Lotus 3 Eleven

[baronbennyt]

I thought I would start a discussion on my road-spec Lotus 3-Eleven, which is currently in-build (see below) with expected delivery on 18th March 2017. The plan is to keep anyone who is interested on PH regularly updated on how I get on with Hethel's latest track-day weapon, including the high's and low's of long-term ownership. I would certainly welcome contributions from others with the same or similar lightweight track specials.

[baronbennyt]

Lotus 3-Eleven (road version) standard spec (not-exhaustive):

3.5 litre V6, 24 valve, water cooled, all aluminium engine with Edelbrock supercharger
Max power 410hp @ 7,000 rpm
Max torque 302 lb/ft @ 3,000 rpm
0-60 mph 3.3
Max speed 174 mph
Power to weight 443 hp / tonne
Dry weight 925 kg
6 speed manual gearbox
Öhlins adjustable dampers
AP Racing four-piston calipers
Full colour TFT display with driver selection modes for road/track
Adjustable Traction Control

My options:

Colour Scheme 1 – green with yellow stripes
Gloss Black Accents
Gloss Black Alloys
Fire Extinguisher and Battery Isolator
Michelin Cup 2 Tyres
Carbon Drivers Seat
Carbon Passenger Seat
Motorsport Front Splitter & Canards
Steering re-trimmed in alcantara and white stitching
Reversing Camera

[baronbennyt]

This is what my Lotus 3-Eleven will look like when build is complete.

[baronbennyt]

Short video of the Lotus 3-Eleven launch at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2015:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCq-pDsbom0

[baronbennyt]

Popped into Lotus Bell & Colvill in Surrey today to catch up on my 3-Eleven order and saw the race version of the car in their reception area - simply stunning! Although my road specification 3-Eleven won't have the race version's roll cage it will have the motorsport splitter and front canards.

[baronbennyt]

DanielSan said:

Needs more aero to be really quick though

Awesome looking car, hell of s toy be have to play with on a Sunday morning blast.

Cheers Dan. I'll mostly use the 3-Eleven for track days. I've got Castle Combe and Goodwood planned already. If the weather forecast is good I might even take it to the Nurburgring this summer too. Of course, if I'm kicking my heels one Sunday morning and the sun is out then it would be rude not to jump in it for a local blast!

[baronbennyt]

TheRocket said:

Awesome bit of kit look forward to reading, I saw one at Hethel being tested after being built, it was only going slow but looked so at home on the track. Will Lotus factory fit an exhaust that lets you get under most track db levels ?

Thanks v much. I'm sticking with the standard specification exhaust since Lotus Bell & Colvill have assured me that the 3-Eleven should be fine on 105db track days. I'm booked in with them at Castle Combe on 15th June.

[baronbennyt]

Thanks everyone for your positive messages.

I should have more photos of my 3-Eleven build and confirmation of its delivery on 18th March next week. The first 1,000 miles will be a test of willpower since the Lotus must be run-in over this distance (no more than 4,000 rpm) and then taken back to the centre for first inspection.

[baronbennyt]

Before deciding on the classic Lotus colours (green and yellow) for my 3-Eleven, I was considering this very vibrant hue...

[baronbennyt]

A few friends have recently asked me why I have chosen the Lotus 3-Eleven as my weekend fun and track day special. Well, my brother was generous enough to lend me his Lotus 2-Eleven for a drive from Goodwood to home one Saturday afternoon and I was completely hooked - it's just sensory overload - the heightened acceleration, speed, precision, braking, steering, and road-holding blew my mind! And the great thing is that, unlike most modern supercars, you don't need to be going Mach 2 to appreciate all these sensations. When Lotus Bell & Colvill asked me if I wanted to drive their 3-Eleven demonstrator around the local Surrey countryside for the day, they didn't need to ask me twice (see pics below). Wow, the 3-Eleven is like the 2-Eleven turned up to 11! The 2-Eleven is already epic but the 3-Eleven has quite a bit more torque and top-end power, although for sure it feels a tad heavier (although we're still only talking 925kg). One of the best drives of my life. I couldn't stop laughing into my lid! I've never ordered a toy so quickly...

