Lotus 3-Eleven Explained

Lotus 3-Eleven
Manufacturer:Lotus Cars
Production:2015 - 2018 (3-Eleven; 311 produced)
2018 - Present (3-Eleven 430)
Model Years:2016
Assembly:Hethel, Norfolk, England
Designer:Russell Carr
Class:Sports car (S) / Race car
Body Style:0-door speedster
Layout:Transverse mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Related:Lotus Evora
Lotus Exige (Series 3)
Engine:3.5 litre 24 valve, water cooled, supercharged Toyota 2GR-FE V6
Wheelbase:NaN1NaN1
Length:41201NaN1
Width:18601NaN1
Height:12001NaN1
Predecessor:Lotus 2-Eleven
Sp:uk

The Lotus 3-Eleven is a sports car produced by British car manufacturer Lotus Cars. The car is available as a racing version as well as a normal road legal version.[1]

Unveiled at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2015, it was launched in 2016 at a price of 82,500 for the road version (plus VAT) (116,500 (including VAT) for the race version) and limited to a production run of 311 units worldwide.[2]

In February 2018, the road version received cosmetic and mechanical updates like the rest of the Lotus line up for the final run of production with engine power increased to and performance similar to the race version. The upgraded car is known as the 3-Eleven 430.[3]

Specifications and performance

The 3-Eleven is available in two configurations; a road legal version and a race version. The car has a mid-mounted engine configuration and comes with a 3456cc Toyota 2GR-FE V6 engine coupled with an Edelbrock Roots-type supercharger. The engine is similar to the one found in the Lotus Evora, but with variable power outputs, producing at 7,000 rpm and of torque at 3,000 rpm in the road version,[4] and with engineering changes and software revisions to produce at 7,000 rpm and at 3,500 rpm in the race version.[5] Both versions of the car have different transmissions; a 6-speed manual transmission is available for the road version and a paddle operated 6-speed sequential manual transmission is available for the race version.[6] Acceleration times also vary with the road version having a acceleration time of 3.3 seconds and the race version having an acceleration time of 2.9 seconds which is achieved due to a reduction in dry weight by . Both versions have a top speed of .

A more powerful and track focused version of the road car was launched in February 2018 dubbed the 3-eleven 430 edition, having an increase in the power output to and performance now similar to the racing version.

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Milestones - Lotus Cars.
  2. Web site: Lotus 3-Eleven pricing and specification confirmed. Evo. 25 February 2018. 14 January 2016.
  3. Web site: Lotus 3-Eleven 430 launched as brand's fastest road-legal model. Autocar. 25 February 2018. 20 February 2018.
  4. Web site: 2016 Lotus 3 Eleven road. automobile-catalog. July 1, 2018.
  5. Web site: 2016 Lotus 3 Eleven race. automobile-catalog. July 1, 2018.
  6. Web site: The Top Gear car review: Lotus 3-Eleven. Top Gear. August 2016. 25 February 2018.