Author Archive: GerDenHaan

Lotus 3-Eleven 430 The most extreme machine that Lotus builds, the new 3-Eleven 430 is the fastest Lotus road car to lap the challenging Hethel circuit, 0.8 seconds quicker than the second place Exige Cup 430, and two seconds quicker than the previous 3-Eleven, delivering a benchmark time of 1 minute 24 seconds. Upgraded and specifically re-optimised for the 3-Eleven, the supercharged and charge-cooled 3.5-litre V6 engine produces 430 hp and 440 Nm, propelling the 3-Eleven 430 from 0-60 mph in an astonishing 3.1 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.2 seconds) and a top speed of 180 mph (290 km/h) - up from 3.3 seconds (0-60 mph) (3.4 seconds 0-100 km/h) and 174 mph (280 km/h) for the previous version of the Lotus 3-Eleven.Designed to provide enthusiast drivers with the purest and most direct of driving experiences, the 3-Eleven is cut from the same cloth as the most iconic Lotus cars. Remaining true to the company’s edicts, it employs a lightweight carbon-composite body and a bespoke extruded and bonded aluminium chassis. Sculpted part-exposed carbon side panels and striking carbon interior panels all contribute to the exceptional light weight.Its unashamedly aggressive styling, lightweight design and hypercar-humbling performan [...]

Lotus Exige Cup 380 Without equal and without compromise, the new Exige Cup 380 provides the perfect balance between fully type approved road car and genuine race car to deliver the ultimate track-and-back street-legal Lotus. With a purity of drive unheard of in road cars, and a power-to-weight ratio of 355 hp per tonne, the Exige Cup 380 delivers genuine race pace, with 0-60mph in 3.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds) and top speed of 175 mph (282 km/h). However, unlike some rival’s cars, the Exige Cup 380 really can drive to a track, set the fastest lap and take the win, before heading home. Indeed, the Exige Cup 380 is not just unbeatable point-to-point and capable of winning highly competitive races: it is also a car that can be used and enjoyed every single day.Honing the Exige Cup 380’s high speed abilities was paramount in its development, and the inclusion of new wind tunnel developed aerodynamic elements allow this road-going Exige to deliver up to 200 kg of aerodynamic downforce at a top speed of 175 mph. Making their first appearance on a road-going Lotus, heavily revised bodywork elements contribute to this increased downforce. Located over the wheels, the front louvers equalise the pressure differential within th [...]

Lotus Exige Sport 380 Unrivalled in its class: faster, sharper, and more direct than adversaries, the Exige Sport 380 is definitely not for the timid. With a dry weight of just 1,076 kg, and boasting a potent power-to-weight ratio of 338 hp per tonne, the new, pure-bred Lotus has been conceived to out perform and out manoeuvre so called supercars. The new Exige is blisteringly fast off the line, dispatching 0-60mph in 3.5 seconds before reaching a top speed of 178 mph.The uprated 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine in the Exige Sport 380 generates 375 hp at 6700rpm and 410 Nm (302 lbft) of torque at 5000rpm. Refined from countless hours of testing and development, it’s a design that’s proved its mettle by powering some of Lotus’ latest supercars. Power increase comes from a revised supercharger pulley, which increases charge pressure, an uprated fuel pump, a recalibrated ECU and the introduction of a revised exhaust system. Allowing owners to enjoy the new Exige for longer between fuel stops, it also comes with an enlarged, 48-litre petrol tank.Lotus returned to the Lightweight Laboratory in order to cut kilos from the kerb weight of the Exige Sport 380 which features hand-made, high-gloss visible weave components as standard. Thi [...]

Lotus Evora Sport 410 The Evora Sport 410 is the result of Lotus’ philosophy of continuous improvement. With a lower centre of gravity, and a kerb weight slashed to just 1,325 kg, the car provides an impressive 309 hp/tonne, and builds on the achievements of the excellent Evora 400. In addition to boosting straight-line speed, the significant reduction in mass has allowed sharper, more agile and intuitive handling - with even greater accuracy and feel.Complementing the weight savings is a higher-output version of the supercharged, 3.5-litre 6-cylinder engine, developed through the Lotus 3-Eleven project which has beaten Nürburgring records. As a result, the car boasts 410 hp at 7000 rpm and 420 Nm of torque at 3500 rpm.The high-performance, carbon fibre components have played the single biggest role in the evolution of the Evora Sport 410. These include front splitter, roof panel, tailgate, and rear diffuser as well as race-derived sports seats and a revised front access panel. The one-piece carbon tailgate incorporates a louvered section, inspired by some of Lotus’ most-famous heritage models, and together with carbon rear quarter-light panels help provide the car with a sleeker, fastback-style trailing roofline. These changes [...]

