| oldraven |
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/15/...ils-on-the-2-2/
CAR has supposedly scored the first (and only) picture of the Lotus Eagle ahead of its unveiling at the London Motor Show next week. A 3.5-liter Toyota V6 mounted amidships, producing 276 hp and 250 lb.-ft. of torque will power the new 2+2. Performance estimates are sketchy right now, but assuming Lotus holds with tradition and keeps the pounds off, the 0-60 time should be below five seconds, with a top speed approaching 160 mph.
While it's still not clear if the new Lotus will carry an Eagle badge at its debut, it will be packing an extra set of "Isofix" seats behind the front seat passengers that can accommodate children up to nine years old or cast members from the Cirque du Soleil. Thankfully, there will be an option to convert the rear seats into a storage compartment.
Inside the leather-lined cabin, drivers get to enjoy amenities previously thought frivolous on the Elise/Exige, including storage bins, cup holders, blue LED lighting, air conditioning, traction control, tire pressure monitoring and a Alpine stereo with a seven-inch screen, Bluetooth connectivity and iPod connections.
Sales will be limited to around 2000 units per year when the Eagle hits dealers in the spring of 2009, with an approximate sticker of £45,000. A convertible version and a high-performance variant are also planned, and according to sources, the Eagle is considerably faster than the Elise around the Nurburgring and more planted at speed than the Exige.
Mike Kimberly, Lotus' CEO, told CAR that the Eagle is part of the automaker's effort to broaden its appeal, and that will also include two new models due out in October of 2011.
Damn, this thing is awesome to look at, and we all know it will be the best thing on four wheels. Can you get ANY other V6 in there, though? People would kill for a VQ powered version, I'd bet.
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| SilverE90 |
| I agree the car looks hot and will no doubt drive amazing, but if I was buying a car like that I wouldn't want to have the same engine in it as a Toyota minivan. :thumbdown |
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| Sport ///Mode |
quote:
Originally posted by oldraven
[url] Can you get ANY other V6 in there, though? People would kill for a VQ powered version, I'd bet.
I'd rather have the Toyota 3.5 V6 in there over the VQ 3.5 anyday. I've owned vehicles with both and I believe the Toyota engine is far superior. I don't understand why people call Altima SE-R's, Maxima 3.5's, etc...sleepers when they have so much rated horsepower yet have such slow acceleration compared to Toyota equivalents.
The toyota engines are also smoother, more efficient with better mileage, and more reliable (from my personal experience). |
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| Sport ///Mode |
quote:
Originally posted by SilverE90
I agree the car looks hot and will no doubt drive amazing, but if I was buying a car like that I wouldn't want to have the same engine in it as a Toyota minivan. :thumbdown
Hahaha Funny you should say that, reminds me of this:
http://ca.youtube.com/watch?v=zprbbo5eWCc |
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| GOT SE-R |
quote:
Originally posted by Sport ///Mode
I'd rather have the Toyota 3.5 V6 in there over the VQ 3.5 anyday. I've owned vehicles with both and I believe the Toyota engine is far superior. I don't understand why people call Altima SE-R's, Maxima 3.5's, etc...sleepers when they have so much rated horsepower yet have such slow acceleration compared to Toyota equivalents.
The toyota engines are also smoother, more efficient with better mileage, and more reliable (from my personal experience).
The Lotus is sweet!
They are both great engines, however as much as I love the Altima SE-R. I have to agree They are over rated in my opinion also. I would still take one any day though. lol.
EDIT: Nissan cars are becoming tanks for some reason. Where Toyota is lighter. For example I believe My Sentra is over 400lbs heavier than a Corolla and its 400lbs heavier than the 02-06' Sentra's. SO I don't know why they are making them heavy these days... |
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| xbr50 |
quote:
Originally posted by Sport ///Mode
I'd rather have the Toyota 3.5 V6 in there over the VQ 3.5 anyday. I've owned vehicles with both and I believe the Toyota engine is far superior. I don't understand why people call Altima SE-R's, Maxima 3.5's, etc...sleepers when they have so much rated horsepower yet have such slow acceleration compared to Toyota equivalents.
The toyota engines are also smoother, more efficient with better mileage, and more reliable (from my personal experience).
X2
The VQ.. although a great engine.. I find it's quite the "brute" one. The Toyota 3.5 is VERY smooth like you said.. something you would want in a lotus. |
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| DoubleDown |
Knowing how small this car is likely to be... don't those brakes/wheels look awfully small? I wonder what the real life proportions look like.
Cool car though! Looks like a grown-up version of the Elise :) |
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| Stainless |
| They probably want to keep the wheels small to increase torque to the ground and handling. I don't think that the discerning lotus driver is going to sacrifice either to increase the bling on their ride. |
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| Altezza |
| I like it get pretty much same power same handling but with more creature comforts whats not to love? |
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| oldraven |
I'm just happy to see a new Lotus. They don't come around very often. :) I think the wheels look small because this car is probably a fair bit bigger than the Elise. It is a 2+2.
