Could the new Esprit use the 4.0L from the new BMW 3 series?

[Tacoboy]

I was just thinking that The new Esprit could come with a
twin turbo charged BMW 4.0L from the new BMW 3 series.
I'm sure that new 4.0L is very light.
Does anyone think thats a possibility?

[ErnestM]

I believe that the BMW front runner is the previous generation BMW M62 derived S62 engine from the E39 M5. With sequential transmission.

All just rumours though.

ErnestM

[jamwill79]

A customer of mine went to a lotus dealership a few days ago and ordered one. Delivery expected to be December 2007 he said. Engine from BMW M5.

[Autocross7]

PLEASE PLEASE TELL me that they are not going to put a clutch-less tranny in the new "Esprit"- AND not offer and clutch tranny. I mean realy, come on! I have driven both the in line tip-tronics in various forms and the old school clutch... give me a clutch. If you cannot learn to drive - do not buy it! In line is soooooo boring. I have driven a Ferrari 360 with paddles and I never thought I'd be bored in a Ferrari... and I was real close. I'd def opt for the shifter.

I hear the arguments about how it is better, more efficient, etc, etc... So what? Is it more fun... nope. I guess I'll just shop the "classics" for the future. I was all excited about a new "more affordable" turbo 4 Buggatti - til' I read that it would ONLY be offered in a tip tronic... Can I still get a tag for a Type 35?


Just my opinion though...
Drive topless!!!
Cameron

[anonymous-user]

Autocross7 said:

PLEASE PLEASE TELL me that they are not going to put a clutch-less tranny in the new "Esprit"- AND not offer and clutch tranny. I mean realy, come on! I have driven both the in line tip-tronics in various forms and the old school clutch... give me a clutch. If you cannot learn to drive - do not buy it! In line is soooooo boring. I have driven a Ferrari 360 with paddles and I never thought I'd be bored in a Ferrari... and I was real close. I'd def opt for the shifter.

I hear the arguments about how it is better, more efficient, etc, etc... So what? Is it more fun... nope. I guess I'll just shop the "classics" for the future. I was all excited about a new "more affordable" turbo 4 Buggatti - til' I read that it would ONLY be offered in a tip tronic... Can I still get a tag for a Type 35?


Just my opinion though...
Drive topless!!!
Cameron

I could never imagine Lotus NOT offering a manual car!!!!

[GTWayne]

Just remember, they are not the Lotus of yesteryear and are in a very competitive market place. If a suitably strong trans axle is not available in a manual form ,I strongly suspect them to offer whatever is available and that is likely to be a semi automatic at the very least.

[toyroom]

jamwill79 said:

A customer of mine went to a lotus dealership a few days ago and ordered one. Delivery expected to be December 2007 he said. Engine from BMW M5.

Which dealer, how much, I mean, is this true or did he just leave a "letter of intent" with the dealer. Am I hopelessly out of circulation and the car has been announced or is this a very optimistic and brave dealer ?? Seriosly, has this customer genuinely had an order accepted ???

[jamwill79]

Well I have to say I'm not completely convinced myself. I believe it was Lipscombe in maidstone. No deposit was given. Also no fixed price. An exige was driven to give an idea of lotus handling because he has never driven one. He said he is first on the list. Thats all I know.

[Tuna]

Dealers will probably be quite happy to make unofficial lists, and some may even take deposits. As has been pointed out before, this doesn't guarantee any delivery, deposits put down may not be secure, and if Lotus choose to give a particular dealer a low or late quota of vehicles, you may be waiting some time. When the M250 was cancelled, quite a few people lost quite a lot of money - and a couple of dealers closed down.

Given that the exact cost, layout, performance, comfort levels and styling of the new car are still very much secret, it seems quite brave to put down a deposit at this stage.

[Tacoboy]

It just seems the new BMW 4.0L would be very light
and as it puts out 400HP in current form,
just think what two turbos would do for it.

[toyroom]

With respect to the "stick-less" paddle gearshift, I think a lot of people are anxious about this as I was before I tried it. Having driven an F355 F1, I was very surprised at how easy the paddle system was and also how quickly I got used to it. The only TOTAL DISASTER is when they fasten the paddles to the wheel rather than the column. OK in a racer where there is only one turn lock to lock and your hands never move on the wheel, but a nightmare in a road car! Oh, and the Ferrari wasn't better than the Esprit....not over twice the price better anyway!

[Autocross7]

My Mazda 3 has tip tronic on the center console (where I prefer it if I have to have it)... I have driven an open wheeler with an tip tronic by my knee, and this was not too bad either, but I still prefer the old clutch set up. As stated, I know it is faster and more efficient with the paddles and tip tronic, but it is not nearly as much fun! It still has the limited control feeling of an automatic...

-I'd like a go in the 355 though! I drove a 360, but the 355 is so much prettier (in my humble opinion).

Drive topless!!!
Cameron

[toyroom]

I think that the 360, and the 430 for that matter, suffer from a problem that many cars suffer. They look great in the flesh but not in a photograph. There are many things to which this applies. There are some things which just cannot be photgraphed. Take the moon, for example. It looks twice the size on the horizon compared to overhead. No-one has an explanation but this effect cannot be photographed. The F355 is lucky in that it is beautiful and photogenic. (So is the Esprit!)
Mercedes-Benz used to do a "clutchless manual" This had a gearstick but no clutch and therefore offered an interesting hybrid. I don't see why Lotus don't offer both paddles and a clutchless manual. That way there would be no need to go to all the fuss of engineering a manual clutch and I am sure BMW have the necessary hardware on the shelf

[Tacoboy]

Does the new BMW 4.0L use the magnesium?
Like the newer BMW straight 6.

[Tacoboy]

So anyone know?