Lotus Evora 400 The Lotus Evora 400 is the fastest Lotus road car of the New Millennium. Its lightweight chassis has been lowered and widened to make cockpit entry and exit to the 2+2 composite body easy. The Evora 400 exudes the Lotus spirit of lightness and driving purity so succinctly. Despite producing 400 hp (406 ps) from its 3.5-litre supercharged V6 engine, with its comfortable cabin displaying many new features, the overall kerbweight of the Evora 400 has been reduced by 42 kg over its forebear. As a result, its exquisite power to weight ratio, combined with an aerodynamic package that maintains zero lift but increases downforce at high speeds, simply enhances its supercar appeal.The exquisite 3.5-litre V6 engine has been modified significantly to achieve the supercar performance of the Evora 400. Its induction system has been supplemented by a revised supercharger and a water-to-air chargecooler, that raises power to an outstanding 400 hp (406 ps). Select the first of its six, close-ratio, manual gears and the acceleration is viscerally exciting. In fact, the automatic version is even swifter off the mark, its performance sharpened by the Race setting in the Dynamic Performance Management system. A V-max of 186 mph (30 [...]

Lotus Elise Sprint 220 Ensuring that this latest Elise remains true to the company’s DNA, the return for the Sprint badge - as used on historic models including the Elan - is designed to provide a highly attractive super-lightweight option sitting above the Elise Sport. Featuring a host of weight-saving items as standard, the new Elise Sprint offers the latest in efficient engineering to deliver a car that sets the standard at under 800 kg.Offering 217 hp / 250 Nm of torque, the 1.8-litre supercharged engine of the Elise Sprint 220 has been specifically tuned to deliver a benchmark power-to-weight ratio and class leading efficiency. The car's reduction in weight translates into quicker acceleration with 0-60 mph in 4.1 seconds, harder cornering and a power to weight ratio of up to 257 hp / tonne. Being so lightweight, emissions are extremely low with 174 g CO2 / km. Stopping power is provided by AP Racing twin-piston front calipers and Brembo single-piston rear-calipers - optional lightweight two-piece brake discs are also available. Like all Elise, the Elise Sprint 220 benefits from Lotus’ Dynamic Performance Management (Lotus DPM) with user selectable driving modes. Last not least, Hethel’s acoustic engineers have spent time [...]

Lotus Elise Sprint Ensuring that this latest Elise remains true to the company’s DNA, the return for the Sprint badge - as used on historic models including the Elan - is designed to provide a highly attractive super-lightweight option sitting above the Elise Sport. Featuring a host of weight-saving items as standard, the new Elise Sprint offers the latest in efficient engineering to deliver a car that sets the standard at under 800 kg.Offering 134 hp / 160 Nm of torque, the 1.6-litre naturally aspirated engine of the Elise Sprint has been specifically tuned to deliver a benchmark power-to-weight ratio and class leading efficiency. The car's reduction in weight translates into quicker acceleration with 0-60 mph in 5.9 seconds, harder cornering and a power to weight ratio of up to 168 hp / tonne. Being so lightweight, emissions are extremely low with 149 g CO2 / km. Stopping power is provided by AP Racing twin-piston front calipers and Brembo single-piston rear-calipers - optional lightweight two-piece brake discs are also available. Like all Elise, the Elise Sprint benefits from Lotus’ Dynamic Performance Management (Lotus DPM) with user selectable driving modes.Featuring the Elise's distinctive new styling, the Elise Sprint in [...]

Without equal and without compromise, the ballistic new Exige Cup 380 coupe provides the perfect balance between fully type approved road car and genuine race car to deliver the ultimate track-and-back street-legal Lotus.

Evolved from the hugely successful and capable Exige Sport 380, this latest Lotus supercar is the purest manifestation yet of the company’s Cup concept for sports cars. Genuinely eligible for competition yet undeniably elegant, just 60 editions of this extreme Exige are planned for worldwide markets – assuring its status as one of Lotus’ most collectable road cars.

With a purity of drive unheard of in road cars, and a power-to-weight ratio of 355 hp per tonne, the Exige Cup 380 [...]

Continuing the runaway success of Lotus’ return to North America, the legendary British Sportscar maker has unveiled a unique Evora Sport 410 in one of the company’s most famous liveries, as order books open for the sensational sports car in the US and Canada.

Available in the new GP Edition colour scheme, as well as Lotus’ standard array of paint options, the new Lotus Evora Sport 410 for North America is the lightest and most focused iteration of the Evora, and joins the benchmark Evora 400 in the company’s line-up as a fully type approved model. It is also the fastest road-going Lotus ever sold in the US, clocking 0-60mph in 3.9 secs and a top speed of 190 mph. A literal translation of Lotus’ simplify then add lightness manifesto, this new 2017 MY Federal version [...]