RKM Motorsport: Juliet

RKM Motorsport: Juliet

Based on: Lotus Elise 111R ‘04
Obtained: Brand new model at Lotus

Drivetrain: MR
Horsepower: 253 BHP (@ 54.8 miles)
Torque:---- 23 kgfm
Weight:---- 759 kg
PP:-------- 520

PARTS
GT Auto
Rays Volk Racing RE30 Wheels
Type A Front Aero
Type A Extension
Type B Wing

Tuning Shop
Chassis Weight Reduction Stage 3
Rigidity Improvement
Window Weight Reduction
Carbon Bonnet (Body Colour)
Engine Tuning Stage 3
Sports ECU
Sports Intake Manifold
Racing Air Filter
Titanium Racing Exhaust
Sports Exhaust Manifold
Catalytic Converter: Sports
Fully Customisable Transmission
Twin Plate Clutch
Semi Racing Flywheel
Fully Customisable LSD
Fully Customisable Suspension Kit
Sports Soft Tyres

SETUP

Body/Chassis
Aerodynamics
Downforce: 0/20

Ballast
Amount:-- 0
Position: 0

Engine
Power Limiter
Power Level: 100.0%

Transmission
Transmission
(Set Max Speed, then each individual ratio.)
1st:-- 2.840
2nd:-- 1.963
3rd:-- 1.545
4th:-- 1.271
5th:-- 1.051
6th:-- 0.881
Final: 4.530
Max Speed: 193 MPH

Drivetrain
Differential
Initial: 0/20
Accel:-- 0/40
Braking: 0/7

Suspension
Suspension
Ride Height: -25/-25
Spring Rate: 6.5/10.0
Extension:-- 7/8
Compression: 6/5
Anti-Roll:-- 3/3
Camber:----- 1.3/1.5
Toe:-------- –0.10/-0.15

Brakes
Brake Balance Controller
Brake Balance: 5/6

Intended Driving Options
Transmission: Manual (MT)
ABS: 1
Everything else: OFF

Tuner Comments:
Just like you, I hated how the 111R handled in the Top Gear special event. So when it was time to buy one for my own needs, I decided to make an Elise that would restore everyone’s faith in it. 

So this is Juliet. She may be cute, but she’s also insanely fast. There’s no ridiculous sliding or lack of braking control here, just pure grip and the confidence to use it. She’ll beat cars with twice the power and embarrass high end supercars around the twisties. If she doesn’t restore your faith in the Elise, nothing will.

How she got this fast? Well, she spent all day playing kiss chase with the NSX-R 3rd Anniversary. Sorry Romeo.

Someone call up Shakespeare to write me in as Romeo...I think I love Juliet!

As someone with decent skill at best and who uses the Sixaxis rather than a wheel, I tend to steer clear of MR machines. I find I lack the finesse required to keep them in line using just my thumbs. That said, I spent a good chunk of time on the Top Gear Test Track trying to win gold in their intermediate event and plenty of time with my own "Saffron Devil" in the British Lightweight events as well. The devil is good friends with every cone and wall in the UK, let me tell you!

Originally I had wanted to use her for the current seasonal at SSR5 but she is a bit too trim for that. Rather than ask her to put on weight, she sat in the garage watching, waiting, biding her time to show me the results of her makeover. It was quite worth it.

Confidence-inspiring has never been a word to describe an MR in my world, for previously mentioned reasons. Fear and anxiety, sure. Confidence, not so much. Until now.

Juliet and I had our first date at the TGTT and I've never before had the pleasure of driving an MR quite this well behaved in the corners. Previously, if I did not come in to Chicago annoyingly slow I would end up sliding tail first into the cones or, at best, hanging my rear end into them. Juliet attacks much quicker and with exponentially more control. She will stay planted at a much higher speed and if she does start to kick out it is much more gradual and easy to control; a quick tap and she is back on target rather than floundering around seeking grip. Oh sure, she will still slap you around if you treat her badly but if you are thrashing her hard enough to get to that point you probably deserve it. I did find her to be slightly twitchy in the straights and I am not sure why. I did eventually work that out and we were able to get in sync.

Coming off Hammerhead and down through the tires was almost an otherworldly experience. Back when she was the "Saffron Devil" I had to bite my lip and hope I could make it through without finding the grass and the invisiwall beyond. With her maturity she was able to fly gracefully through slowing only slightly for the last two corners.

And the sound...intoxicating! She is the complete package for me, both aesthetics and performance: a bit of aggression with just enough refinement. The conservatively dressed librarian with the wire-rimmed glasses and hair in a bun who lets it down cliff diving on the weekend!

All in all it was a heck of a first date. She has become quite the lady, less the demon to me than she will be to the competition. We managed a 1:15.2xx in a scant 10-15 minutes. Perhaps not her full potential but with my current skill level still quite good I think. As much fun as I had on this drive we are certain to spend much more time together learning and becoming a well-oiled machine if you will.

Thank you much to Roj. Fantastic work on this tune! You've set off a spark and gave me a smile with this one. I am eager to try more!

A quick check though. Are the alignment settings intended to be for toe out (in-game negative, as shown)? Not questioning your experience, of course. Just that I see more talk of setting toe in than out and I wanted to be sure. Again, thanks for the fun.

Lap Times
Grand Valley Speedway: 2'09.xxx"
Top Gear Test Track: 1'15.2xx"