Autocar rumours on new Esprit
Discussion
chris_n said:
Bought the latest Autocar mag yesterday and they reckon the new Esprit is going to weigh 1300kg and have the >600Bhp V8 motor from the Mclaren Merc SLR!!!
Couple that with Lotus handling and it should be absolutely amazing!
Point 1 agreed
Point 2 anyone see a pig? somebody's been sniffing the glue!
i doubt mercedes would allow the use of there premier motor as it stands probably it will be a detuned version with around 500hp (still be a winner though one of the best things about the slr was the noise)
it might even be built in malaysia but i think a substancial bit will prolly be done at the factory i cant see the car been totaly built oversea's but with current money woes who knows
it might even be built in malaysia but i think a substancial bit will prolly be done at the factory i cant see the car been totaly built oversea's but with current money woes who knows
I thought the current favourite rumour regarding the engine was that it would be the BMW flat-plane V8 from the outgoing M3 with twin turbos strapped on? My money's on that or a Toyota/Lexus V8.
IMHO, no way in hell the McMerc engine will be made available to Lotus. Too many licensing issues, and besides - why would they sell to a potential major competitor?
[k]
IMHO, no way in hell the McMerc engine will be made available to Lotus. Too many licensing issues, and besides - why would they sell to a potential major competitor?
[k]
The owners of Lotus, Proton has strong connections with Mitsubishi. The Mitsubishi v6's (3.0 3.5 & 3.8) are small, light and tough. Here in oz there are turbo off-road racer versions with stock internals developing over the 600BHP levels with reliability. A v6 hasn't the same prestige as a v8 but 6 cylinders hasn't done badly for Porsche over the years. Also the lighter more compact size can be a benefit when it comes to the vehicle's dynamics.
[quote=[k]ar|]IMHO, no way in hell the McMerc engine will be made available to Lotus. Too many licensing issues, and besides - why would they sell to a potential major competitor?
[/quote]
Maybe you're right and not the McMerc engine but the supercharged V8 engine from the AMG SL55 would still be plenty interesting. AMG supply Pagani with engines so why not Lotus?
[/quote]
Maybe you're right and not the McMerc engine but the supercharged V8 engine from the AMG SL55 would still be plenty interesting. AMG supply Pagani with engines so why not Lotus?
I agree Merc do supply Pagani with engines. However, this is an older V12 design with "only" 555bhp. Different kettle of fish altogether to the McMerc engine, which is their cutting-edge flagship motor. Also, I don't think Merc had anything comparable to the Zonda at the time the deal was cut. I doubt if the negotiations were going through today, they would be so forthcoming now they have the SLR in the same price/performance category.
As for competition, the McMerc weighs 1768Kg with it's 626bhp V8. The Lotus will weigh (according to the report) the best part of 1/2 tonne less and likely cost less than 1/3 the list price of a McMerc. Plus it will undoubtedly handle significantly better. That sounds like competition to me
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There was a long Esprit engine conjecture thread a while back. My gut feeling was that a Toyota V8 was more likely, given the critical and sales success of the 111r/Exige2. However, a couple of people who purported to be well connected hinted at a twin-turbo BMW V8 - as supplied to Morgan in NA configration for the Aero8. I don't think there has been any rumour up to this point of a Merc engine of any description being used/tested. That's not to say that things haven't changed recently, of course.
All that said, I don't care what motor they use so long as we get the usual Lotus ride/handling along with a ridiculous power-to-weight ratio, and bargain price tag. This car should be aimed like Ford did with the GT - giant-killing performance, but modestly priced for a supercar.
I don't want much, do I?
[k]
As for competition, the McMerc weighs 1768Kg with it's 626bhp V8. The Lotus will weigh (according to the report) the best part of 1/2 tonne less and likely cost less than 1/3 the list price of a McMerc. Plus it will undoubtedly handle significantly better. That sounds like competition to me
. There was a long Esprit engine conjecture thread a while back. My gut feeling was that a Toyota V8 was more likely, given the critical and sales success of the 111r/Exige2. However, a couple of people who purported to be well connected hinted at a twin-turbo BMW V8 - as supplied to Morgan in NA configration for the Aero8. I don't think there has been any rumour up to this point of a Merc engine of any description being used/tested. That's not to say that things haven't changed recently, of course.
All that said, I don't care what motor they use so long as we get the usual Lotus ride/handling along with a ridiculous power-to-weight ratio, and bargain price tag. This car should be aimed like Ford did with the GT - giant-killing performance, but modestly priced for a supercar.
I don't want much, do I?
[k]
[quote=[k]ar|]
I don't want much, do I?
[k]
[/quote]
I think you are being perfectly reasonable
I think even today with the SLR in production Merc would not see Lotus as competition they are aimed at a different audience , Lotus and Morgan are just not in the same ball game to Merc or BMW.
I would love to see a new Esprit with a (reliable) V8 i think Lotus have discovered finally that the cost of building a reliable performance engine is just too high , i have no idea how good or bad the Lotus built V8 was
I don't want much, do I?
[k]
[/quote]
I think you are being perfectly reasonable
I think even today with the SLR in production Merc would not see Lotus as competition they are aimed at a different audience , Lotus and Morgan are just not in the same ball game to Merc or BMW.
I would love to see a new Esprit with a (reliable) V8 i think Lotus have discovered finally that the cost of building a reliable performance engine is just too high , i have no idea how good or bad the Lotus built V8 was
Wouldn't it be nice if Lotus would drive down the road to Cosworth and have them build a nice V8, V10 or V12 for the Esprit. Hell Cosworth could use the business since Aston Martin is no longer using their engines and it would be great PR for both Lotus and Cosworth.
Mark (Feff) Pfeffer
Mark (Feff) Pfeffer
"sources say that it could use the AMG-sourced V8 from the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren."
It doesen't say it will be a 600bhp V8, it says it will be the same basic V8 that's in the SLR, which could mean anything in terms of power....
but it seems likely that it will be amg sourced....
"Meanwhile, sources say that engineering prototypes of the new Esprit have been seen at Hethel in recent days. Observers say that car is being tested alongside a McLaren SLR and that the two share a very similar engine note, fuelling the speculation about the use of the AMG V8."
It doesen't say it will be a 600bhp V8, it says it will be the same basic V8 that's in the SLR, which could mean anything in terms of power....
but it seems likely that it will be amg sourced....
"Meanwhile, sources say that engineering prototypes of the new Esprit have been seen at Hethel in recent days. Observers say that car is being tested alongside a McLaren SLR and that the two share a very similar engine note, fuelling the speculation about the use of the AMG V8."
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