RE: Lotus 3-Eleven - official!

RE: Lotus 3-Eleven - official!

Saturday 27th June 2015

Lotus 3-Eleven - official!

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



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?
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
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...







Author
Discussion

PorscheGT4

Original Poster:

21,146 posts

264 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
£115k if you want the trick gear box

I'll have 2 !!

HorneyMX5

5,306 posts

149 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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Wow!

The want is strong with this one.

How much do kidneys go for these days? My wife really only needs one.

Frimley111R

15,533 posts

233 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Want!!! I don't even need to drive it, just look at it!!

Reavenger

129 posts

132 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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'It's not your for you' - Turns out they were right. rolleyes

mrclav

1,278 posts

222 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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£82k? I'll pass thanks.

braddo

10,399 posts

187 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
A 500hp/ton Lotus. This thing is going to be a mind-bending drive.

M. Gales isn't messing around.

RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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cloud9 The specs Look fantastic! I think the 2-Eleven was prettier though if I'm honest.

The price initially makes me whince - the starting point for a basic one is more than double what my 2-Eleven cost new in 2008, and I suspect to get a road one with a passenger seat etc I'd need to add at least £60k to mine on trade in eek. However, I can understand that price compared to the other models (it sits just about the Exige Cup, which makes sense) and I'm sure that Mr Gales has very wisely made this a halo model to show what Lotus can do. I hope it squeezes in a timed 'Ring lap before they put a stop to it (see other news), and I also look forward to Chris Evans' reaction when he drives a proper sports car biggrin

Edited by RobM77 on Friday 26th June 11:54

AlexHat

1,327 posts

118 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Having been in a 2-Eleven...which was stupidly quick and still is...this, with 500bhp/tonne is going to be certifiably insane! Can't wait to see one on the roads (if I ever do)

DonkeyApple

54,919 posts

168 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Superb. Performance is startling and this is the sort of price point that Lotus, as a low volume manufacturer, needs to be pushing to and beyond.

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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That should be a bit nippy. Pricing looks similar to Radical.

kambites

67,460 posts

220 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Price looks competitive with the Radical RXC, which is the closest competition I can think of.

I doubt there's much that can be bought (factory built) for significantly less money which is faster.

The Pits

4,289 posts

239 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
£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.

thumbup




Edited by The Pits on Friday 26th June 12:05

Frimley111R

15,533 posts

233 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Agreed, right pricing, right performance, win!

otolith

55,899 posts

203 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Pitching expensive cars which are correctly priced will hopefully eventually overcome the perception that a Lotus should be tuppence ha'penny because it's a Lotus.

RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Good to see some positive comments about the pricing - I may not be able to afford it, but I agree entirely yes

wemorgan

3,578 posts

177 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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My subjective rankings for engineering R&D puts Lotus ahead of BAC, Arial and Radical, but clearly behind Porsche.
So in that respect I think the 3-Eleven has been priced correctly.

Varn

205 posts

200 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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I completely understand why Lotus have done it, but what sort of person wants TC on a 3-11?

DonkeyApple

54,919 posts

168 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
otolith said:
Pitching expensive cars which are correctly priced will hopefully eventually overcome the perception that a Lotus should be tuppence ha'penny because it's a Lotus.
Totally agree. Although they only have themselves to blame after years of marketing by the firm as 'cheap'. The new management really seem to be doing a cracking job. Instead of every announcement being about a limited run of the same old car nearly all new announcements are about really clever changes to sell more expensive products or cracking cars like this.

I'm really enjoying all these positive and professional moves forward by what should be a spankingly good, prestige British brand but has suffered for decades at the hands of the wrong people for making a niche, performance car builder profitable.

anonymous-user

53 months

Friday 26th June 2015
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"embarrassing more expensive rivals"?? What, like Concorde and the Space Shuttle???

;-)


Looks more like the other way around considering you could buy a Caterham R620 and a Golf R estate to tow it and still have change from the price of the "road" 3-11.........



chrispj

264 posts

142 months

Friday 26th June 2015
quotequote all
Much, much want.

Like the more aggressive shape. If they would update the rear of the Exige V6 similarly...

Now they just need to sort out the marketing department so more people outside dedicated petrolheads know the cars actually exist and they didn't go bust 5 years ago!