Rover K series had it day?

[Rallye]

I have to say i have never driven a Lotus Elise before, so please excuse any ignorance on my part.

It seems the Honda VTEC engines are quite a bit superior to the Rover units. Take the S2000 engine for example, 240bhp from a 2.0 16v. This unit in a elise would be tremedously rapid.

What is the future in your eyes?

[bogie]

yes it would be and you can have the Honda unit fitted to your Elise aftermarket.

the problem is Lotus probably pay around £700 a unit for the K series...the Honda is more like £7000 ...if honda would sell them to anyone else (which they wont)

the future at the moment is the Toyota 1.8 VVTI 190bhp lump from the Celica - hopefully availble next year as an option, with the K still used for lower spec cars

[joust]

bogie said:

the problem is Lotus probably pay around £700 a unit for the K series...the Honda is more like £7000 ...if honda would sell them to anyone else (which they wont)

Not true - Ariel have sourced Honda units.....

www.arielmotor.co.uk/03/latest_0503.htm

J

[bogie]

I wonder if they are coming officially from Honda then.

I guess its because its a very small volume car thats not in direct competition with and of the Honda range...or just that the cost of the Honda units to Lotus are too plain expensive

>> Edited by bogie on Tuesday 5th August 11:15

[Shirkin]

The Vemac RD180 uses VTECs too.

[bogie]

yep - but are they sourced direct from Honda?

I know the engines that are used in the Elise Honda conversions are not

[gary_tholl]

Look at the weights of the engines as well. I think you will find that the K-series is nearly half the wieght of Honda's VTEC. As well as being considerably cheaper.

Gary

[scuffham]

bogie said:

yep - but are they sourced direct from Honda? I know the engines that are used in the Elise Honda conversions are not

Yes and no,

Ariel buy the engines in/as parts...

[Dakkon]

The Honda engine does sit lower, lowering the centre of gravity and further in the middle giving better weight distribution, with the conversion.

Once Honda sort out getting more torque from their VTEC range their amzing engine's will be awsome.

[Joe McCarthy]

I can get new K20A Type R engines from Honda through my connections in Japan, but they're a bit more money than the used engines most people are having me buy for them for the conversion to Honda Power in the Elise. The K20A is popular and expensive simply because it's the best 2 litre production engine made.
Take a look at: www.prototyperacing.com/dynok20b.htm
Cheers,
Joe