RE: <b>SCOOP</b>: Lotus Ecos!
Friday 15th February 2002
SCOOP: Lotus Ecos!
Diesel engined sports cars!? Whatever next!?
Discussion
My Elise is fantastic & I'd always thought of diesels as nasty.
Having access to two company Turbodiesels VW Passat & VW Golf has changed my mind on the latter. The engines are superb & very efficient. If they can push two heavyweight cars along & still achieve 40-60mpg, I'm sure they'd cope well with just 750kg.
Where does the queue start?
Having access to two company Turbodiesels VW Passat & VW Golf has changed my mind on the latter. The engines are superb & very efficient. If they can push two heavyweight cars along & still achieve 40-60mpg, I'm sure they'd cope well with just 750kg.
Where does the queue start?
Hey - If it's fun to drive, who cares what kind of fuel it burns? Diesel fuel is a bit harder to get here in the states, but is generally available without too much hassle. I can picture it now... 50 tractor trailer rigs, an old Mercedes sedan or two, and a Lotus Ecos lined up at the local truck stop!
quote:
What's going on at Lotus? They seem to be spreading themselves out a little thinly with all the unfinished projects kicking around. What's going on with the M250 first?!
The M250 project as it was originally intended is dead. Don't forget Lotus engineering is a huge concern that does loads of work for all the main manufacturers. The ECOS project will no doubt benefit many mainstream cars too.
What about the noise of the diesel? Surely it'll be:
I: Embarrassing
II: Unbearable when driving
Does anyone agree that they will have to seriously work on the sound dampening... but then there wouldn't be a good sportscar noise to listen to. Can it really work well?? I do agree though that if anyone can, it's Lotus!
Regards
I: Embarrassing
II: Unbearable when driving
Does anyone agree that they will have to seriously work on the sound dampening... but then there wouldn't be a good sportscar noise to listen to. Can it really work well?? I do agree though that if anyone can, it's Lotus!
Regards
quote:
What next? Electric, Hydro?
Well the 200bhp Zytek Electric Elise was pretty cool...
www.geocities.com/Athens/Acropolis/4564/electriclotus.html
www.sandsmuseum.com/cars/elise/press/press/press1996/prelec.html
www.zytek.co.uk/zevl.html
From insider knowledge, Lotus have done a great deal of work on Active Noice Cancellation and Active Sound Synthesis. Some years ago the company had a Citroen AX (for US readers imagine an empty can of beans and you won't be far wrong) fitted with their prototype ANC system. It was an absolute hoot. Inside, you could select various synthesised engine sounds which emerged from the speakers and responded to engine speed and manifold pressure. The choices available include Lotus 4-cyl, Ferrari, Porsche flat-six etc etc. Even seasoned industry professionals got captivated by it, drove much faster, and emerged with big smiles. You want a three-cyl 70 bhp diesel to sound like a 500 bhp Ferrari? Just call Lotus....
Sign me up for an ECOS...I'll bin the 318 and the A6 2.5TDI out front...!!!
Sign me up for an ECOS...I'll bin the 318 and the A6 2.5TDI out front...!!!
Always thought this was possible, speed from efficiëncy makes most sense for the future. Still brave that Lotus wants to risk it. Yet I am sold on the idea.
And what V12 sound? Regular petrol engines often sound whiny, compare THAT with existing non sport diesels. Sports tuned diesels (and turbo's!) do have their own cool sound.
"If you want something to be better, don't expect it to be the same as the old"
And what V12 sound? Regular petrol engines often sound whiny, compare THAT with existing non sport diesels. Sports tuned diesels (and turbo's!) do have their own cool sound.
"If you want something to be better, don't expect it to be the same as the old"
Does anybody remember the diesel Westfield. Steve Cropley raved about it and it set quite a few records.
I replaced a frantic chipped turbo hatch that pulled 7000rpm and went rather quickly with a modified turbo diesel that is not so frantic but, in real terms little slower.
It is different, boost starts at 1200 rpm rather than 4000 and there is lots and lots of torque, dyno sheets make a Cosworth Escort seem very puny in the torque department. It runs out of revs before 6500 but is very fast across the ground, frugal as well.
I'd be interested to try the Ecos particularly with an intelligent CVC, now that would be an interesting prospect.
I replaced a frantic chipped turbo hatch that pulled 7000rpm and went rather quickly with a modified turbo diesel that is not so frantic but, in real terms little slower.
It is different, boost starts at 1200 rpm rather than 4000 and there is lots and lots of torque, dyno sheets make a Cosworth Escort seem very puny in the torque department. It runs out of revs before 6500 but is very fast across the ground, frugal as well.
I'd be interested to try the Ecos particularly with an intelligent CVC, now that would be an interesting prospect.
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