RE: US Elise Engine
Thursday 21st March 2002
US Elise Engine
Autocar reported this week that the US Elise will be powered by the 190bhp. 1.8 litre Toyota VVTL-i engine.
Discussion
I want to know why was the new engine introduced? Is is because the US market wants more horespower? Why? The Elise was already increadably quick and acceleration to blow you socks off?? Why try to improve on something so perfect?? Will the acceleration be compramised by the extra power?? But maybe it is because of the costs of producing a cheep relyable engine, it that is the case disregard all that i have just said. Concerned Lotus fan!!
? I don't understand your concern about more horsepower. More horesepower = better acceleration. At least as long as you have traction. With the Elise's mid-engine rear wheel drive there seems to be pretty good traction. How much HP is too much? I'd like to see 250-275 in an Elise. The only time you have enough HP is when you can burn rubber at the end of the straight. 
>> Edited by slade on Monday 25th March 06:47
>> Edited by slade on Monday 25th March 06:47
Josh et al.: As far as I can tell through research (being an overweight American beast myself) is that the Rover engine is missing some vital parts that the US Dept. of Transportation (also known as the "No Fun for You" Department) find important to make cars heavier, slower and generally less fun to drive. It's always passed off as an emissions problem, but I can't imagine that the UK has any less stringent emissions laws than the U.S. Regardless, I'm eagerly looking forward to getting my hands on a new Elise as soon as possible.
Errr.. hate to break this to you , but the K-Series was developed by Honda with Rover. It's about as Japanese as you can get....
Also the Japanese make some of the most reliable, powerful and advanced engines on the market. I don't see why you should have a problem with that?
>> Edited by adeewuff on Tuesday 26th March 17:02
Also the Japanese make some of the most reliable, powerful and advanced engines on the market. I don't see why you should have a problem with that?
>> Edited by adeewuff on Tuesday 26th March 17:02
I am so ok with this engine. That kind of power is going to more than offset any Federally required extras and their associated weight.
I'd like to know about the torque for the engine though. I'm sure that the quoted 189 bhp occurs at very high revs. Not that its going to matter too much in such a light car I hope that the power band is not too narrow.
I can't wait.
Steve
I'd like to know about the torque for the engine though. I'm sure that the quoted 189 bhp occurs at very high revs. Not that its going to matter too much in such a light car I hope that the power band is not too narrow.
I can't wait.
Steve
Here are that stats I posted on the other Elise engine thread.
1796cc engine with variable timing and lift
180Nm @ 6800rpm
189bhp @ 7800rpm (red line just above 8000rpm)
In a Corolla (1255kg) the top speed is in excess of 140mph.
As you can see the maximum torque occurs quite high, this occurs at the speed the cam profile changes. The reviews of the corolla 1.8T Sport have not commentated about the lack of torque at low RPM. But with a lighter weight car this becomes less of an issue.
1796cc engine with variable timing and lift
180Nm @ 6800rpm
189bhp @ 7800rpm (red line just above 8000rpm)
In a Corolla (1255kg) the top speed is in excess of 140mph.
As you can see the maximum torque occurs quite high, this occurs at the speed the cam profile changes. The reviews of the corolla 1.8T Sport have not commentated about the lack of torque at low RPM. But with a lighter weight car this becomes less of an issue.
If it's true (where's the press release?) are Lotus just returning to 1982 with the Excel - Toyota gearbox, diff, brakes etc.
As for the K series being Japanese - certainly not! Many people claim to have designed it, but a chap called Graham Atkin (who once worked at Lotus) conceived the concept and oversaw the original design at Longbridge.
As for the K series being Japanese - certainly not! Many people claim to have designed it, but a chap called Graham Atkin (who once worked at Lotus) conceived the concept and oversaw the original design at Longbridge.
if this engine is what the US market ends up with I would wager that the engineers would have tinkered with it a bit(they did with the series 2 rover by using their own engine management system instead of a standard rover ecu and M100 Elan). so I would doubt other than an oil change and belt/hose tighting that you would be able just to run out and have it fixed at your toyota dealer while the car is under warranty.
Any engine with more power than the 120 hp hairdrier that currently powers the tea tray would be an improvement. Did consider buying one a few months ago, but it was just not fast enough and the brakes were poor. If they can increase the torque as well, I will surely consider it for the next car.
Dave
Dave
Various posts on Elise sites indicate that the K-series has head gasket problems, among other annoying quirks. I agree with the previous comment that the Japanese make some of the best 4-cylinder engines on the planet, both in terms of output and reliability. Toyota and Honda are among the best of that lot, so I see the use of the Toyota engine as a plus. Why put up with poor reliability and less power?
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