Lotus unveils 336kW 3-Eleven

The Evora 400’s title as Lotus's fastest ever production road car has been thrown in a bonfire now that Lotus has unveiled its new road-legal track superstar: the 3-Eleven.

Choosing the Goodwood Festival of Speed's paddocks for the vehicle’s unveiling, Jean Marc-Geles, Lotus CEO, announced the 3-Eleven is some 10 seconds faster than the Lotus Evora 400 around Lotus’s test track.

In effect Lotus says it’s the 'quickest' ever production road car from the company, that it’s capable of ticking off 100km/h in less than 3.0-seconds, and in ‘Race’ trim will go on to see 290km/h.

Much of that speed would come down to the 3-Eleven’s radical approach to its performance: minimal weight, more power, and lots of grip.

Aluminium features throughout the car’s chassis in bonded and extruded form, and while other models use the precious metal for chassis construction, Lotus says the 3-Eleven’s is completely bespoke.

Its winged and sculpted body is made from a new lightweight composite that when coupled with the absence of a roof allows the 3-Eleven to weigh 900kg dry.

Catapulting the green dust mite at apexes will be a 3.5-litre V6 that’s been fed the Evora 400’s new supercharger and air-to-water intercooler set up. As a result the engine muscles out a fearsome 336kW and 450Nm that’s distributed by a Torsen limited slip differential at the rear axle.

Whether customers will row the engine through a six-speed manual or use a paddle shift six-speed sequential transmission will depend on their preferred transport to the circuit, as the car will be available in ‘Road’ or ‘Race’ trim.

‘Race’ 3-Elevens will be equipped for exactly that. On top of a paddle-shift transmission they also feature upgraded brake pads, more aggressive aero, a semi dry-sump, along with an FIA-approved motorsport roll cage, seat, and race harnesses. Those desperate for tenths can also delete the passenger seat in place for an aerodynamic tonneau.

Each corner features double-wishbones and adjustable Ohlins dampers surrounded by Eibach springs.

Only 311 will be built, beginning at $168,356 for the road version and $236,163 for the race variant (converted from GBP). MOTOR is awaiting word on Australian availability.

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