Excalibur Series V

Excalibur Series V: which version to buy

If you are choosing an Excalibur Series V, the useful split is not generation — there is only 1 generation (1985–1997, Roadster, 13 versions in the catalogue, 12 shown here) — but engine size, injection, and kerb weight. The lightest, densest powertrain is 5.7 AT at 304 hp and 1815 kg. The only version with measured fuel use is 5.0 AT at 157 hp and 2100 kg (16.8 / 13.1 / 15.7 L/100 km).

If you are choosing an Excalibur Series V, the useful split is not generation — there is only 1 generation (1985–1997, Roadster, 13 versions in the catalogue, 12 shown here) — but engine size, injection, and kerb weight. The lightest, densest powertrain is 5.7 AT at 304 hp and 1815 kg. The only version with measured fuel use is 5.0 AT at 157 hp and 2100 kg (16.8 / 13.1 / 15.7 L/100 km). The largest engine, 7.4 AT at 233 hp, is the torque pick, not the power pick. Every listed car is Gasoline, 8 cylinders, V-shaped, 2 valves per cylinder, boost No, Front, longitudinal, Automatic 4, RWD. Prices are not measured.

Generations

1 generation (1985–1997) is the whole Series V. Body is Roadster. Years, gearbox, drive, brakes (Disc front and rear), Independent, spring front and Independent, leaf spring rear, and the 83 L tank do not change between the 12 shown versions. What changes is displacement (5001, 5733, or 7443 cm³), feed (Carburetor, Distributed injection (multi-point), or Central injection (single-point or single- point)), compression, kerb weight (1815–2175 kg), and — on one car only — mpg figures. There is no second generation to compare, so the buy decision is inside this one generation.

Engines and specs

Same catalogue name 5.0 AT appears eight times. Distinguish them by horsepower, then by kerb weight and feed.

Power per litre (hp ÷ displacement in litres): 5.0 AT 157 hp = 31.4 hp/L; 183 hp = 36.6; 198 hp = 39.6; 203 hp = 40.6; 233 hp = 46.6. 5.7 AT 248 hp = 43.3 hp/L; 304 hp = 53.0. 7.4 AT 233 hp = 31.3 hp/L — the lowest specific output, almost the same as the weakest 5.0 AT.

Performance and economy

0–100 km/h is not measured on every version. Top speed is not measured on every version. CO2 is not measured. Eco class is not measured.

Fuel consumption is measured on one car only: 5.0 AT 157 hp, 2100 kg, Carburetor, compression 8.6 — 16.8 L/100 km city, 13.1 highway, 15.7 mixed. On the other eleven shown versions, city, highway, and mixed mpg are not measured. Do not treat the 157 hp figures as the fleet average.

With the 83 L tank and 15.7 L/100 km mixed, that one 5.0 AT has a mixed range of about 529 km (83 ÷ 15.7 × 100). Highway range on the same numbers is about 634 km (83 ÷ 13.1 × 100). City range is about 494 km (83 ÷ 16.8 × 100). Other versions share the 83 L tank; their range is not measured.

Dimensions and weight

Ground clearance is not measured. Wheel size is not measured.

Kerb weight clusters:

• 1815 kg — only 5.7 AT 304 hp. 285 kg lighter than the 2100 kg cars, 360 kg lighter than the 2175 kg cars.
• 2100 kg — most 5.0 AT at 157 / 183 / 203 / 233 hp, plus 7.4 AT 233 hp.
• 2110 kg — 5.0 AT 198 hp with Distributed injection (multi-point), and 5.7 AT 248 hp (+10 kg vs 2100).
• 2175 kg — three heavier 5.0 AT cars: 157 hp Carburetor, 183 hp Carburetor, 198 hp Central injection (single-point or single- point). That is +75 kg vs 2100 kg.

Gross weight is 2750 kg on every version except 5.7 AT 304 hp, where it is not measured. Payload on the 2750 kg cars: 650 kg at 2100 kg kerb, 640 kg at 2110 kg, 575 kg at 2175 kg. The heavy 5.0 AT trio therefore carries 75 kg less payload than the 2100 kg cars.

Weight per horsepower (kg/hp):

• 5.7 AT 304 hp: 1815 ÷ 304 = 6.0 kg/hp (best)
• 5.7 AT 248 hp: 2110 ÷ 248 = 8.5
• 5.0 AT 233 hp: 2100 ÷ 233 = 9.0
• 7.4 AT 233 hp: 2100 ÷ 233 = 9.0 (same mass/power as the 233 hp 5.0, more torque)
• 5.0 AT 203 hp: 2100 ÷ 203 = 10.3
• 5.0 AT 198 hp, 2110 kg: 10.7; 2175 kg: 11.0
• 5.0 AT 183 hp, 2100 kg: 11.5; 2175 kg: 11.9
• 5.0 AT 157 hp, 2100 kg: 13.4; 2175 kg: 13.9 (worst)

Which version to choose

Want the strongest, lightest Series V: 5.7 AT 304 hp. It is +56 hp vs the next 5.7 AT (248 hp) and +71 hp vs 5.0 AT 233 hp. Compression is 10.2 (highest); fuel is 95, not 92. Peak power is at 5000 rpm (highest); peak torque 447 Nm arrives at 4000 rpm, later than the 248 hp 5.7 AT (468 Nm at 3200 rpm). You give up 21 Nm of peak torque versus that 248 hp car but lose 295 kg. Specific output 53.0 hp/L is the catalogue peak. Gross weight, 0–100, top speed, and mpg are not measured.

