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Lotus to build its own engines

Lotus will be build its own engines for its range of upcoming models. This is due to the development of the Lotus Elan being pushed back, which isn't expected to hit the market until 2016 now.


With a bit more freedom to spend money, the company will reportedly develop a new V6 and V8 engine. Lotus CEO, Dany Bahar, recently spoke with Autocar in the UK about the company's plans and the room to design new engines.

"This is a big [financial] hit because it’s expensive to do ?an engine. But ?because the Elan is not happening now we have got capital expenditure headroom ?for engine development."

It's thought the V8 engine will produce upwards of 400kW of power and possibly be the basis for an upcoming four-cylinder engine which could be used in the 2015 Lotus Elise. However, if the four-cylinder project does not work, the company will continue to rely on a Toyota unit for that model.

The move to build its own engines has been helped by a recent internet survey which asked consumers if Lotus should continue to use Toyota engines, or if it should develop its own range. Up to 10,000 users apparently persuaded the company to go its own way.

The new models, namely the Lotus Elite, Esprit and four-door Eterne, will share up to 50 percent of their components, and all of them will be built on a platform made entirely of aluminium. The future of lightweight Lotus sports cars looks promising.

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