IN line with its tagline “continuous enhancements”, Lotus kept on improving its already-quick and -lightweight models.
Recently, the company has launched the 3-Eleven — Lotus’ quickest and most hardcore production car to lap its test track — and the Evora Sport 410 — the fastest road-going Evora ever produced.
Both received revisions on various aspects consisting of their powertrain, chassis and construction.
LOTUS 3-ELEVEN
Enthusiasts may recall the 2-Eleven; the dramatic, ultra-lightweight sports car built based on the shape of the previous Exige.
With no roof and no doors, the 2-Eleven remained the most hardcore Lotus you could buy, until the British company brought in the 3-Eleven.
Based on the current-generation Exige, the 3-Eleven features angular lines and sharp surfaces all over the car and is available in Road and Race versions.
It is powered by the 3.5-litre V6 with Edelbrock supercharger. The all-aluminium engine may be the same one available on the Exige. However, it has been tweaked to produce 410hp at 7,000rpm and 410Nm of torque from 3,000 to 7,000rpm, 90hp and 40Nm more than the base Exige.
With 925kg dry weight, the 3-Eleven can sprint from zero to 100kph in 3.4 seconds.
It is also the quickest road-going Lotus to lap the company’s test track in Hethel, the United Kingdom, clocking an impressive 1:20.
The Road version 3-Eleven comes with Eibach springs and Ohlins single adjustable dampers all around (2-way Ohlins adjustables on Race version).
Stopping power is managed by a pair of two-piece grooved ventilated brake discs with AP Racing four-piston calipers.
The 3-Eleven is equipped with lightweight forged aluminium wheels shod with either Michelin Pilot Super Sport (Road version) or Michelin Cup 2 (Race version) tyres.
Inside, there’s new full-colour TFT display with four different pages providing driving information to the driver.
The Lotus 3-Eleven is priced at RM640,855 for the Road version and RM868,214 for the harder Race version.
LOTUS EVORA SPORT 410
Along with the hardcore 3-Eleven, Lotus Cars Malaysia has introduced the Evora Sport 410.
Compared to the previous Evora 400, the Evora Sport 410 features a more powerful engine, lighter body and sharper handling.
Apart from the side stripes with “410 Sport” letterings, the Evora Sport 410 can be distinguished by its extensive carbon fibre components on the exterior.
This include carbon-fibre front splitter, carbon-fibre roof, carbon-fibre tailgate and carbon-fibre rear diffuser.
Lotus also claimed that the downforce on the Evora Sport 410 is 15 per cent more than that of the Evora 400, without any bump in drag.
Powering the Evora Sport 410 is the same 3.5-litre V6 engine with Edelbrock supercharger. It can be paired to a six-speed manual gearbox with Torsen limited-slip differential or a six-speed automatic with paddle-shifters.
Similar to other Lotus models, suspension on the Evora Sport 410 is fully-independent double-wishbone with completely revised Eibach springs and Bilstein dampers.
Drivers of the Evora Sport 410 can configure the car’s driving behaviour via Lotus’ Dynamic Performance Management (DPM), selectable from a switch on the dashboard.
Proportionally, the settings — Drive, Sport and Race — increase the car’s throttle response, lowering traction slip thresholds and removing understeer recognition.
In addition, the Evora Sport 410 is available with a host of optional features comprising full-titanium exhaust, four-speaker double DIN ICE unit with full satellite navigation, cruise control, sound insulation pack and mud flaps.
The Evora Sport 410 is retailed at RM640,999 for manual transmission models and RM651,999 for automatic models.