Tuesday 4th April 2023

Lotus 3-Eleven | Spotted

Is a standard 3-Eleven a bit too tepid for your liking? We've got just the thing...

---

Anyone who joined us for Sunday Service at Prescott Hill Climb yesterday will know just how incredible a Lotus Exige V6 sounds. Of all the cars that tore up the mile-long course, from 911 GT3s to Ben’s Clio 172 Cup, it was the array of special edition V6 Exiges that had spectators flocking to the start line for a front seat to the six-cylinder symphony that was about to unfold.

Remarkable that an engine that also features in a Toyota Avalon, Camry and even the Alphard people carrier can produce such an evocative exhaust note. Okay, so the supercharged variant of Toyota’s 3.5-litre V6 was almost exclusively used by Lotus – and still is to this day with the Emira – but the architecture is the same as what you’ll find in cars of a far humbler nature. That’s beside the point, anyway. The closer you can get to said engine, the better – enter the Lotus 3-Eleven.

Has there been a Lotus that better represents Colin Chapman’s adage of ‘simplify, then add lightness’ since the 3-Eleven? I certainly can’t think of one. Yes, the Exige V6 has received its fair share of track variants and special editions, but the 3-Eleven was arguably the most extreme of the lot. Following the formula set out by 2-Eleven, Lotus ditched the roof, windows and doors, shedding around 200kg over the Exige V6 in the process. Somehow, the company managed to make the interior even more basic than the Exige’s with a digital dash, a carbon panel housing various buttons and dials, and an exposed gear linkage so you can see the six-speed manual gearbox in action.

Not only was 3-Eleven the lightest Lotus on sale when it launched back in 2015, it was also granted the most power. The V6 developed 416hp and 302lb ft of torque, though a track-only edition added even more output and ditched the manual ‘box for a racier sequential transmission instead. Wouldn’t it be great if there was a 3-Eleven with all the performance of the track model that could be driven on the road without attracting the attention of the rozzers?

Well, the previous owner of this 3-Eleven thought just that and set about making it a reality. Hilton and Moss, who we recently visited to film the Noble M12 they have for sale, say the car has been ‘tastefully modified’ with various upgrades from German-based Lotus specialists Komo-tec. It’s a road-spec car, though power has been upped to 490hp courtesy of a new exhaust manifold, carbon airbox and a remap. Understandably, the brakes have been upgraded to handle the extra power and it gains a race-spec seven-speed sequential gearbox, complete with a limited-slip differential.

It's Lotus’ most hardcore model to date, made even more extreme with, apparently, £40,000 worth of upgrades. It’s also said to have been used as a press car early in its life, so there’s a very good chance you’ve seen this car before – only without the crazy mods. It’s listed at £108,000, which is a lot of money for a car that’ll batter your face on a spirited drive. But if you’re after a track day hero with an exhaust note up there with the all-time greats, look no further.

---

SPECIFICATION | LOTUS 3-ELEVEN

Engine: 3,456cc V6, supercharged
Transmission: seven-speed sequential (six-speed manual stock), rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 490@7,000rpm (416hp stock)
Torque (lb ft): 302@3,000rpm (stock)
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Year registered: 2016
Recorded mileage: 5,000
Price new: £82,000 (road version)
Yours for: £108,000

See the original advert here

[Howard1650]

wonderful car, but £108K is a bit hopeful

[Nish Gnackers]

Seller thinks the £40k of upgrades are still worth £40k ...

[Global Nomad]

You only need one person to agree with the price....then its sold.

[Hammersia]

It's, er, a race car / track car.

Whether it's the best race car / track car available for £104,000 is the question.

Think I'd be going open wheeled for that sort of money.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1489831

[Nish Gnackers]

Global Nomad said:

You only need one person to agree with the price....then its sold.

Thank you for enlightening us on the nitty gritty of car selling/purchasing.

[donteatpeople]

Hammersia said:

It's, er, a race car / track car.

Whether it's the best race car / track car available for £104,000 is the question.

Think I'd be going open wheeled for that sort of money.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1489831

It's a road registered race car / track car, that's not easy with an open wheel car.

[b14]

donteatpeople said:

Hammersia said:

It's, er, a race car / track car.

Whether it's the best race car / track car available for £104,000 is the question.

Think I'd be going open wheeled for that sort of money.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1489831

It's a road registered race car / track car, that's not easy with an open wheel car.

That F5000 car is lovely but as pointed out it's not exactly a direct comparison - I'd take the 3 Eleven every day over it because I don't have the infrastructure to run a classic racer.

If I were in the market for a track car around this price, this would be near the top. Lovely thing and likely about the fastest way around a track in a road legal car for the money.

