deliver new variants/cars

Its not what we want to hear, but after the last 2 + years of pie in sky; think its as much as we could expect from DRB/COO, frustration oh yes

[Bibs]

Aslam addressed the staff at the end of the week, he'll be making his plans public very soon.

[jollyroger]

Re: V8+... wouldn't the 500+ bhp Nissan V6 Turbo that currently powers the GTR do all right in the new Esprit?

Lotus has sourced Renault parts in the past...

To me even a GM sourced LS9 would do the trick, I would certainly buy an Esprit with a Lotus tuned LS9!

It is lightweight, has ridiculous amounts of torque and it might actually sit well with the US customers...

I would also love to see something like a 2.5 I4 Turbo+Supercharger with 500 bhp, that would be pretty radical :-)

[Iconic Ride]

Ah, Grasshopper, Confucius say "When making beef bullion, there is no substitute for cubes."

Of course, he also said: It does not matter how slowly you go so long as you do not stop.

Which may or may not have relevance to the current discussion.

[pete]

perhaps one of russell savory bike based v8 would have been ideal

http://www.rsperformance.co.uk/rswevo_technicalspecification.htm

[simonb]

Lotus have not been afraid of co-developing with another manufacturer, So I would like to see a BMW engine in the Esprit (I assume the transaxle will be the off the peg very expensive Getrag setup that Ferrari et al use); to also have a new M1 appear might take a little of the limelight away, but would help ensure thorough development

[Exploded]

Simon never say never, but if Lotus takes on a BMW engine, they can not change a single thing to the engine. Otherwise BMW won't take any warranties any more. So this also means they have to take the original BMW ECU, the price of that package is 2 times compared to a Lexus/Toyota alternative... taking a BMW engine would be (very ) stupid imo.

[TBD]

Lexus is certainly not much better. The LExus engine is heavier, I believe longer and much better suitedto the SUV-style cars Lexus builds. Look at the Evora exxperience, everybody said the NA was underpowered, the S requies tuning to get decent performance above 4000 rpm and the diesel gearbox is a disaster. But, Gert is right w.r.t. BMW engine, at most Lotus will be allowed to put their own engine cover on - but certainly not touch the insides. However, I believe also this engine is quite a bit longer than Lotus own.

Lotus better stick to the bespoke V8. Fotunately, as Bibs already stated above, it will be hard to terminate all those already established supplier contracts for the engine.

[richardvg]

If people like Pagani stick to the formula (viz McClaren engine) lotus can do the same with whoever's engine they use .....lets be honest Nissan uses Renault and so on .......hey there is an idea ;

Why dont they use the Renault engine and box ....they have had success with the box in the past ,just add the motor .

Then the F1 TEAM will be in sync as well

[Stirling_Villeneuve]

Agreed, the Pagani, McLaren route works and for me doesn't detract from the end product... not that I"m likely to own either!

That said I was never exactly thrilled by the thought of a Lotus Elan with an Isuzu engine.

[ramjet]

If everyone is looking for another V8, why wouldn't Lotus talk to Cosworth. They're already using a Cosworth engine in the Exos aren't they?

[rogerch]

I suppose they might have a few left hanging around, but not enough for a production run.

[racefan]

in exos is ex indy based engine not suitable for road car.

[jollyroger]

If people like Pagani stick to the formula (viz McClaren engine) lotus can do the same with whoever's engine they use .....lets be honest Nissan uses Renault and so on .......hey there is an idea ;

Why dont they use the Renault engine and box ....they have had success with the box in the past ,just add the motor .

Then the F1 TEAM will be in sync as well

Yep just as I said :-)

Renault or Nissan, the VR38DETT engine is not too bad, is it?

[NedaSay]

Yamaha V8! +1 here

Actually I do think that Lotus should subcontract all its engine to Yamaha:

V8 for Esprit with the 4.8L that they produce for Volvo, it already produces decent power, with a supercharger it will get the job done.

V6 for the Evora with a tuned 3.5LToyota/Yamaha engine, the one that toyota was supposed to build to replace the current gen transaxle GR-FE.

V4 for the Elise, I want that 1.6L Vmax mated to a proper gearbox and put in a car... Then I want to supercharge it!

Edited July 30, 2012 by NedaSay