Anyone dyno'd a 400?

[JayEmm]

From my research it seems Lotus have been generous with their numbers regarding the Evora's power output... At least in some cases.

I am curious if anyone with a 400 has put theirs on a dyno to see whether it really does generate much power? The one I Drove didn't feel any quicker than an S, but I wasn't pressing either hard.

[Trevsked]

Must admit I feel the same, didn't feel any quicker until 6k rpm, in fact felt a little soft before that.

 

Trevor.

[Colin G]

What research have you done that shows Lotus to be overestimating their outputs?

[PaulCP]

Probably better not to enter that massive black hole called rolling roads or dynos 

There are too many variables and most operators on a one off session can't be @rsed to set the dyno up correctly for the car, the conditions or the dynos own calibration. If they did they would be charging you double because of the amount of time involved.

[Bravo73]

I know a 400 owner who also owns a dyno. I suspect that the two will meet at some point...

[NeedForSpeed]

I don't think I'll ever have the guts to dyno any of my cars, first of all I'm afraid to be disappointed and secondarily I've watched too many "Dyno fail" vids on Youtube that scared the shit out of me

I was seriously thinking about dynoing my old N/A after I installed the sport exhaust plus airbox to verify with some figures the improvement I was just feeling maybe just from the much louder sound of the car.

I've tried an S-IPS about a month before I've first driven my new 400 (to help me decide wether to get it manual or auto), so this can't be called a "back to back" test but as far as I can remember the 400 feels way faster.

[Frickin_idiot]

Having test driven, and subsequently placed an order for an Evora 400 this week I agree that the 400 doesn't feel particularly fast.

In comparison to my current Supercharged Exige S2 the car feels slower when put through it's paces, having also spent considerable time in a Mk 2 RS Focus it "feels" slower than the RS - despite weighing hundreds of Kilo's less and having 25% more power.

Keeping an eye on the speedo as you accelerate tells a different story, I think it proves just how accomplished the Evora has become.

[Trevsked]

I'd like to see a dyno torque plot between an S and a 400 as I suspect the 400 has a smoother delivery making it feel like there is less available. I'm sure there must be someone out there that has had one on the rollers. Hanger 111?

 

Trevor.

[Bravo73]

1 hour ago, Trevsked said:

Hanger 111?

Their dyno isn't fully operational yet. Otherwise, my car would have been down there to get the first of the mods fitted.

[JayEmm]

4 hours ago, Colin G said:

What research have you done that shows Lotus to be overestimating their outputs?

Not so much research as every time I see an Evora going on a dyno it seems to be falling some way short of its stated power output. Granted, these are limited instances but it's intriguing. Lotus certainly wouldn't be the first company to "overstate" their power figures, but seeing as Lotus are making big claims for the 400, I wonder whether it's really making those numbers? I drove my E46 M3 after having driven a 400 and the difference should have been night and day. It wasn't.

1 hour ago, Frickin_idiot said:

Keeping an eye on the speedo as you accelerate tells a different story, I think it proves just how accomplished the Evora has become.

This is also very possible. I've been in a few German cars which make serious power but don't often feel like it because they mask their speed so well.

[Trevsked]

Anyone know how long before @Hangar 111 have their dyno up and running? I'd be happy to put my car on the rollers as a benchmark.

 

Trevor.

[JayEmm]

I am going to make an educated guess that all of the 400's gains happen from about 5-7k rpm.

I would possibly go so far as to say the engine is being limited in the power it produces (by design rather than electronic limitation), probably to be kind to the gearbox... but that's entirely speculative.

[Bibs]

12 hours ago, Trevsked said:

I'd be happy to put my car on the rollers as a benchmark.

 You ordered a 400?!

[Trevsked]

No:-) I meant the GTE as a benchmark against a 400 to compare power and torque.

 

Trevor.

[Bibs]

I find it's always best to ask with you, just in case

[Hangar 111]

19 hours ago, Trevsked said:

Anyone know how long before @Hangar 111 have their dyno up and running? I'd be happy to put my car on the rollers as a benchmark.

Yes...  

