S3 Elise unveiling in March?

[vx220]

Right am with you now, didnt know bhp is torque x revs, you learn something new everyday

But thinking about it, what is the equation to work bhp out, as say engine X has 100lb/ft torque, 150bhp but revs to 8000revs, how does the equation work?

[Shug]

Horsepower is simply a calculation - torque is measured and Horsepower calculated from that. So it's easy to see when Dyno guys are trying to BS you, as the torque curve and horsepower curve will always cross at 5252 RPM

HP = rpm x T(torque)
---------------------------
5252(constant)

[BiggestNizzy]

The bhp figure will be at a specific RPM

i.e 150hmp @7500 rpm

[Rich H]

It also explains why bike engined cars have to be very light, you don't have the grunt to get you off the line.

HP means nothing in isolation - traction engine has maybe 8 hp at 300 rpm but a rediculous amount of torque

[max1966]

By way of comparison I have had a chance to look at the engine spec for the current 111R.

Alfa Multiair 1.4 120BHP- 206Nm ~ 152lb-ft @ 1750 rpm
Alfa Multiair 1.4 155BHP- 230Nm ~ 170lb-ft @ 3000 rpm
Lotus 111R 1.8 189BHP- 181Nm ~ 133lb-ft @ 6800 rpm
Lotus SC 1.8 217BHP- 212Nm ~ 156lb-ft @ 5000 rpm

I'm sure someone more knowledgeable can explain which works best.

[Rich H]

Is the multi air a diesel?

If so the trouble is always rev-limits. It will accel quicker but need more gear changes.

[BiggestNizzy]

Petrol

It has variable timing and is turbocharged

edit you get both

[Corranga]

Is the Alfa Multiair the engine in the Mito then?

Is it the same as the Abarth 500 or am I way off the mark?

[Dominic]

[max1966]

Yes it is in the Mito and one of the Punto's and soon the new Giuletta.

Tech info infers a free revving engine and I think I remember a lower rev threshold being mentioned, it does however explain how a more modern perceptibly low powered engine can be made to work.

Ignore the figures above as they appear to be for the current 1.4 TB engine, can't find details of the newer engine but as it is supposed to improve on these numbers would bode well for Multiair.

Given the figures and presumably the lighter weight of a smaller capacity unit, I'm sure a 135bhp S3 unit with low down grunt would tick plenty boxes.

Dull but 'true'

[Gareth]

Nothing wrong with 130-140bhp in an Elise....I've been having a hoot in mine this week but then it is one of the early S1s so nice and light
No airbags, ABS or insulation to weigh it down.

[Edin430]

Sorry , I should have thought more clearly when I worded that.. I should have said a high mileage old example for 6k.

I have seen a number of Elise S1's go for between 6k and 7k over the last year or two on PH and Ebay. S1's are sitting between £8k and £10k for a normal example these days. I think we are years away before S2 prices get as low as £6k, but I could be wrong. Both S1's and S2's seem to be going up in price if anything!

Didn't mean to twist the knickers of the S1 owners

[DDtB]

Sorry , I should have thought more clearly when I worded that.. I should have said a high mileage old example for 6k.

I have seen a number of Elise S1's go for between 6k and 7k over the last year or two on PH and Ebay. S1's are sitting between £8k and £10k for a normal example these days. I think we are years away before S2 prices get as low as £6k, but I could be wrong. Both S1's and S2's seem to be going up in price if anything!

Didn't mean to twist the knickers of the S1 owners

You're forgiven! Now don't let it happen again!!

[smee]

I've given the carbon thing some more thought. Currently if you punt your elise into the tyre barrier and crack the clam it's not cheap, however how much more would a carbon fibre clam set you back and are they as repariable?

[BiggestNizzy]

How much lighter is carbon fibre than glass fibre ? the body is non structural so doesn't have to be strong, they know glass fibre and I will bet you a pound to a penny that it will be glass fibre.

although they could make it from boron whiskers*

It will be more of the same, probably using VVA rather than a modified elise tub, following along from the evora styling whise but probably more stubby, price £22k for the base model but you will be able to spec up the trim etc etc.

I like the idea of small engines, although they will have to have similar performance figures to tempt current elise owners



*stronger and so expensive the F1 guys stay away