Stick to what you're good at, they say. Well, if there's one thing Lotus knows how to do better than anyone else, it's removing weight. The firm has been 'adding lightness' long before the days of ultra-exotic fibres and 3D printing. Colin Chapman's obsession with simplicity remained its guiding principle long after his death in '82, and nowhere is it better evidenced than in the 340R which Lotus launched two decades ago.
Based on the Elise's innovative aluminium chassis, but shedding everything not absolutely necessary, the 340R marked a return almost to the day's when Chapman's cars were little more than chassis and engine. With no doors, side windows or roof to sully the effort, the 340R tips scales at 675kg. It's easily the half the weight of a modern hatchback, so while 180hp from a mid-mounted Rover K-Series four-pot seemed modest, its power-to-weight wasn't far off the Ferrari 360 Modena.
Straight-line performance is, as you'd expect, exceptional. A 4.5-second 0-60mph time isn't a clear demonstration of the pace on offer; with so little mass over back axle, off-the-line launches are never going to be a 340R's forte. Short ratios and a revvy four-pot mean the 340R is supercar-fast once rolling, with a snappy throttle response making the flyweight chassis more adjustable than the Elise. Lotus actually wound up the spring rates of the 340R's all-round double-wishbone setup despite the diet, which gives you some idea of the agility on offer.
That being said, like the Elise S1, the 340R has always been a car that revels most when thrashed. Peak output comes in at 7,800rpm, with a peak of only 126lb ft of torque arriving shortly beforehand. The manual's five-speeds are closely stacked, so you're never short of motive power. But the best of it is inevitably way up into the rev band, at which point the 340R's 1.8-litre unit projects an unmuffled howl.
It can also send the car spinning around in an instance should a driver be clumsy on the throttle. For those dialled into its razor-sharp responses, though, the 340R has never been less than manageable. Only 340 were produced after the car's 2000 launch (all sold out before production started), but it's no secret that a significant number have seen regular track use, with good reason. Now with a growing appetite for low volume collectables like this, there's arguably investment value in the seldom seen Lotus.
Today's Spotted is a perfect illustration, with 15,002 miles on the clock helping its seller justify a £52,950 asking price. The other 340R on PH isn't far off that, although we've picked this car partly due to its lower mileage, and also because it's received a couple of upgrades that should make it even more exciting and reliable. Namely, a remap that's taken power to 190hp, a gearbox box that has even closer ratios and an engine which was rebuilt at 9,970 miles with tougher MGTF 160 bearings. Yes, you could buy a new Porsche Cayman for that. But it would be twice the weight and only half as fun...
SPECIFICATION | LOTUS 340R
Engine: 1,796cc, inline four
Transmission: Five-speed manual, rear-wheel drive
Power (hp): 180@7,800rpm (remapped to 190hp)
Torque (lb ft): 126@5,000rpm
MPG: N/A
CO2: N/A
First registered: 2001
Recorded mileage: 15,002
Price new: £35,000
Yours for: £52,950
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