What does a true car enthusiast dream about? Save enough money and finally buy the car of your dreams? Put the gas pedal to the floor and drive your fastest lap on a race track rented for a couple of hours? Do something very difficult with your own hands and save an old car from being scrapped? For each car owner, the answer to this question will be different, and this is not surprising.
Do you remember how it all started?
The most difficult of all the options available will be building your own designer car. And here we are not talking about simple tuning, but about creating a unique instance. The implementation of such an idea requires a lot of money, time and, most importantly, engineering knowledge. If these three conditions are present, the result can be overwhelming. Proof of all of the above is the redesigned Lotus Elise, which has been seriously worked on by its owner, Frank Profera.
In 2012, this Lotus won the Street Car of the Year award. But at that time, the car looked a little different. This was the first version of a custom street car. The fact is that Frank and his Lotus got into an accident. Fortunately, Frank was not injured, but the modified Elise body was badly dented. It was almost impossible to restore his former beauty. After assessing the amount of work to be done and the cost of costs, Frank and his friend Mike Stafford decided to completely redesign the car and give it a more challenging look. Although, in reality, there was no conceptual vision and detailed plan - everything was invented by Frank literally on the go during the long trips from the house where he lived to Mike's workshop.
Take the second
Construction of the new version of the Elise began with the purchase of a body from a Lotus 2-Eleven. I must say that Frank managed to make something special out of him. He himself believes that the result is a modern Canadian-American car. And it's hard to disagree with this. Friends widened and lengthened the stock 2-Eleven body. In the final stages of the bodywork, Lotus was unrecognizable. New open driver's cab, significantly reduced weight due to the use of carbon fiber: in its new version, the car has become lighter by 204 kg.
In fact, the engine that Frank put in his Lotus is not very powerful. Before the redesign, a turbocharger and a supercharger stood side by side in the engine compartment. However, after the forced modification, only the turbocharger remained from the "former luxury". Frank decided to remove the supercharger and leave only the Precision Turbo 6262 ball bearing turbine. In the gearbox, he put Kaaz gears with similar ratios. The load on the 680-horsepower engine has been reduced. The car has become more maneuverable and the ride is smoother than before.
Fuel injection in the system is carried out in stages. With strong pressurization, an alcoholic mixture is supplied from a separate tank. It serves to increase the octane number of the fuel, which almost instantly reaches 104. This is a very important point, since Lotus was created for urban conditions and for the tracks, and finding fuel to fuel a racing car is not easy at all.
By the way, the rounded body shape isn't just for weight-to-power ratio, this Lotus is equipped with 46mm Nitron racing shocks with Eibach springs, and custom A-arms and bushings are also installed. The 18 x 12.5 inch rims are not fitted with plain tires, but with DOT 345 slick tires that meet modern safety standards. Braking can be a challenge for a powerful street car weighing just over 700kg. Frank Profera has taken care of that too with AP Racing brake calipers.
Nothing Compares
Part of the car's redesign was the integration of a custom frame that not only serves safety purposes, but also provides additional strength between the front and rear chassis sections. The driver's cabin matches the style of the racing car. All the necessary devices are located on the panel. Sports chairs are made of carbon fiber, they are extremely comfortable and comfortable. The seat belts of the Japanese company Takata are used to fasten the driver and passenger.
Frank loves his Lotus, and he drives it on long trips along the winding mountain roads of Southern California. Fortunately, the unusual design of this street car does not arouse undue curiosity on the part of the police and other road users. However, as soon as Frank stops at a gas station, his tuned Lotus immediately becomes the center of attention. Frank is happy to share information with all people interested in his car, whether they are car tuning enthusiasts or simple onlookers.
It's hard to imagine that a decade ago it was a production Lotus Elise. Frank Profera put a lot of work into it, he broke the patterns of consciousness, broke and rebuilt his Lotus. Now he cannot imagine life without him, because this is the machine of his dreams. And why buy a dream car when you can build it yourself?
Main technical characteristics of Ronin Lotus by Frank Profer
Engine
1.8-liter Toyota 2ZZ-GE (680 hp engine power "248 kPa boost pressure"), Darton liners, Carillo connecting rods, Wiseco 9: 1 pistons, Ferrea valves, custom intake manifold, custom charge air cooler with four Pro heat exchangers Alloy, Dual Water Pumps, Custom Equal Length Manifold, Precision 62/64 Ball Bearing Turbine, Precision 46mm Boost Pressure Regulator, AEM Series 2 On-Board Computer, Alcohol Staged Injection System, Pro Alloy Fuel Tank, Dual Fuel Pumps, Injectors 1000 cc, one pump for pumping alcohol into the fuel mixture.
Transmission
Modified Toyota MR2 E153 gearbox, custom axles, KAAZ gears with similar gear ratios.
Suspension / brakes / steering
Nitron 46mm Pro Race shocks, Eibach springs, custom A-arms, custom bushings, AP Racing brake calipers.
Wheels / tires
Custom wheels - 17 × 9 inches front, 18 × 12.5 inches rear, tires (slicks) Kumho V710 / BFG DOT - 245 / 40R17 front, 345 / 35R18 rear.
Ronin Lotus Exterior
Custom handcrafted by Mike Stafford and Frank Profera wide carbon fiber body, rear air diffuser, front splitter, NACA air vents, racing mirrors, body paint by AR Auto Body in Lancaster, California.
Interior
Custom roll cage, custom dashboard, carbon fiber seats, Takata harnesses.
Other photos of the tuned car:
Lotus