Target date is end of May for the first customer power runs.

Dave

[Bravo73]

28 minutes ago, Hangar 111 said:

Target date is end of May for the first customer power runs.

 

How about having a TLF Power Run day once it's ready? Any money raised can go to charity (and Hangar111 would obviously benefit from the exposure).

[Stuno1]

Definitely in for a dyno day ?

[Breeze]

I have to agree with the previous post. My old, slow, lardy Evora S is a bit deceptive. A glance at the speedo often shows that I'm traveling way faster than I thought. When I was driving down through Germany I was cruising at what I guessed was about 100mph, the speedo was reading 137!  ( Un-restricted section of Autobahn ). They are a very accomplished car. Sure I miss the warp drive of my Honda Sc/Cc S1, but that was pushing 450bhp/tonne. At speed the Evora is way more comfortable.

[lotusmad2001]

Has anyone dyno'd their 400 yet? Would be interesting to see what it puts down!

[CocoPops]

Yes, I had mine done as part of the 2bular exhaust.

Need to revisit as Jim thinks the ecu may adjust fuelling.

Standard, with 4,300 miles 375bhp....

 

[Loquacious Lew]

None of the reading I've done suggests whether Lotus rates HP at the rear wheel  or not.   "BHP" would suggest a rear wheel rating but Lotus rates the car as follows: 

• High power, 400 hp. 3.5 litre V6, 24 valve, water cooled, all aluminium engine, with Edelbrock supercharger

As I interpret it this suggests a rating without accessories and at the crank's output,  Therefore, any car that achieves 375 BHP (at the rear wheels) is going to be within spec as Lotus writes it since we'd expect around 15% loss to accessories and the drivetrain.  I think the relatively low torque specification is what makes us think our cars don't have the punch we'd have expected.

 

By the way (I'll write up a separate thread on this) I picked up my new Evora 400 in Detroit Michigan on July 15 and drove it home to Nashville two days later.  I love it regardless if it makes 375 or 400 HP, but 400 ia of course better.  In my introduction to the forum while I was still struggling with my choices  I mentioned how difficult it was for me to justify  a Lotus here in the States where we can buy a Corvette Grand Sport with a proper standard transmission and all the extra technology  trimmings for tens of thousands less.  In the end, the allure of the 400s fantastic driver qualities and its charm and uniqueness clinched the deal for me.  I'm an outlier here, but I'm not the only one.  

 

A note on dynes, although you all know this:  They're like mechanical watches.  No two read exactly the same, and they don't even read the same on different days or at different times of the year.  Dynos are best used to establish baselines so to be able to compare the results of fiddling and modifications.  That said, it would be nice if Lotus' specs were reliably conservative.  

Edited July 23, 2017 by Loquacious Lew

[Barrykearley]

Don't think any car manufacturers specify wheel HP - so much better to quote flywheel HP as it's always higher

[Loquacious Lew]

Yes.  so by that measure, Lotus is in the ballpark,  The torque is specified low, and I reckon accurately.  Once the car is spun up towards redline, the power is there.  But as we all know Lotus is not about drag racing.  You must buy this car despite the numbers.

The punch of  the Corvette's naturally aspirated V8 was something I had to willfully give up when I decided I simply had to have  the Evora.  For we here who can buy much more torque (and horsepower) for much less money, that torque specification created a lot of smoke from my ears as I pondered the decision. Most decide for a Corvette, fewer  perhaps for a Porsche of one stripe or another and very, very few for an Evora.  I will do some runs and report them here  after I have my running in service and once the summer heat has subsided.  It's pointless to make runs in 100 degree heat, which is what we have at the moment.  

[Julian73]

On 7/23/2017 at 15:54, Barrykearley said:

Don't think any car manufacturers specify wheel HP - so much better to quote flywheel HP as it's always higher

It has little to do with producing a bigger number.  B(brake)HP is more consistent, relates to the engine not to the drive train loses dependent on gear ratio, tires, oils .. SAE and ISO standards control engine testing conditions, the dyne's are smaller but more precise using a energy brake attached at flywheel.