Lotus Elise with VW 1.8T Engine

[Sharkie]

any vw options? a mk1 with a 1.8T?

No, tried a Mk1 turbo before. It was to be polite .... a handful .... making too much power with massive torque steer and a big turbo rush at 3500rpm made it really difficult to track. After a few track sessions, I gave up and optimised it for drags. (Less power would have helped on the track)

For a track car that can run on the road I want rear wheel drive and a chassis that's great to start with (VW simply does not have anything suitable). Taking it further from there is then the challenge.

An Audi with mechanical quattro may be an option, but I'd like something that weighs as little as possible.

So, the Lotus ... light weight ... check, great std chassis...check, enough power.... can be done.....

[OilBurna]

this looks tasty..

http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=12700

or this trubo + rwd and already has a cage



or check this silvia out 12k landed

http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=10175

Apexi PowerFC computer
PowerFC hand controller
Trust Profec boost controller
Blitz K3450R turbo
Adjustable suspension
Aftermarket clutch
Aftermarket injectors
Nismo LSD
Drivers bucket seat
Momo steering wheel
Other aftermarket parts

or silvia with GTR engine

http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=9742

[Jarred]

The only problem is that the silvia (for example) can't be registered. which is a bit of a bummer, + you also need a level 3 CAMS license.

What fun is a nuts race car if you can scare the sh*t outta people on the street?

[VW GTI]

Can't believe you suggesting getting a bogan jap car over an Elise.

Elise/Exige

































Any Nissan.

[tinto]

I'm toying with the idea of getting a Lotus Elise (2002) as a track day car.

Since I want decent power, I'm thinking of fitting a VW 1.8T engine to it and upping its output to around 260kw......

Anybody have any ideas as to the workability of this ?

Hey Sharkie, PM me your email address and I'll email you the zip of snapshots I just took of the article. It was in Performance Tuner Jan 2008.
Hopefully they're not too blurry
Unfortunately not the current shape Elise either - they mention the K-series beforehand.

Cheers,
Martin

[ibeezer]

Mazda MX5 could be a cheaper project to an elise. Probably enough space for a 1.8t with a little persuasion

[morgs]

Cheap Imported Nissan skyline GTR. In a league of their own. Great bang for your buck. Sorry purists.
Logical step up from the WRX with better reliability.
Morgs

[Golf Houso]

this looks tasty..

http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=9742

That whole site is giving me very... very bad thoughts

Does anyone want to pitch in: http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=12358 ?

[OilBurna]

this could be a good start in the same family heheheh

http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=13087

or this is pretty wild... love the orange.

http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=13071

[Seano]

I suspect that this might be more our style......well....mine anyway

http://www.j-spec.com.au/list/index.php?ID=11476

[gldgti]

what about a beemer?

theres no chassis around like an e30 for sheer driveability and looks in one package (i think) in rwd.

plus you can pick up and e30 M3 for your money, with change.

light, rwd, drivers car with looks and parts available, much better engines than anything standard in a lotus.

sure your lotus will handle more nicely.... but zee germans know how to make an engine better than anyone else - especially the british.

dont even talk to me about nissans....

[ScienceVR6]

what about a beemer?

theres no chassis around like an e30 for sheer driveability and looks in one package (i think) in rwd.

plus you can pick up and e30 M3 for your money, with change.

light, rwd, drivers car with looks and parts available, much better engines than anything standard in a lotus.

sure your lotus will handle more nicely.... but zee germans know how to make an engine better than anyone else - especially the british.

dont even talk to me about nissans....

Have a look at Eurocca.net. Ther are a few interesting E30 based projects on the go, including track cars with LS1 V8 and 6 speed, Toyota quad cam V8, and SR20DET motors.

If you still want the mid engine coupe, what about a Toyota MR2?

[leo46]

I had a widebody silvia with a BALListic RB in it went well had custom tein racing coilovers thatd be my best bet or just get a cheap r32 GTR i know a guy with a space frame one!

[audineil]

Hello,
My name is Neil Trama (Neil Trama Engineering). I am a race engine builder and race engineer and a very long term (32 years) watercooled VW enthusiast.

Most of my work these days is on Lotus cars, so I feel I am qualified to offer the opinion that the Audi/VW powerplant idea is far from the best solution for serious Lotus performance, from a cost and weight viewpoint.

The best solution is to buy a 2ZZ-GE powered Elise 111R or Series 2 Exige. The best value for money is a N/A version then to supercharge or turbocharge it.

As an example. To convert a S1 Elise to Honda power, this being a well established conversion with "off the shelf" parts, will cost you $22000 for the N/A version on top of the car purchase. It follows that to custom fit an Audi/VW power unit is likely to cost near double that because of the need to design/fabricate components. Anyone who suggests less can't have seriously thought it through.

On the other hand we have now developed supercaharged 2ZZ-GE engines with over 370 BHP and turbo engines with over 500 BHP. As an example Mark O'Connor's Exige won the last round of the 2009 Dutton Rally Series outright having won the 800m sprint beating the next fastest car (A GT2 Porsche) by 0.7 seconds and the R35 Nissan GTR by 1.5 seconds.

Neil

[Timbo]

Re: Lotus Elise with VW 1.8T Engine

^^^ This man speaks truth. Listen to him