Idea: Lotus Elise, VW R32 engine

[Powerslide]

I've been surfing around the net and found that the earliest Lotus Elise S1 prices are not expensive at all. I am seriously thinking of getting one in a bad shape and doing this idea. The VW R32 engine is surprisingly evry smooth and produces over 200hp. The best part is its sound. On an Elise these two mix could bore one very special fun car. Does anyone have any detail information about engine location and mounting of the two cars?

[m3_lover]

I would check out the 2.3 mazda turbo engine, fairly new engine and direct injection too.

[djones]

The R32 engine is quite a poor engine really. It only produces 240 BHP from a 3.2 engine. As a comparison a 10 year old BMW M3 evolution engine produced over 320 BHP from its 3.2.

The sound is nice, but that's not because of the engine, thats down to the trick exhaust system. Its an engineered sound, not the sound of a monster engine!!

[zac510]

Yes, the Mazda KL-V6 might be a better choice.

Or the honda 4 with a supercharger, as used in later Elise

[Ted68]

The Elise's key to it's performance is it's leight weight. If you stick a V6 in there you will gain power but ofset that with extra load. A Honda V-Tec would be a much better swap. All aluminum 4 cyl and a ton of ways make more than 200 hp. Sun International here in California did this swap to certify them for the US market for years. They were even lighter and faster with the Honda and so retained the original cars balance. They have the parts for this swap on the shelf.

[Tom]

Don't but a damaged Elise, look at the front section, its all one peice. A customer of ours had an Elise which got banged slightly and she ended up paying £1000s just to have a small dent in the front out.

[pyry]

The R32 engine is quite a poor engine really. It only produces 240 BHP from a 3.2 engine. As a comparison a 10 year old BMW M3 evolution engine produced over 320 BHP from its 3.2.

The sound is nice, but that's not because of the engine, thats down to the trick exhaust system. Its an engineered sound, not the sound of a monster engine!!

those are two completely different engines, the m3 engine gives a lot of power but only at high revs, has low torque at high rpm and generally isnt a very drivable engine. the 3.2 vag is designed for normal use, has low end torque, and although isnt as horsepowerful, it lasts over 20tkm. you probably havnt driven either engine. if a want a light high revving performance engine, you might want to think about a audi 2.2t 5r.

[Powerslide]

Reasons for VW RS32 engine. Well, first is that the V6 sounds fantastic (hence the naturlly aspirated selection) and it is 3.2 and V6, reasoning here it won't behave as if it is screaming for help like supercharge 4's engine do, if it is screaming i prefer rpm induction scream than engine mechanics scream, it is the only V6 that would tuck into the Elises engine bay nicely without much fuss (suspiciously, thats why i am writing this), it makes 240hp and kits and know to make much more (do a little surfing) and it might add substantial weight but not enough to jeopodise lightweightness because the narrow angle vees compactness is known make it the lightest out there (that is why it does get a bit hot). Put it this way, it would still be the lightest V6 car out there.

Turbo? That would be the last thing I would put in it. Having nothing against turbo's but a Lotus Elise is a precision tool and quality power delivery has to come from a precision tool too Its lightweight makes throttle response and induction music response a key to driving pleasure (drive an Elise and a touch of the throttle gets an immediate reaction).Other V6's are just too wide and eventhough they would go in, too much butchery has to be done. The NSX engine would be perfect but its heavy and also too large.

Brakes might come from the sport 190/Exige (unassisted, fantastic feel) which means $$$$$$$$$$ and the rear spring will have to get new ratings. Wheels (the best part) has to be enlarge and this must be complemented by stronger bushing. Other modification would be to put a small tube, narrow angle 'X' frame on the roof to make the already tough chassis even strronger. I won't mind doing this because I could not care less if it would disturb the open top effect.

If this idea gets the go ahead, and if it does blow my mind (most probably the engine would do much more power), I will actually take full photos and send a memo of the full project to VW and Lotus.



Can the NSX engine go in?

[djones]

"those are two completely different engines, the m3 engine gives a lot of power but only at high revs, has low torque at high rpm and generally isn’t a very drivable engine. the 3.2 vag is designed for normal use, has low end torque, and although isn’t as horsepowerful, it lasts over 20tkm. you probably havnt driven either engine. if a want a light high revving performance engine, you might want to think about a audi 2.2t 5r."

I have actually driven both, have you???

The M3 engine has driveabitly all through the rev range. Yes its ballistic at high revs but it's also very powerful at low revs. If you do not think this is the case then you have never driven one.

I don't know what you mean by 20tkm but I have seen M engines with well over 100,000 miles on them. I would put money on them outlasting a VW engine (a totally over-rated company who’s reliability in independent tests speaks for itself).

Put the same engine in the same car and the VW engine will not win at anything, I would even bet fuel economy.