Saturday 27th June 2015

Lotus 3-Eleven - official!

No more silly hashtags or speculation - first details of the latest Lotus here [Updated pics]

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There are many numbers in the Lotus 3-Eleven press release that will raise a smile of childish glee on every petrolhead's face. There are a couple that may make you grimace as well but we'll come to those.

Are you good enough?

Two is the important number as there will be a pair of 3-Eleven models: the Road and Race, with a few very important differences between them. As you would expect, the Race has circuit driving in mind and as such features a sequential gearbox in place of the Road six-speed manual, more aggressive aero and an FIA-approved seat with a six-point harness.

Both models use a 456hp version of the Evora 400's 3.5-litre V6, with 332lb ft also. Performance claims are fairly absurd, with 0-60mph claimed as "less than 3.0 seconds" and a top speed of 180mph for the Road 3-Eleven; the Race maxes out at 174mph due to that different aero package. Weight is claimed at sub-900kg for the Race, with 215kg of downforce at 150mph as well. The Hethel lap time is 1min 22sec, or 10 seconds faster than an Evora 400...

Both 3-Elevens feature adjustable Ohlins dampers, a limited-slip diff and AP Racing brakes calipers with 332mm discs at each corner. Tyres are Michelin Pilot Super Sports on the Road version or Cup 2s for the Race. Both run a 225/40 ZR18 section on the front and 275/35 ZR19 at the back. There is traction control too, fear not.

And we've not even got to the design yet! There is clearly some Exige influence in its looks but it's way more dramatic than that. There are gaping intakes to keep everything cool, larger arches for the wider track, a cage, spoilers and diffusers; no mistaking this for any other Lotus. Notably too the 3-Eleven body is made from a composite 40 per cent lighter than a GRP equivalent, claimed to be an industry first.

Ditch passenger, go faster

Inside the 3-Eleven can accommodate two people but the passenger (and the seat) can be removed and a tonneau cover placed over it for the full single seater effect. There's a new TFT instrument display and quick release wheel for both cars. As mentioned the Race receives a motorsport seat, the Road 3-Eleven fitted with a Lotus sports seat and four-point harnesses. There's also an extinguisher and a battery kill switch. A very serious car then, in case that was ever in doubt.

To those numbers that may make your grimace. The 3-Eleven is quite a bit more expensive than the 2-Eleven; indeed it's quite a bit more expensive than any other Lotus. The Road version is £82,000 and the Race is £115,200. Yikes. Jean-Marc Gales calls the new 3-Eleven a "giant slayer, capable of embarrassing far more expensive rivals", which we certainly won't doubt. Still looks a lot, but then there will only be 311 and, going off the old car, they will hold their value very well. Production begins next February and deliveries will commence in April, just in time for the track day season...

[PorscheGT4]

£115k if you want the trick gear box

I'll have 2 !!

[PorscheGT4]

The Pits said:

£82k isn't unreasonable at all - for the performance on offer.

There will be some people paying more for Cayman GT4s than that.

A 991 GT3 would need 700bhp to match the power:weight and this is £50k less than a GT3RS.

BAC Mono is well over £100k and considerably slower.

Same goes for an Ariel Atom that could match it.

Having driven a 211 it's not just the speed, it's the poise, delicacy, accuracy and feedback that makes it special to drive. A 300kg weight reduction compared to the Exige V6 this should ensure that the 311 offers more of the same.

Lotus have pulled all the stops out for this car. Great to see them getting their mojo back.

the BAC mono is more head to head with the £115k 3-11 and looks the dogs imo, def wow factor and of course 483 bhp per tonne, hardly considerably slower as you stated lol

[PorscheGT4]

would it be the 3-11 or Mono though, for me it would be the Mono.

[PorscheGT4]

SidewaysSi said:

Of course YOU would choose the Mono. Personally I would go Exige Cup rather than a GT4 or Cayman R.

neither was a choice, the poster said 3-11 or Mono if he had a bankers bonus. I was interested if he did have a bonus what he would buy !

Bit like be stating out the blue I would have a 458 over a Ford KA ! to say Exige over Gt4 !!

[PorscheGT4]

SidewaysSi said:

I genuinely don't know what you are on about. The Elise has never really had much of an interior (though some of the detailing is pretty stunning to my eyes). Besides, if you like nice interiors, a Lotus is really not for you.

As for egg on face and "OK reviews", not really sure that is a valid point either:

http://www.evo.co.uk/lotus/elise

There is also a review of the Elise S Cup giving it 5 stars (in fact there I can't really think of any Lotus review which has been anything other than brilliant). Of course I am sure something like What Car? may well bemoan the lack of NVH suppression but I think we can ignore such comments.

Something like the Alfa 4C is a great case of a great design but very poor execution. Lotus is on another level compared to something like that for instance.

the Elise CUP came about last in the top gear speed review, stated it under steered and had a poor gear box.

same with the 211 review in evo track car of the year and the exige review the year after it won what car of the year it came no where.

every review all seem to state understeer and bad gearbox's/ gear change.

I guess Lotus never can come last now the 4C is out but I wish Lotus could give mags better cars so a basic 2.7 Cayman does not wip it's arse on a track test !