Tuesday 30th September 2003

MG X Power K2000

New 220bhp engine debuted last weekend

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MG's latest debut went largely unnoticed last weekend when MG XPower debuted their new engine on track. The K2000 engine was fitted to an MG racing in the EERC endurance race at Thruxton.

The engine was fitted in a factory entered MG ZR driven by Mark Roberts and Don Kettleborough, and came home 3 laps in front of the class opposition. The opposition was mainly Honda powered and the ZR was showing them a clean pair of heels even before they started running into problems. A precautionary refueling stop fifteen minutes before the end of the race prevented a higher placing but the reliability of the new unit proved a great success for all involved nevertheless.

The K2000 engine, in 220bhp form for this event, ran faultlessly throughout. Both drivers expressed their delight with the performance, in particular the spread of torque and resultant driveability compared to the 1.8 engines that they normally use. With a rev limit of 7000rpm, the team had to find the longest gearing they could to cope with the extra power of K2000 and the long straights at Thruxton, and a top speed of over 140mph was the result.

The first batch of engines is now being manufacturered and will no doubt be of interest to any cars running K series units currently... 

[Swilly]

Don't Lotus Elises run the K series engine.

[PetrolTed]

I may be putting 2+2 together and getting five, but Lotus have been adamant that UK Elises will continue with the K series engine. This would give them that option without short-changing Elise owners on power.

Then again, why did they bung the Toyota motor in the Exige if they were considering this?

[Alien]

As I understood it, the only reason the Toyota engine was selected for the US market was that the K-series couldn't meet emissions.

>> Edited by Alien on Tuesday 30th September 15:21

[xsaravtr]

MMmm... Maybe Lotus might use this engine for the model that is supposed to slot in between the Elise and the Esprit replacement...

If not, this should definately find its way into the Elise... IMHO

[johnnystorm]

Is not so much that the K-series can't be made 'clean' enough for the USA more that the paperwork and test costs for getting the approval wouldn't be justified by the small sales, hence go for a pre tested engine? Or I could be talking rubbish.... I wonder whether this new one looks identical and could be installed without anyone noticing

[jeremyc]

Swilly said:

Don't Lotus Elises run the K series engine.

As do Caterhams...

[GregE240]

PetrolTed said:

I may be putting 2+2 together and getting five, but Lotus have been adamant that UK Elises will continue with the K series engine. This would give them that option without short-changing Elise owners on power. Then again, why did they bung the Toyota motor in the Exige if they were considering this?

I'd reckon contractual obligation?

[cacatous]

Any chance of getting some more info for this Ted?

Like are they going to make it available to buy in crate form?

[bertie]

If you notice in the picture, it's running on Caterham roller throttle bodies as used on the R400 and R500.

In fact the Caterham R500 is 230bhp, so they are and have been available for a while from Minister Power who make the engines for Caterham.

Bear in mind however that the R500 engine neds a £2,000 refresh every 5000 miles!!!

[jeremyc]

bertie said:

If you notice in the picture, it's running on Caterham roller throttle bodies as used on the R400 and R500. In fact the Caterham R500 is 230bhp, so they are and have been available for a while from Minister Power who make the engines for Caterham. Bear in mind however that the R500 engine neds a £2,000 refresh every 5000 miles!!!

But the R500 is a 1.8 K Series I thought. This one ought to be a little less stressed with 220bhp from 2 litres.

[squirrelz]

I thought the K-series couldn't be stretched to 2000cc. Even the 1.8 version has to have hardened cylinder liners to enable the bore enlargement.

Anyone know if they're going to use this for the mooted "extreme" ZR?

[IanL]

Thought this link might be of interest.
www.engdev.com/k2000.htm

[bosshog]

This is good news. The day Lotus put out at standard NA 220 bhp K in the standard Elise will be the day that I buy one again. Until that day I shall wait until they catch the rest of the market up with power....

[Fatboy]

GregE240 said:

PetrolTed said: I may be putting 2+2 together and getting five, but Lotus have been adamant that UK Elises will continue with the K series engine. This would give them that option without short-changing Elise owners on power. Then again, why did they bung the Toyota motor in the Exige if they were considering this? I'd reckon contractual obligation?

It's just federalization as has been said - too expensive to federalize the K series just for the elise, so cheaper to bung the already federalised toyota lump in, even if it is heavier

[B10]

I thought that the LR Freelander uses the K series 1.8 and the Freelander is exported to the US - or is it only in KV6 form?? The 2 litre version must be quite different from the 1.8, since 1.8 was pushing the boundaries.

[squirrelz]

Checked the US Landrover website and the Freelander is KV6 only in the states.

[St3veM]

The part which most people seem to be overlooking is the fact that MGR are developing again. Its well known that they were left in a state after the departure of BMW, but considering they dont have massive R&D budgets like most other mass manufacturers have, they they are doing well. I would like to see this engine go into some of the more extreme MG Z range, as I think this could be what MGR Needs to bring them back onto a level playing field with some of the big boys.

Steve

[cacatous]

Welcome to Pistonheads Steve!

[MoJocvh]

nice engine.....nice pictures..........where's the airbox and filters children?? MoJo.