Quote:
MarekN said:
Heist, I admire the Celica engine because it loves to rev. In a car like the Elise, you wouldn't expect anything else.
But a meekly 280 hp out of 3,5 liters, c'mon. How is a Camry engine going to complement a car like a Lotus. True, I am talking about something I've never driven, but the numbers alone aren't adding up on what is to be the new Lotus car setting the company on a new track.
I reinstate my point about the original 350Z. 3,5 liters, 280 hp and the engine just wouldn't give you a buzz at all. It had the muscle to move the car, but it made you wish that Fiat or Alfa supplied it instead.
Have you ever had a chance to drive a 3,0 or 3,2 V6 Alfa engine? Relatively low on power in comparison to the Nissan I am talking about (230-250 hp), but absolutely uncompromised panache and a vibrant personality. It just transforms the car.
I don't think that just a different chip is going to do wonders with a Camry engine. I mean, a Camry? Jesus, what is the first thing you see when you say that name? I get a retiree home.
They shouldn't even put that in the press release.
Hmmm...I think your opinions are being shaded and influenced by the words "Toyota Camry." You have to seperate the econobox from the engine in your mind and look at it less wholistically.
They said:
" Project Eagle Lotus has modified Toyota's 3.5-litre V6, with dual VVT-i ('intelligent' variable valve timing) for optimum performance."
To me, I read that as we've taken a rock solid reliable mill and changed the timing and cam lobes and made some internal lightening and components changes to make the engine more eager to spin up and push more power.
Of course along with that will come throttle remapping to make it more snappier and crisper on response. And sports car instead of sedan like, close ration gearing will add to the fun factor.
Porsche only gets 295 out of the 3.4L in the Boxster S. Nissan with the last gen VQ in the G35 got 305 out of the 3.5L V6.
So, I would fully expect Lotus to be in the 300hp+ range after their tweaking and exhaust. Hell, we all know - 99% of most production car engines are handicapped by 8%-12% by their manufacturers on purpose for the sake of fuel consumption and reliability. That's why a simple chip and exhaust can sometimes yield 20 hp before even opening the head.
In the end though, no one buys a Lotus for big HP numbers anyway. Lotus are all about slot car handling and feedback.
If they just said 3.0 - 280 hp V6, I'm sure