Comments on: Lotus Evora SC and more on the way

By: exigepower

exigepower — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 14:10:40 +0000

Shock Horror a Lotus weighing 1350KG might as well buy a Nissin 370Z, thats like an Exige with 20x bags of cement in the boot..

Sorry Colin they have Americanize your name

By: Simon

Simon — Mon, 12 Jan 2009 00:03:46 +0000

And if they did that, would you look to buy a toyota?
I’m not sure you would. Toyota aren’t after the “performance car crowd”. I think they realised that it didn’t work with TRD. They want market share which means appealing to the broadest possible market. I think they will try to achieve performance sales through the lexus brand.
I fully get why you don’t like them, but the people who buy them are looking through different eyes. If I was after performance, one of the last places I’d look would be toyota.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 09:39:26 +0000

Simon – I know that they are a relatively reliable engine with a lot of potential..
Which is why I asked why don’t Toyota sell a car with a similar engine that produces as much power as what Lotus get out of it.
They sell the Blade in Japan so why not export it to other markets where ricers are becoming more popular such as Australia..
It would definitely help change their image of building bland and boring cars..
Lotus could do the engineering work for em [bolt on the supercharger] and Toyota simply drop it into their cars

By: Simon

Simon — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 04:03:21 +0000

Wheelnut, did you ever wonder why lotus opted to use toyota engines in the first place? I agree most toyotas look bland but it seems conservative styling sells and that means more $$$ for the big T.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 23:10:15 +0000

Well maybe if Toyota decided to start selling their pocket rockets which at the moment they’re only selling in Japan – it would change their image of bland and boring cars.

There is really nothing stopping Toyota from importing them right now – they just have to be “endorsed” by the factory and meet the Australian Design Regulations like every other imported car from Nissan Subaru Mitsubishi etc

By: RoFlmaTiC

RoFlmaTiC — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:30:49 +0000

In Japan they have the Toyota Blade Master G which is basically a corolla with this engine.

Maybe in a few years with the importing rules these cars will start trickling into Australia

By: RoFlmaTiC

RoFlmaTiC — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 15:28:58 +0000

Toyota obviously considers 200kw to be enough for their cars.

At the moment it still beats the competition on paper so I guess they are leaving themselves some room for improvement for the future?

Tuning the engine for less power than it is capable of would also enhance the longevity of the engine… but lets not get started with the reliability debates hah.

By: Wheelnut

Wheelnut — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 04:30:06 +0000

Roflmatic – I wasn’t being negative towards Toyota at all

The fact that Lotus can get so much power out of a Toyota Engine clearly shows the potential of their engines.

However; I don’t/can’t understand why Toyota don’t/can’t do the same thing – particularly when you consider the amoutn of money/resources Toyota have comapred to Lotus.. That is all

I mean A Corolla with an “enhanced” engine – like the ones in the Lotus would make their cars more attractive to car enthusiasts and could become a worthy contender to take on the king of hot hatches the Golf GTi…add AWD and it could take on an Impreza

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:37:12 +0000

Yeah, that engine is a ripper. So smooth and loves to revv. Pity Toyota dont release an AWD corolla with it wedged in.

By: Jonathan

Jonathan — Sat, 10 Jan 2009 01:27:30 +0000

lotus once did use rover engines to power their elises. something must have caused the change to toyota engines. probably due to emissions standards or something along those lines.