I find it interesting that Lotus pulled off that rear quarter window-rear window transition line, when it always looked so out of place on the Enzo. |
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| joshturbo |
| wow , looks exotic with cheaper price tag |
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| JustinL |
| Mid engine 2+2... That's a pretty tall order. It will be interesting to see the interior or if they have to put the engine further back. The 911 is a 2+2 and they have to hang the engine off the back of the car. |
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| Therin |
Minivan engine you say? well i've seen so called "truck engines" aka KA24DE's smoke a lot of other "performance engines" with the proper modifcation and tuning.
Do you really think Lotus would put in an engine that would suck? think about it before you make silly statements like that. |
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| SilverE90 |
^ lol there is nothing wrong with the engine and I am not saying it would "suck". But for what will probably be at least an 80 grand car I would want something a little more exotic or at least unique than the same engine that is in millions of minivans and family sedans. Just going with the 306hp 3.5L that Lexus uses would have been better. It just seems that they spend so much money on designing a sick looking car that handles amazing and then they cheap out with a bit too generic of an engine imo.
I did think about my statement and I am truely sorry you find it so silly. lol |
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| Sport ///Mode |
quote:
Originally posted by SilverE90
^ lol there is nothing wrong with the engine and I am not saying it would "suck". But for what will probably be at least an 80 grand car I would want something a little more exotic or at least unique than the same engine that is in millions of minivans and family sedans. Just going with the 306hp 3.5L that Lexus uses would have been better. It just seems that they spend so much money on designing a sick looking car that handles amazing and then they cheap out with a bit too generic of an engine imo.
I did think about my statement and I am truely sorry you find it so silly. lol
The 3.5 Litre V6 in the IS350 IS the same engine as in the Sienna, it's just tuned differently. It's also used in the Rav4, Camry, Avalon, Highlander, as well as the Lexus ES350 and RX350. It's hp rating and torque is tuned for each specific application and mated to several different drivetains.
The nissan VQ is probably the most commonly known engine to start this trend recently because it was used in Altima's to Infiniti M35's.
I'm sure there's a few people who feel like you and are willing to pay extra for an exclusive performance engine. That's where the IS-F, GTR, M3, etc...come into the picture. |
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| AudiInProgress |
quote:
Originally posted by Stainless
They probably want to keep the wheels small to increase torque to the ground and handling. I don't think that the discerning lotus driver is going to sacrifice either to increase the bling on their ride.
You'd be surprised (or maybe not) what people would sacrifice to have "bling" on their rides. |
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| SilverE90 |
quote:
Originally posted by Sport ///Mode
The 3.5 Litre V6 in the IS350 IS the same engine as in the Sienna, it's just tuned differently. It's also used in the Rav4, Camry, Avalon, Highlander, as well as the Lexus ES350 and RX350. It's hp rating and torque is tuned for each specific application and mated to several different drivetains.
The nissan VQ is probably the most commonly known engine to start this trend recently because it was used in Altima's to Infiniti M35's.
I'm sure there's a few people who feel like you and are willing to pay extra for an exclusive performance engine. That's where the IS-F, GTR, M3, etc...come into the picture.
I guess I need to type more detail. lol I know that they pretty much the same engine, I am just trying to say that a car like this at least needs a higher end version of the motor and not the generic version runing on regular gas that Toyota uses in other 'boring' vehicles. The version Lexus uses is at least tuned a bit more agressive and is a bit more unique and fitting for a car like this.
And I wouldn't say Nissan started this trend with the VQ engine, even though they whore it out to pretty much every vehicle they make besides the Sentra. lol GM was doing the same thing years ago with their 3.1 and 3.8L V6 engines. Pretty much every large manufacturer does it. |
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| split |
the 3.5L from the IS350 with direct inject is surprisingly different than the toyota 3.5 from what i've been told by my toyota mechanic friend.
regardless, Lotus is incredibly smart to put this motor in their car. This motor is surprisingly light-weight and now you can use 5w-20 oil in it, and it'll run for 400,000kms and will be reliable and cheap to fix. why would you want to run some sort of unreliable hand-made british motor? in the elise the 2zz-ge worked out great. |
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| split |
quote:
Originally posted by SilverE90
And I wouldn't say Nissan started this trend with the VQ engine, even though they whore it out to pretty much every vehicle they make besides the Sentra. lol GM was doing the same thing years ago with their 3.1 and 3.8L V6 engines. Pretty much every large manufacturer does it.
i'm just waiting for the 2009 Versa SE-R Spec-V to have the VQ! |
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| JustinL |
quote:
Originally posted by SilverE90
I guess I need to type more detail. lol I know that they pretty much the same engine, I am just trying to say that a car like this at least needs a higher end version of the motor and not the generic version runing on regular gas that Toyota uses in other 'boring' vehicles. The version Lexus uses is at least tuned a bit more agressive and is a bit more unique and fitting for a car like this.
The Exige uses the same engine as the corolla and the pontiac vibe. Does this lower your opinion of the Exige? It sure doesn't for me. I couldn't care less where the engine came from, what I care about is it's performance and reliability.
