Which cars could be improved with a different engine?

[MagicalTrevor]

I was just thinking, are there any cars that could be improved with a whole different engine? I'm not thinking of putting a V8 in an Elise or anything that crazy but an engine that would compliment the car and possibly improve it.

Physically it should fit (I accept this is a guess) but I'm not interested in whether the exhaust is on the correct side or any details like that.

I reckon that the Renaultsport 2.0 engine from the Clio would be superb in the Elise. It's lightweight, high revving and offers a slight increase in power over most engines fitted as standard.

Any other ideas that you reckon would work?

[AndrewW-G]

There are a few Honda and Audi engined Elises

[davepoth]

That, in pretty much anything really.

[Gingerbread Man]

My birds mk1 MX5 could do with more go. Bit flat in standard guise.

[BAKS42]

A better engine in the Porsche Cayman.... gt3 engine maybe

[MagicalTrevor]

AndrewW-G said:

There are a few Honda and Audi engined Elises

I know, I'm think of other engine conversions in this vein. I assume the Renault 2.0 would require too much other engineering work for it to work and fit but why let such difficulties get in the way of an interesting concept

[kiteless]

I'm thinking the lump from a Ford RS200 into a Mk 1 MX-5

[Red16]

AndrewW-G said:

There are a few Honda and Audi engined Elises

20V turbo Elise is a good combo!

[MagicalTrevor]

BAKS42 said:

A better engine in the Porsche Cayman.... gt3 engine maybe

Great example, I completely agree

[veevee]

Cue everyone suggesting shoehorning a V8 into things which really wouldn't benefit!

[Swoxy]

If the RX-8 had a normal petrol, more enthusiasts would've bought it. If it had a diesel, many, many more fleet users would've bought it.

[MagicalTrevor]

veevee said:

Cue everyone suggesting shoehorning a V8 into things which really wouldn't benefit!

Kinda why I said exactly that in my OP

[Eighteeteewhy]

davepoth said:

That, in pretty much anything really.

Is that the air filter on top or does something go over that? Looks a bit puny.

[Puddenchucker]

I'd like to see the MX-5 with the rotary from the RX-8.

[Herman Toothrot]

2ZZ-GE out of an Elise or Celica T sport in place of the 1ZZ-FE in the MK3 MR2 sorts it out as does a V6 1MZ-FE out of a Camry.

Edited by Herman Toothrot on Sunday 25th March 20:41

[Negative Creep]

Puddenchucker said:

I'd like to see the MX-5 with the rotary from the RX-8.

That was my first thought. Always seemed odd Mazda never offered one from the factory

[StyleTechnik]

Swoxy said:

If the RX-8 had a normal petrol, more enthusiasts would've bought it. If it had a diesel, many, many more fleet users would've bought it.

But then it wouldnt be a R(Rotary)X8

[matc]

Evora and Cayman with decent engines would be absolute game changers IMO.

[otolith]

StyleTechnik said:

Swoxy said:

If the RX-8 had a normal petrol, more enthusiasts would've bought it. If it had a diesel, many, many more fleet users would've bought it.

But then it wouldnt be a R(Rotary)X8

And Mazda sold about three times as many as Nissan sold 350Zs.

I would not have bought an RX-8 if it had been ordinary, which it would have been with a piston engine. It would have been reduced to a wannabe 3-series.

[Addymk2]

otolith said:

And Mazda sold about three times as many as Nissan sold 350Zs.

I would not have bought an RX-8 if it had been ordinary, which it would have been with a piston engine. It would have been reduced to a wannabe 3-series.

Whereas I would of bought an RX8 if it had a decent engine of say 1.5-2.0 with a slug of boost. The looks and chassis are fine, it's just the gutless (in relation to the amount of fuel it burns) rotary lump that ruins the car for me. As economic as a decent V8/Turbo lump without the bhp per pound at the pump to back it up.