4g63t and AWD in a mid-engine platform?

[MarcVIII]

I was looking and drooling over a Lotus Esprit (turbo 4 already) and had en epiphany. What if I were to put the drivetrain from my TSi AWD into this car, how AWESOME would that be? The cars are sexy inside and out (a component missing from DSMs in my mind, no offense), have a cool platform, amazing handling, etc. The Esprit is a mid-engine, RWD car from the fatory equipped with either a turbo 4 or twinturbo V8, longitudally mounted. The body is a fiberglass unit. Not sure on the frame, whether it is unibody or convetional nor if is steel, aluminum, or composite.

But then the logical part came in. A few questions came to mind. How would the motor & trans have to be set in to drive the vehicle forward, i.e. would this be reverse from the DSM installation? How would the shifter on the trans be mounted in the car and function? The car may not have the ability to run a custom driveshaft forward. Fabrication would have to be done to mount the stock TSi suspension components to accept DSM halfshafts, etc. Then those would have to be proper length. I'm sure other ideas could spiral from here, but this was just what came to mind initially. Any ideas on whether this is feasible with a lift, tools, welding ability, and a moderate budget? I think this would be like a baby Gallardo once finished, but whether it is possible for a modest sum is the question.

Has anyone ever put a 4g63t into a mid-engined car, retaining the setup as is?

 

[Jon Lane]

I've been thinking about this for awhile, although in the context of a Pantera kit car: Tube frame, RWD only, 400hp transverse 4G63 behind the seats. Advantages are far lower costs, less weight, better weight distribution, and easier fabrication than the usual V8/transaxle affair. Seems to me the thing would be quite a monster.

If you're worried about breaking parts, consider that the FWD guys have ways to get a lot more power than that to the ground without breaking stuff every weekend.