Want torque, not peak hp: 7.4 AT 233 hp. 522 Nm at 1600 rpm is the highest torque and the lowest rpm. Versus 5.0 AT 233 hp you get the same 233 hp and the same 2100 kg, but +74 Nm and +2442 cm³. Versus 5.7 AT 304 hp you lose 71 hp and 295 kg of lightness, and you stay on Carburetor and 92 fuel. Compression 7.9 is the lowest. Specific output matches the weakest 5.0. Buy this if the number that matters is 522 Nm, not 304 hp.

Want the strongest 5001 cm³ car without stepping to 5.7: 5.0 AT 233 hp. Distributed injection (multi-point), 448 Nm at 3200 rpm, 46.6 hp/L. Versus 5.0 AT 203 hp that is +30 hp and +143 Nm (203 hp still has only 305 Nm). Versus 5.0 AT 198 hp (2110 kg, also multi-point) it is +35 hp and +48 Nm at −10 kg. Same 2100 kg as the carbureted 5.0 cars.

Want 5.0 litres with injection but not the 233 hp tune: two 5.0 AT at 198 hp / 400 Nm. They are not the same car. 2110 kg uses Distributed injection (multi-point). 2175 kg uses Central injection (single-point or single- point) and is 65 kg heavier. Torque 400 Nm at 2800 rpm is +95 Nm vs any 305 Nm Carburetor 5.0 AT (157 / 183 / 203 hp). If the names match, pick the 2110 kg multi-point car unless you specifically need the central-injection listing.

Carburetor 5.0 ladder (same 305 Nm, different hp and weight):

• 5.0 AT 157 hp, compression 8.6, power at 4000 rpm, torque at 2400 rpm. Three listings: 2100 kg with mpg measured; 2100 kg with mpg not measured; 2175 kg. Same 157 / 305 / 5001 numbers. The 2175 kg car is 75 kg heavier and 0.5 kg/hp worse. If you need the only mpg row in the book, take the 2100 kg listing that records 16.8 / 13.1 / 15.7.
• 5.0 AT 183 hp, compression 9.5, power at 4800 rpm, torque still 305 Nm but at 3200 rpm. +26 hp vs 157 hp, 0 Nm extra. 2100 kg vs 2175 kg is the same 75 kg gap as on 157 hp. 11.5 vs 11.9 kg/hp.
• 5.0 AT 203 hp, also compression 9.5, Carburetor, 305 Nm at 3200 rpm, 2100 kg. +20 hp vs 183 hp at 2100 kg, still no extra torque. Versus 157 hp at 2100 kg: +46 hp, same 305 Nm. This is the most powerful carbureted 5.0 AT; it does not match 5.0 AT 233 hp on torque.

5.7 AT 248 hp vs 304 hp: same 5733 cm³, same multi-point feed, same 8 / V-shaped / Automatic 4 / RWD. 248 hp: 468 Nm at 3200, compression 9.5, fuel 92, 2110 kg, gross 2750 kg. 304 hp: 447 Nm at 4000, compression 10.2, fuel 95, 1815 kg, gross not measured. The 248 hp car has +21 Nm and earlier torque, +295 kg, and 92 fuel. The 304 hp car has +56 hp and 6.0 kg/hp instead of 8.5. If you want the 5.7 with a published gross weight, the 248 hp 5.7 AT is the one.

5.0 AT 233 hp vs 5.7 AT 248 hp: +15 hp and +20 Nm and +732 cm³ on the 5.7, +10 kg. Specific output falls from 46.6 to 43.3 hp/L. The extra displacement buys a modest power/torque step, not a large one. The large 5.7 step is the 304 hp car.

What extra displacement does not buy: 7.4 AT is +2442 cm³ vs 5.0 AT 233 hp and 0 hp more. It buys +74 Nm and a 1600 rpm torque peak. It does not buy a better kg/hp figure than the 233 hp 5.0 (both 9.0).

Reliability / problems (from these numbers only): every version is Automatic 4, RWD, Gasoline, boost No. The mechanical split that will change upkeep is feed: Carburetor on the 157 / 183 / 203 hp 5.0 AT cars and on 7.4 AT; Distributed injection (multi-point) on 5.0 AT 198 hp at 2110 kg, 5.0 AT 233 hp, both 5.7 AT; Central injection (single-point or single- point) only on 5.0 AT 198 hp at 2175 kg. Fuel 95 appears only on 5.7 AT 304 hp; all others are 92. No failure rates, prices, or service intervals are in the data.

Short list:

1. 5.7 AT 304 hp — if the goal is hp, kg/hp, and kerb weight. 2. 7.4 AT 233 hp — if the goal is 522 Nm at 1600 rpm. 3. 5.0 AT 233 hp — if you stay at 5001 cm³ and want the top 5.0. 4. 5.0 AT 157 hp, 2100 kg, mpg measured — if you need the only consumption figures. 5. Avoid the 2175 kg 5.0 AT cars unless that exact listing is the one you have: they add 75 kg and cut payload by 75 kg with no extra hp versus the matching 2100/2110 kg twins.