S1 Esprit front suspension

[DCUK Martin]

So I was in the process of arguing with Bill on the DML and came across this photo of an S1 Esprit's suspension. All I could think was "if I didn't know what car this was..."

So I thought I'd share.

http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_front_suspension_detail.jpg

There're a few other bits that will look familiar on this page...

http://www.lotusespritrestoration.com/2011/09/s1-lotus-esprit-rolling-chassis-is.html

[DMCMW Dave]

So I was in the process of arguing with Bill on the DML and came across this photo of an S1 Esprit's suspension. All I could think was "if I didn't know what car this was..."

So I thought I'd share.


Wow -with the same nasty swaybar bushings too!

[DMCVegas]

I still maintain that the Esprit is a DeLorean knock-off, and not the other way around. Engineering work and money that paid for it went into the DMC-12, and Lotus just gleamed it and applied it to the Esprit. It's been done by them lots of times since where they get contracted for engineering work, and then the just "de-tune" the product and present that to the people that paid them for the work while installing the improved technology onto their own cars as a way to somehow maintain superiority.

The Lotus Elise series 2 platform comes to mind... The Vauxhaull VX220 & Opel Speedster were derivatives of the Lotus Elise and there was some controversy with independent tests showing that the Elise while having everything but the suspension being the same, the Lotus was able to outperform it's cousins on the track. GM it would seem was given different engineering drawings and specs for the exact same car, and they were substandard when compared to Lotus, hence the under-performance.

Now where on earth have I ever heard of Lotus doing engineering work for a car company, and then at the last minute giving them different specs for suspension pieces right before production that adversely affects the handling of the car? Hmm... ಠ_ಠ

[protodelorean]

So I was in the process of arguing with Bill on the DML and came across this photo of an S1 Esprit's suspension. All I could think was "if I didn't know what car this was..."

So I thought I'd share.

http://imagehost.vendio.com/preview/re/rennvendio/lotus_esprit_front_suspension_detail.jpg

There're a few other bits that will look familiar on this page...

http://www.lotusespritrestoration.com/2011/09/s1-lotus-esprit-rolling-chassis-is.html


Does the Lotus have any more than the Delorean in the way of adjustments?

[DCUK Martin]

I still maintain that the Esprit is a DeLorean knock-off, and not the other way around.

But the S1 Esprit was launched in 1975...

[DMCVegas]

But the S1 Esprit was launched in 1975...

Yes it was. But allot of refinement of the chassis and suspension didn't go into it until AFTER the DMC-12 project came to fruition. Namely looking at the chassis development which later cars IMO look closer to the DMC-12 than the S1 or S2. DMC are really the ones who paid for the development costs, and Lotus grafted them over to their cars.

[MartyP]

Is there some Lotus parts that could fit (bolt-on) the Delorean ?

[David T]

The same can be said about the motor Lotus made for the Corvette. They used a lot of the engineering to make their own V-8 for the '97-2004 Esprit. There are few parts that can be used from a Lotus and crossed over to a Delorean. Even the transmission which is VERY similar has a lot of changes to it so as a unit it cannot be "dropped in". Many internal parts ARE the same though. Lotus is VERY adept at taking "stock" parts from other manufacturers and modifying them for use in Lotus cars. Look at the Toyota engine in the Elise/Exige. There is a reason most of the worlds largest auto manufacturers go to Lotus Engineering. They are the best in the world at what they do.
David Teitelbaum

[PlutonimicX]

Remember, Lotus did do the chassis engineering, not DeLorean. They just paid for it. In my opinion I think it would be incorrect to say the Esprit is a DeLorean knock off, when it is their own design work they were using.

[QuadcityDMC]

http://a3.sphotos.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/316378_2167514108934_1279135966_32029356_913452724 _n.jpg