Topic: Lotus makes a profit!

[Turbo Bob]

Innovate or die, well done guys!

http://www.pistonheads.com/lotus/default.asp?storyId=18959

 

[rrocket]

Lotus ever going to make their own engines?  Is that in their future plans?

[Turbo Bob]

Lotus ever going to make their own engines?  Is that in their future plans?

No, that's a surefire recipe for disaster.  Chassis engineering and handling is where their expertise lies, they build their light little cars on the side, and charge other companies a fortune for consultancy...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fT8EqIQwgf8
 

If BMW and Toyota and whoever else they have in mind can supply engines and gearboxes then let them.

[rrocket]

So the don't have the engineering skill to do an engine??  Or is it a cost thing?

While that little Toyota engine is OK, it's nothing spectacular....



(Answer your PM by the way..   )

[Wolfe]

I'm sure Lotus could pull together the engineering talent to build an engine from scratch if they don't already have that ability. However, they wouldn't have anything close to the minimum production volume to make designing their own engine remotely economical.

Even BMW have partnered with other carmakers in developing the 4 cylinder engines that they've used in the Mini and Mini sales must be several orders of magnitude larger than Lotus cars.


Good to see that they're making money.

[tpl]

You can make prototype cars and small production ( Morgan) almost with hand tools and a welder. Even the parts usually forged  can be made by hand.

Conventional Engines and transmissions  require a whole slew of expensive stuff to make .   The capability to cast engine blocks , forge crankshafts , machine  stuff like crank shafts and so on accurately doesn't come cheap.

There are good engines in many many sizes available to buy.

[TopGun]

I've always thought Honda a better match for Lotus...maybe it goes back to the days of Senna driving a Honda powered Lotus.

[rrocket]

I've always thought Honda a better match for Lotus...maybe it goes back to the days of Senna driving a Honda powered Lotus.

Maybe.  But Toyota (through TRD) had already fitted that engine with a supercharger before Lotus ever needed the extra power.  So the Honda may not have worked as well....

[Turbo Bob]

So the don't have the engineering skill to do an engine??  Or is it a cost thing?

While that little Toyota engine is OK, it's nothing spectacular....

They could easily build their own engine, it's just not a strategic fit at the moment, and would make the cars too expensive and unreliable in the short to medium term.  When you say the engine is not spectacular, in supercharged form it has good torque, great power and is ridiculously reliable, what more could you want..?

In a lightweight car it's not about having the most powerful engine, I kept mine at between 6K & 9K rpm for two years doing 80+ miles every day, and it never used a drop of oil, they made the right choice.

TG a lot of people retrofit Honda's, especially in the mk1 Exige, they can do 250-300bhp OK which is awesome (although scary) in a little car like that!

Mike K has done a great job at the helm, keeping the innovation going, modernising, and energising the consulting arm.  With small volume manufacturing there are so many things that can work against you, especially if you make the wrong strategic decisions. Well done that man.

[safristi]

"Lotus makes a PROFIT" as opposed to GM...trying to be ALL things to ALL people......too many cooks in Detroit.....................man that City is in a mess.....even before this financial fiasco....Mayor goin' to tha PEN......Gov goin' to the Beggin' BOWL in Washington......wotta fackin' shame.......cos folks at the TOP were crooks and eedjits...................