[baronbennyt]

ikarl said:

I like the colour you've went for, but jeezo, that looks tremendous in red, white, blue!!

The red, white and blue on the example above is a wrap so I can always have it applied if, and when, I get bored with the green and yellow

[baronbennyt]

Thanks PH'ers for your messages!

I'm now starting to worry that going for the motorsport front splitter and front canards might have been a tad overambitious. How am I going to get on and off the Eurotunnel to get to Spa and the Ring, for example? I went for the road version of the 3-Eleven specifically so I didn't have to trailer it. First world problems I guess.

[baronbennyt]

Only 2 weeks to go now until the 3-Eleven arrives. The wait is killing me! Praying for a decent summer...

[baronbennyt]

Actus Reus said:

My God I love the look of these.

Having just bought a VX220 Turbo I now see what all the fuss is about - I was an absolutely convinced Porsche man, but I really have fallen in love with lightweight weekend track and fast road cars and this is pretty well the pinnacle - bet it'll turn a few heads on the high street too!

ETA: just realised the Macca I've been admiring is yours too - lovely garage, OP - excellent choices.

Edited by Actus Reus on Friday 3rd March 16:21

Thank you. Yes, the blue McLaren 12C and Lotus 3-Eleven will be my stable. I'm a very lucky (now very poor) chap!

I hope to use them both extensively this summer on a mixture of road trips and track days.

Looking forward to reporting good times

[baronbennyt]

familyguy1 said:

some seem to be single seaters, will yours be a two seater ?

My 3-Eleven will be a two seater. I want to be able to bring family, friends and anyone who wants to be a brave passenger (particularly on track days) along for the ride from time to time!

[baronbennyt]

SpudLink said:

I know it's a strange thing to say, but I am vicariously excited. I'm hoping to see one at a trackday sometime this year.

Really hope 2017 is a long dry summer so you can enjoy it properly. I know from experience that driving with no weather protection looses it's appeal when the weather turns cold and wet.

My brother had a wonderful Lotus 2-Eleven but didn't get as much use out of it as he would have liked. Then a little one came along so he had to sell. He was successful, however, in managing to get me hooked and convince me to put the order in for the 3-Eleven. When the sun is out and the roads are dry it promises to be motoring nivarna

[baronbennyt]

over steer said:

Following this thread with great interest, please keep us posted. The 311 seems to be an amazing car for the money, and I've been seriously considering a race version for track days, as I'm approaching a point with my Exige where developing further will entail both a large sunken cost and 'ruining' it for the road by stripping it out and/or pushing the mechanicals to the point where they become unreliable.

The toss-up for me is whether the performance differential of a race 311 will outweigh buying a fully specced preowned 211 GT Supersport for half the money (and if I can handle the ball ache of having another car to maintain).

Is the Lotus 2-Eleven GT Supersport the GT4 race-spec track special? If so, that's an absolute weapon! Honestly, I've only driven a road-spec 2-Eleven and 3-Eleven over the course of a day, each on separate occasions. Based on this limited experience, personally I don't think a race-spec 3-Eleven is worth double a 2-Eleven GT4. I've seen the race-spec 3-Eleven at Bell & Colvill (see below) and whilst it's an epic thing, £130,000 is a huge amount of money. The difference in price would buy you a lot of tyres, fuel, track days etc. in the 2-Eleven GT4! Still, I can see why someone would be tempted by the race-spec 3-Eleven...

[baronbennyt]

56Lotus said:

Hi all

One day I would love to get an Eleven, 2-11 and 3-Eleven all together in one go. I can do the Eleven down in the south west (Devon), any other owners interested?

Jon

Hi Jon. I might be in a position to bring my 3-Eleven down to Devon but not until next year I'm afraid. Obviously if another 3-Eleven owner can get down to you sooner then I look forward to seeing the photos on PH Ben (baronbennyt)

[baronbennyt]

A few more pics of Bell & Colvill's race-spec Lotus 3-Eleven...

[baronbennyt]

Delivery date of the 3-Eleven has now been pushed back to 31st March. The wait is killing me!