I'd like to think that people who will buy this car aren't buying it for image... but I know I'm wrong :( |
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| oldraven |
I'm sure Lotus will tune the V6 for this application. I can't imagine you'll buy a Lotus with an ECU tune out of a Camry. Speaking of which, isn't this the engine Toyota lost a class action suit over? The engine will no doubt do exactly what Lotus intends. My reasons for not wanting anything with a Toyota badge on it are purely my own. ;) It's a moral thing.
I think the point where a single engine got really whored out was back in the 50's with the GM Small Block (not all VQ's are 3.5L, after all). |
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| kevito_ |
| Ooo... another car to add to the list of possible new rides :D |
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| Silence* |
Officialy Unvield!
http://www.autoblog.com/2008/07/22/...eils-the-evora/
The final choice was Toyota's all-alloy 2GR-FE 3.5-litre V6 DOHC, with dual VVT-i ('intelligent' variable valve timing). Lotus has painstakingly developed its own T6e engine management software for this engine to optimise its compatibility with the unique requirements of the Evora to give a peak power output to 280 PS at 6400 rpm, while boosting its maximum torque to 342 Nm at 4700 rpm (prototype figures).
While for Lotus top speed is of less importance than stability at speed, early indications suggest a maximum speed of 160 mph; the 0-60 mph sprint from standstill is estimated at sub 5 seconds (prototype figures). |
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| Inzane |
quote:
Originally posted by Sport ///Mode
I'd rather have the Toyota 3.5 V6 in there over the VQ 3.5 anyday. I've owned vehicles with both and I believe the Toyota engine is far superior. I don't understand why people call Altima SE-R's, Maxima 3.5's, etc...sleepers when they have so much rated horsepower yet have such slow acceleration compared to Toyota equivalents.
Are you smoking crack?
The Altima 3.5SE w/ MT has a 0-60 of 5.9s. The SE-R w/ MT is ~6.0-6.1s, and the 04-06 (not sure about 07+) Maxima SE was about the same. You call that "slow"? :blink:
And show me evidence of a Camry or Avalon that's faster? I call bullshit. (and I don't think Toyota even offers a manual transmission with the V6 in those cars, but that's another discussion). |
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| Inzane |
quote:
Originally posted by oldraven
[I]CAR has supposedly scored the first (and only) picture of the Lotus Eagle ahead of its unveiling at the London Motor Show next week.
Cool. That is quite possibly the test mule I saw that drove past me while on the grounds of the Lotus Cars factory when I was there for my tour back in March. (I couldn't take pictures though while inside the gate due to their strict camera policy). |
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| Sport ///Mode |
quote:
Originally posted by Inzane
Are you smoking crack?
The Altima 3.5SE w/ MT has a 0-60 of 5.9s. The SE-R w/ MT is ~6.0-6.1s, and the 04-06 (not sure about 07+) Maxima SE was about the same. You call that "slow"? :blink:
And show me evidence of a Camry or Avalon that's faster? I call bullshit. (and I don't think Toyota even offers a manual transmission with the V6 in those cars, but that's another discussion).
Car and Driver.com
Altima 3.5SE coupe 5.8 and 14.5@95mph (Altima sedan and autos are even slower)
Altima SE-R 6.1 and 14.8@97mph
Camry 3.5SE 5.8 and 14.3@99mph with Traction Control on, flat 14's with it off.
That's flat to low 14's vs. mid to high 14's plus the Toyota engine is smoother, has better fuel mileage and uses regular while the Nissan engines require premium.
In direct comparison, the Maxima is slower than the Avalon with the 5speed auto. In 2007, the Avalon received a 6 speed auto making it even faster. Sadly it won't be around next year, would have been nice to see it matched up against the next gen Maxima.
No manual...but who wants a 6speed manual Camry anyways? haha
Even sports cars are no longer being developed with traditional manual transmissions anymore. Look no further than Nissan's new flagship, the GTR.
As I said before, I've owned vehicles with both engines before so brand loyalty and biases aside, I prefer the Toyota product. Plus the TRD supercharger is coming out for the 3.5 soon...full factory warranty and dealership support
:) |
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| tho_chi |
| Lotus makes such sleek looking cars, interior looks very well appointed. |
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| ehos |
| Look an Elise for fat people! |
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| MixManMash |
quote:
Originally posted by SilverE90
But for what will probably be at least an 80 grand car I would want something a little more exotic or at least unique than the same engine that is in millions of minivans and family sedans.
Yeah, but if Lotus spent time developing their own engine, it would probably cost more. Plus, by using a Toyota motor, they could focus on more things like the asthetics, handling, etc which Lotus is famous for. |
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| anschutz_93 |
| /hopes it comes in manumatic |
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| ehos |
quote:
Originally posted by rp_guy
http://jalopnik.com/399075/the-lotu...a-tonand-a-half
Yup, it looked fat. A 3000lb Lotus is sacrilege.
OTOH, I wonder hmm, I wonder if there is a 2200lb car, that has a Toyota engine, and hmm, engineered by Lotus, but not badged as a lotus? Would be a great car don't you think? Toyota doesn't really have a 'sports' car (have they ever had a sports car?), maybe they can you know, come up with a collaboration with Lotus??
Nah, just a weird dream I had. |
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