Archived posting to the Leica Users Group, 2009/07/12
[Author Prev] [Author Next] [Thread Prev] [Thread Next] [Author Index] [Topic Index] [Home] [Search]Hi Dennis, your comments about the Europa are spot on, though the Renault engined original was not -that- bad! The Renault engine/transmission needed minimal mods to fit so was a really economical solution to the mid-engined sportscar. The Lotus twin-cam engine, which actually has 3 camshafts, was based on a modified Ford block but with a lot of low volume expensive modifications so was quite a lot more expensive for the performance increment. Super car though. Personally I favour the front engine rear gearbox for a road car. Yesterday I was at an ex Lotus/Williams colleagues wedding in Norfolk. One of the other guests was my old pal Mike Kimberley who is, again, boss of Lotus Cars. The wedding was only about 3 miles from the Lotus factory so he arranged for the new Lotus Evora to be brought over for us to look at. Really nice! Comfortable and roomy too. I had been toasting with champagne so will have to wait for a test drive! It is a mid engined 2x2 seater, toddlers only in the back! cheers, Frank --- On Sat, 11/7/09, Dennis <dennis at hale-pohaku.net> wrote: > From: Dennis <dennis at hale-pohaku.net> > Subject: Re: [Leica] speaking of cars violently OT > To: "Leica Users Group" <lug at leica-users.org> > Date: Saturday, 11 July, 2009, 9:09 AM > You should have driven the Europa > Special. Lotus addressed the anemic Renault engine by > putting in the Lotus engine used in the Elan. The Europa > Special had the "Big Valve" engine rated at 126 HP. > > In the US, at least, it used the Stromberg carbs that Frank > mentioned. > > The Renault engine was used for some tax or common market > reason to allow Lotus to sell a car on the continent at a > better price. > > Dennis > > > Jerry Lehrer wrote: > > Dennis und Frank > > > > The original Europa mit Renault engine was a > dog!???But the original Elite, if it had > modern brakes would really be > > a windy road car.? The Elan S2 when de-bugged is > a superb handling car. > > > > Yes, I've used them all > > > > Jerry Lehrer > > > > > > Dennis wrote: > >> Hi Frank, > >> > >> I wondered your thoughts on Lotus' road cars. > I? had a Europa Special and it is a marvel. Very light, > incredible suspension, and so responsive. I thought Colin > Chapman brilliant and was stunned at his premature passing. > >> > >> I could never afford one of todays 'supercars' but > if I could I would likely own a Lotus and use some of that > "leftover" money for a worthy cause. > >> > >> I agree the Veyron is an ugly piece ;-) > >> > >> But, Lotus aside, what do? you make of the > Ariel Atom? > >> > >> Dennis > >> > >> > >> Frank Dernie wrote: > >>> Pagani Zonda. > >>> For "frequent" use Ferrari 599. > >>> For daily use Porsche 911 turbo. > >>> For pure driving Lotus anything. > >>> > >>> There are lots of cars about which have fancy > styling and are "2 seat limos" with loads of kit, weight and > electronic driving aids to make them easy to drive for less > good drivers. > >>> These are great pose-mobiles and practical for > a rich person of limited talent to show-off in. > >>> > >>> I may have left some out, I am neither wealthy > enough nor interested enough to study in detail. Weight is > the most important chassis parameter for performance. Road > cars are to a great extent a fashion item and image > statement. Published stuff tends to be acceleration and top > speed. It is possible to get impressive figures for these > without much chassis sophistication at all. Since weight is > currently not something fashionable to minimise "supercars" > are now as heavy as trucks, hence no longer supercars IMO. > This Bugatti thing weighs the same as 2 Ford GT40s! > >>> > >>> To put perspective on this, +10kg on a F1 car > loses over 0.3 secs per lap. > >>> > >>> Frank > >> > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Leica Users Group. > > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more > information > > > > _______________________________________________ > Leica Users Group. > See http://leica-users.org/mailman/listinfo/lug for more > information >