[Fonzey]

Lovely. Fantastic cars, much nicer detailing on them compared to the 2-Eleven. Yet to have a go in one, with the most special of the Exiges also fetching in the region of £100k, just a few grand more for this doesn't seem that extreme... but I think that says more for the over priced Exiges than it does the value of the 3-Eleven!

[Tickle]

Fonzey said:

Lovely. Fantastic cars, much nicer detailing on them compared to the 2-Eleven. Yet to have a go in one, with the most special of the Exiges also fetching in the region of £100k, just a few grand more for this doesn't seem that extreme... but I think that says more for the over priced Exiges than it does the value of the 3-Eleven!

Seems the next logical step for you, a stop gap between the Ultima GTR build at least.

[Water Fairy]

That's going to be mental

Price? Dunno, it's one off.

[ntiz]

It's very niche. But what could go faster on a track for money that you don't need a trailer and team to run?

How much is the road legal radical or BAC Mono these days?

Quick google suggests both are more expensive.

[Midgster]

Hammersia said:

It's, er, a race car / track car.

Whether it's the best race car / track car available for £104,000 is the question.

Think I'd be going open wheeled for that sort of money.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1489831

Many moons ago (1998), I bought a TVR Chimaera for £34500 from Maranello in Egham. On the forecourt was a Lamborghini Countach (forget exactly which model) which was up for £39995 (yes it really was £40k!!). I could afford to buy the Lambo, but then could not afford the running costs. The Lambo was on a completely different level.

Comparing a Lotus 3-Eleven vs a F5000 Car is not just on a different level, it's a whole different planet! That has to be the most ridiculous "would rather have this for the same price" comment I've ever seen on Pistonheads

[julian64]

A V6 supercharged is not going be an engine note up there with the greats, however formidable the actual car might be.

[Hammersia]

Midgster said:

Hammersia said:

It's, er, a race car / track car.

Whether it's the best race car / track car available for £104,000 is the question.

Think I'd be going open wheeled for that sort of money.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1489831

Many moons ago (1998), I bought a TVR Chimaera for £34500 from Maranello in Egham. On the forecourt was a Lamborghini Countach (forget exactly which model) which was up for £39995 (yes it really was £40k!!). I could afford to buy the Lambo, but then could not afford the running costs. The Lambo was on a completely different level.

Comparing a Lotus 3-Eleven vs a F5000 Car is not just on a different level, it's a whole different planet! That has to be the most ridiculous "would rather have this for the same price" comment I've ever seen on Pistonheads

Not at all, it's a Chevy engine and the rest of it looks like something that could be fabricated by hand to be honest.

[cholo]

I have a supercharged VX220 which is worth about £15k, with a few choice mods like the TD wheels and adjustable coil overs to improve the handling to decent levels.

This has basically the same tub/architecture?

Sometime i wonder how these insane prices can be justified

[chirurgus]

julian64 said:

A V6 supercharged is not going be an engine note up there with the greats, however formidable the actual car might be.

Have you heard it? With the right exhaust, it sounds pretty incredible in both the Exige and Evora.

[exige250]

I would be interested (in a LHD) if the road tax (in Belgium) wasn't so bonkers.
Surely the ultimate modern Lotus?

[b14]

chirurgus said:

julian64 said:

A V6 supercharged is not going be an engine note up there with the greats, however formidable the actual car might be.

Have you heard it? With the right exhaust, it sounds pretty incredible in both the Exige and Evora.

Alongside this, the fact it is supercharged is only a good thing for noise - if it was turbocharged I'd understand given its effect on the exhaust note but a supercharger leaves the exhaust unsullied and adds a bit of whine.

[ChevronB19]

Hammersia said:

Midgster said:

Hammersia said:

It's, er, a race car / track car.

Whether it's the best race car / track car available for £104,000 is the question.

Think I'd be going open wheeled for that sort of money.

https://www.carandclassic.com/car/C1489831

Many moons ago (1998), I bought a TVR Chimaera for £34500 from Maranello in Egham. On the forecourt was a Lamborghini Countach (forget exactly which model) which was up for £39995 (yes it really was £40k!!). I could afford to buy the Lambo, but then could not afford the running costs. The Lambo was on a completely different level.

Comparing a Lotus 3-Eleven vs a F5000 Car is not just on a different level, it's a whole different planet! That has to be the most ridiculous "would rather have this for the same price" comment I've ever seen on Pistonheads

Not at all, it's a Chevy engine and the rest of it looks like something that could be fabricated by hand to be honest.

Tell me you have no idea whatsoever about the costs of running an historic race car of this level without explicitly stating it…

[What The Deuces]

cholo said:

I have a supercharged VX220 which is worth about £15k, with a few choice mods like the TD wheels and adjustable coil overs to improve the handling to decent levels.

This has basically the same tub/architecture?

Sometime i wonder how these insane prices can be justified

Is it nearly 500bhp?