New AutoCars News: Lotus 3-Eleven

As with the previous model, the 3-Eleven is essentially a more focused, open-cockpit version of the Exige chassis, with the revised 3.5-litre V6 pumping out 450hp at 7,000rpm and 332lb ft of torque from 3,500rpm through to 6,500rpm. The engine is mated to a close-ratio six-speed manual gearbox for the road-going version as Lotus will also offer a Race derivative which uses a six-speed sequential transmission with paddles and a semi-dry sump.

The dry weight of the Race model is set to be below 900kg, giving the 3-Eleven a power-to-weight ratio of more than 500hp per tonne. 0 to 60mph comes in less than 3.0 seconds while top speed is rated at 174mph (280km/h) for the Race model and 180mph (290km/h) for the road-legal one.

Jean-Marc Gales, Lotus boss said: "This new car is a giant slayer, capable of embarrassing far more expensive rivals. It condenses our engineering know-how into one, hard-core package, and is so focused that it won’t suit everyone. This is a perfect demonstration of the faster and lighter concept, something which will be crucial to all Lotus cars in the future."

The new 3-Eleven is officially the fastest Lotus ever built as it lapped Hethel's test track in just 1min 22secs. The road-legal version features a roll cage with twin side bars for better side protection while the Race version has additional bars to meet with the international requirements for racing.

A set of lightweight double wishbones were used front and back, as well as an adjustable front anti-roll bar and Eibach spring with adjustable Ohlins dampers. The grooved brake discs measure 332mm front and rear with AP Racing four-piston calipers on them while the Race version has upgraded brake pads.

Lotus says that the whole body is made from "very light weight composite materials" allowing it to be 40% lighter than the GRP equivalent. Aerodynamically, the 3-Eleven produces up to 215kg of real downforce at 150mph (240km/h) in Race spec. There is a choice between two front splitter configurations, depending on the spec of the model with the same happening for the rear fixed wing.

The interior is as minimal as you would imagine, with Lotus offering as an option a passenger seat which remains removable so the driver can fit an also optional tonneau panel to improve overall aerodynamics. A colour TFT screen provides the driver with all the important information, with the steering wheel to be removable as it is the norm with this kind of track-day cars.

The new Lotus 3-Eleven will be hand-made when production starts in February 2016 with prices starting at £82,000 for the road-going model and £115,200 for the Race version. Production will be strictly limited to 311 units in total.

PHOTOS GALLERY:

The special road-legal track-day 2-Eleven (pictured) was not just fast, it was in a league of its own. It could hold its head up against more potent and expensive supercars although it only had a supercharged 4-cylinder 1.8-liter which developed around 252 BHP. But its secret was weight, more specifically, the lack of it.

The future 3-eleven is expected to stay true to its roots and follow Chapman’s philosophy of nimble, lightweight cars. It will feature the same 2GR-FZE Toyota supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine, used in the Exige S and Evora S, but boosted up to 420 BHP.

Considering the “old” 2-Eleven had curb a weight of only 666 Kg (1,468 lb), we assume its replacement will not stretch this figure very far - especially if the car will feature the same aluminum monocoque chassis as the Exige S. Even if the 3-eleven will weigh close to 800 kg, it will still have a power to weight ratio of 525BHP – that’s phenomenal.

So phenomenal, in fact, that it will destroy the 2-Eleven's 3.8 second sprint from 0 to 100 Km/h (62 MPH) time and its 241 Km/h (150 MPH) top speed.

We know that because According to Autocar, Lotus’s CEO - Jean-Marc Gales, wants the car to break the 3 second 0 to 100 Km/h sprint barrier and to surpass 290 Km/h (180 MPH). Furthermore, the 3-Eleven is said to be capable of lapping the Nurburgring in just over seven minutes – That’s pretty close to Porsche’s 918 Spyder hypercar (6m57s). But then again, these figures are exclusively for the track-only version of the Lotus.