Swapping Spirits: Audi V8-powered Lotus Esprit
Click above to watch the video
Some people just can't be satisfied. As if the Lotus Esprit weren't still one of the hottest-handling cars on the market, back in 1996 the British sportscar firm updated the iconic Bondmobile with an all-new 3.5-liter twin-turbo V8 to give it more of a fighting chance of showing up cars like the Ferrari 355 and Porsche 911 Turbo. Not enough for one enthusiast on the Motorgeek.com forum going by the name of "hilly", who apparently just wasn't satisfied with the engine in his '81 Esprit S3. So he yanked it out and painstakingly swapped in the all-aluminum 4.2-liter V8 from the Audi A8. Although the Esprit's engine bay could accommodate the engine, turning it around and squeezing it in there was no mean feat, requiring the project's undertaker to custom fabricate a slew of parts himself. Follow the link to the forum where hilly describes the process with pictures, or follow the jump to watch the Audi-powered Lotus disappear fast into the horizon.
[Source: Motorgeek.com via CarScoop]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
NYChic 8:36AM (4/10/2008)
That really doesn't look too bad. Would be fun to own this one.
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David Ederer 8:40AM (4/10/2008)
That looks and sounds very nice. I always liked Lotus cars.
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Andrew 9:52AM (4/10/2008)
Just a little nitpicking - but it doesn't actually "sound" like a Lotus now, does it? ;)
NYChic 8:45AM (4/10/2008)
After looking at the link to the page(s) of the build process, you can tell that the engine transplant was well executed, and not just a weekend hack job. Very well done.
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John R 9:13AM (4/10/2008)
Inspired. I want to see a DeLorean with an LS7. If its been done, please hit me with a link.
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Rob 10:09AM (4/10/2008)
You guys make it sound like he yanked out the V8 which isn't the case since the S3 had the 4-cylinder. I'm sure you know the Esprit didn't get the V8 until '96. He took out the wheezing 4-cylinder to put the engine that was supposed to be in there all along. Although, I'd rather have a twin turbo v8, the audi v8's sound incredible.
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Craig 10:57AM (4/10/2008)
Needs those old school lace patterned rims.
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HeyHuub 11:04AM (4/10/2008)
Sounds excellent.
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Robert van Gool 1:00PM (4/10/2008)
very interesting in cool what someone can do with mechanical & electronic smarts and knows his way around a machine shop.
Check out what we're doing with the Elise/ Exige here in the US. We've taken an OEM approach in that we've developed our project for series production and using the Ecotec 2.0 supercharged
www.secantvehicles.com
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DanMan 7:00PM (4/10/2008)
Somebody built a Pontiac Fiero with a Northstar V8 under the cowl and a air induction scoop over the roof. This car makes me think of that although the Lotus probably handles a hell of a lot better. Hot Rod magazine called the modified Fiero "a skateboard with a 20hp go-engine." What would that make the Lotus/Audi? A skateboard with a V8?
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DanMan 7:00PM (4/10/2008)
here's some links to V8 Fiero's
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/520005
http://www.cardomain.com/ride/758704
http://www.design1systems.com/download/nrthstar.pdf
Might be a little more affordable for us yanks.
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