An early Elan (I think- It might be an éclair or some other e thing) with RX8 suspension onto a tube frame replacement of the sheet metal frame/spine, powered by the Renesis. He is well budgeted, retired, and an engineer, so it won't be a hack...or will it?
I have no pictures yet.
Discuss...
Betcha it comes in heavier than the original.
I want it! In my opinion the main thing the RX8 lacks is lightness. Much heavier than it should be, but still handles great. Just imagine what some lightness would do.
Similar has been done with Zetec's into custom Elan frames...So why not RX8?
Unless they're reusing the stock subframe and control arms, the heavier bits relating to the RX8 components would mostly be beneficial to the additional power, braking, and grip. For those types of components, I'd generally rather have them be a bit overbuilt than a bit underbuilt.
Driven5 wrote: For those types of components, I'd generally rather have them be a bit overbuilt than a bit underbuilt.
You're not really a vintage Lotus person, then... 
Stampie wrote: Betcha it comes in heavier than the original.
Ya think?
You mean one of these?
Weight difference is 500 lbs less than RX8. But I suspect a lot if that is body and comfort stuff that is going in the dumpster, so maybe not too far apart.
Total width, the RX8 is actually narrower than the lotus, so the suspension should fit under the shell.
I could not live with a rotary in a Lotus.
We need pictures.
In reply to NOHOME:
That's hot! 
NOHOME wrote: You mean one of these?
Not one of those- I think its like the one Tim is building in Classic.
I'm not really embarrassed to admit I know very little about early Loti...
In reply to NOHOME:
That's not an Elan. That's an Eclat.
The Elan is a small RWD roadster, like what the Miata was trying to be:
There's also a cool mid-engined Lotus with a similar front end, but a huge boxy rear. That was the Europa.
A 20B swapped Europa has been done: Speed Hunters article
Was trying to be Yeah, it really missed the small RWD roadster mark...
I want to put a V10 from an Audi A5 in a Europa. How hard can it be? There's no car to get in the way, they're basically a hollow fiberglass shell.
Keith Tanner wrote: Was trying to be
Don't read into my statement too closely! I meant from a styling perspective. If you were going to pick one British roadster that most clearly influenced the lines of the 1st gen MX-5, it would have to be the Elan wouldn't it?
It's got popup headlights and an oval radiator air intake. I personally don't see a lot in common with the styling other than those broad strokes, but people have been saying it looks like an Elan since 1989 so who am I to disagree?
Keith Tanner wrote: Was trying to be
Do you mean R8 instead of A5? AFAIK the V10 only went in that and the C6 S6/RS6 and S8.
My bad, I meant the S6.
Dr. Hess wrote: In reply to NOHOME: That's not an Elan. That's an Eclat.
I realize that. but he said "Eclair" and I was guessing he was not cutting up an Elan. RX8 suspension will be way too wide for an Elan.
Keith Tanner wrote: I want to put a V10 from an Audi A5 in a Europa. How hard can it be? There's no car to get in the way, they're basically a hollow fiberglass shell.
Not sure what the dimensions are of the V10 and trans, but you'd likely need to add about 6" to the back of the car. Hell a Zetec swap usually requires a bump in the firewall for clearance.
Yeah, because having to add 6" to the back of the car is going to be my biggest problem
Keith Tanner wrote: I personally don't see a lot in common with the styling
I dunno. No car from the '90s is going to look the same as one from the '60s. But these are about as close as you're going to get to cars separated by 30 years.
I know, people have been telling me it's an Elan copy for 25 years. Maybe in another 25 years I'll believe it. I think it's more a case of convergent evolution.
I remember when the Viper originally came out someone said it looked like what people remember the 427 Cobra looking like, even though they're very different. I think the same thing applies to the Miata & Elan.
Keith Tanner wrote: It's got popup headlights and an oval radiator air intake. I personally don't see a lot in common with the styling other than those broad strokes, but people have been saying it looks like an Elan since 1989 so who am I to disagree?
I thought the original Miata design team used the Elan as their main inspiration.
Keith Tanner wrote: I personally don't see a lot in common with the styling other than those broad strokes, but people have been saying it looks like an Elan since 1989 so who am I to disagree?
The key word is influenced - it doesn't necessarily look like the Elan, but it was supposed to be in the spirit and feel of it, while taking modern requirements into account.
T.J. wrote: I thought the original Miata design team used the Elan as their main inspiration.
I know that Bob Hall used the program as an excuse to buy an Elan, but it got shipped off to Japan on him But I've never had anyone involved tell me that the Elan was any more inspiration than the Fiat Spider or the MGB or any number of small roadsters.
Basically, if you want it to look like an Elan, you can make the case to satisfy yourself. If you think it's similar in that it's a rounded off roadster - like any number of little rounded roadsters - then awesome. Personally, I think it's far closer to the MGB in many ways than the Elan. But hey, if you'd rather it's a Lotus than an MG, then that's the wonderful thing about opinions.
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