Technical Forum Topics

[Bibs]

Experienced Esprit Engineers will be on hand during the day to deliver a number of forums based on technical aspects of our cars.

Please post below subjects you would like to see covered and we'll see what is possible

[jimmybondi]

Experienced Esprit Engineers will be on hand during the day to deliver a number of forums based on technical aspects of our cars.

Please post below subjects you would like to see covered and we'll see what is possible

As menioned before, I would like to hear some comments about the safety cell in our cars and also some explaination on the newly developed suspension kit for the G-cars

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

I'd be very interested into the research that was done (back in the day!) on NON-chargecooled Carbed engines and how far they can be boosted before detonation is a problem...

The HC went up to .65 and the 'S' went to .75 bar.

Was that increase due to greater confidence in the components (eg pistons) or was the presence of EFI on the 'S' a factor in reducing the danger of knock?

[Paul C]

As menioned before, I would like to hear some comments about the safety cell in our cars and also some explaination on the newly developed suspension kit for the G-cars

Geoff from the factory can help you there, i sat with him at dinner on the Oxford

meet and had a real interesting chat about the Esprit crash tests, had always assumed

it would be a car that had cosmetic faults etc, that they would choose to wreck...

[Bibs]

Can I have some more input please? This is an important part of the day.

[dodgy]

i would like to hear about the technical aspects of the S3 'g' cars suspension.

in particular, the reason why the essex with compomotives sits lower and has different suspension (lower link arms, trailing arms and different bushes) to the later cars with the BBS wheels,also, the difference between the load settings and dimensions of the springs, dampers and arms for the Essex to the HC cars.

or is this a question that should be put in a email to Lotus and then posted on LEW?

Dodgy

[Bibs]

A topic of discussion can be 'Suspension on G Cars' perhaps. Individual questions aren't really going to fill the day up but are welcome and we'll try to include them in a more general topic

[CarlC]

If the they where in our position of owning a certain model of Esprit what mods would they undertake and why?

For example on

S2

S3

S4

V8

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

OOH! Good point I like that one

[Goose]

Like that one a lot!

[WayneB]

I would find it interesting if somebody would do a talk on the Old Active Suspension Programme car

[Dan]

Would any of these be appropriate, or are you looking for more specific questions?

• Design & operation of aircon systems used in the Esprit - to allow better understanding (i.e. ability to troubleshoot) and impart any service/maintenance tips.
  
• To follow on from the G-car suspension topic mentioned above, what about covering subsequent 'Eagle' chassis and then V8 chassis developments?
  

[Bibs]

Perfect, keep 'em coming

[CarlC]

As post seem a little slow on this I thought I'd throw this one is as it should provide some interesting queues for other questions on the day.

I would like to hear a about the major revisons on the car through the years and the key driving factors for their introduction.

For example

Esprit Turbo to Esprit Turbo SE.

Major Revision: Introduction of the Charge Cooler

Driving Factors: Incrased Performace to beat/compete with Latest Ferrari

Other Options but dropped: Supercharger but was considered to heavy/ costly.

From an engineering / Technical / Development point of view what were some of the most difficult or complex and challenging aspects of the cars development ?

How much did the Lotus Racing programs effect and influence Production car design and development. Are there any direct examples? Especially given Lotus and Colin Chapmans impact on F1.

How did Pre S4 Esprit's end up with Morris Marina Door Handles and the S4 on get side light lenses of the McLaren F1?

[CarlC]

Was there any significant enhancement or development on the car at any stage that was prevented for some reason. For example;

Introduction of Active suspension as it would have been to costly

Body shaped prevented introduction of gull wing doors.

Use of V8 montor in earlier Esprit prevent becuase of Company Financial position

Latest Esprit has to use a BMW Engine due to commercial agreement. ' Only joking on that one. but we all know its true.

Can you tell my car is still of the road... No wonder I've got time to think of all this crap. Right Im of to bed so some one else can ask a question now...

Edited September 13, 2006 by CarlC

[jimmybondi]

I would also be interested in some details about the VARI process...or working with glassfibre in General...

[esprit22]

As you guys still have the original moulds for the the goodyear NCT 1 tyres, what is the likelyhood of these being re-made if enough people were to order?

[robcun]

id love to hear about the creative process lotus use to develop thier cars:

eg:

preproduction, details about the concept stages

how designs are iterated, refined

how engineers and stylists collaborate

etc

?

ive read books but it would be great to hear it from lotus directly

[Kimbers]

As you guys still have the original moulds for the the goodyear NCT 1 tyres, what is the likelyhood of these being re-made if enough people were to order?

Check with Bibs, We were told when we were at the factory that they have a limited order in for out of production tyres, 50 sets I believe.

[CarlC]

id love to hear about the creative process lotus use to develop thier cars:

eg:

preproduction, details about the concept stages

how designs are iterated, refined

how engineers and stylists collaborate...

Good one that Rob. Thats on the same lines as I was thinking on my ramblings above.

[Evil_Dr_Fish]

heck with Bibs, We were told when we were at the factory that they have a limited order in for out of production tyres, 50 sets I believe.

...because of course, once word gets out, 50 sets won't go in about 5 minutes!

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[Mark Blanchard]

Why was the cheaper Federal Stevens Esprit axed? What do they know about the project?

http://www.lotusespritturbo.com/Lotus_Espr...Concept_Car.htm

[x6gas]

Not sure if this is too late, but I'd be interested if Lotus have any recommendations for upgrades to solve common problems. I know many for example have replaced the mechanical chargecooler pump with an electric unit - what about options for the rusty fuel tanks, the body mounting point under the boot floor that seems to go etc etc

Ian

[CarlC]

Excellent one that Ian.

How to avoid known issues or how to best deal with them if the problems already occured.

[98GT3]

Probably too late now! but.....I would like to know what Lotus would think are safe horsepower increases for each of their engines right up to the smaller capacity GT3 variant, bearing in mind that we are enthusiasts and they had to design the car as reliable as possible for the general public.

Phil