Lotus 3-Eleven | Spotted

How to make a car crazier than a 2-Eleven? With a supercharged V6, of course

It would be fair to say that the past few years have seen quite a few limited edition Lotuses leave the Hethel gates. You'll have your own reasons as to why that was, but there were times when it was hard to keep track. Remember the Elise Cup 260? The Exige 20th Anniversary? The Evora GT430 Sport? Actually, yes, of course you do, because this is PH. But there's an argument to say that so many editions - some of them no more than confetti - rather took the edge off. No sooner had the world learnt about one liveried Lotus that another came along to steal its thunder. Until the next one.

The 3-Eleven, however, was richly deserving of the limelight. Shown to the world at the 2015 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the new Lotus promised "hypercar performance and handling" according to then-CEO Jean-Marc Gales. Even by the standard of the 2-Eleven that preceded it - indeed, compared to the rest of the Lotus range at the time - the 3-Eleven was on another level. In a lineup of fast, genuinely light cars, the 3-Eleven was the most powerful and lightest of all, with 416hp and just 920kg to shift. It was Evora power with Elise kerbweight and circuit focus beyond an Exige's wildest dreams - no wonder people paid attention.

Unencumbered by doors or a roof or even a windscreen, Lotus made only 311, with the final 20 allocated as '3-Eleven 430' special editions - presumably because they just couldn't resist. Or they were struggling to shift the final few. Either way there are very few of them (that was a global number, and the UK is only Lotus's third largest market) so it is very seldom that a 3-Eleven comes up for sale. It does happen on occasion, however...

They don't come much better than this 2018 3-Eleven 'Road'. In the launch spec (and traditional Lotus colour combo) of dark green and yellow, it looks little short of factory fresh - certainly not peppered with scars as might be expected from something to wantonly track focused. But then it's covered less than 2,000 miles in that time, presumably saved for the specialist of occasions. Newer, heavier, and torquier than the 2-Eleven it may have been, but the 3-Eleven is still a Lotus that some may well have considered trailering to a track.

Like every 3-Eleven, this one comes with a host of hardware to make every mile on circuit a joy: Ohlins adjustable dampers, AP Racing brakes and a limited-slip diff, the latter a rarity in a Lotus. Plus, of course, the howling 3.5-litre, supercharged V6, which a passenger will also get the chance to enjoy in this one with the second seat. With the last service in March 2021, it might need another once-over before attacking the 2022 track day season in anger, but otherwise it looks fabulous.

The price is £104,990, making it more expensive than the 3-Eleven 430 was when it was new. Blame rarity and 2022 for that - but also enthusiast regard for the car. We called it nothing less than "one of the greatest adrenaline fixes on four wheels", after all. The focus of a 2-Eleven with more than 400hp promised a lot, and the 3-Eleven unequivocally delivered. Which is probably why it's a lot of money now, but also why it stands to be worth a bit in future as well - even for those committed enough to put a few more miles on it.

SPECIFICATION | LOTUS 3-ELEVEN

Engine: 3,456cc, supercharged V6
Transmission: 6-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 416@7,000rpm
Torque (lb ft): 302@3,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
Recorded mileage: 2,000
First registered: 2015
Price new: £82,000 (Road, Race £115,200)
Yours for: £104,990

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Motormouth88

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