Lotus Sport 2-Eleven

Lotus Sport’s new Exige-derived track tool

Track day warriors rejoice! Lotus’s performance division, Lotus Sport, is launching its long-awaited 2-Eleven at the Geneva show next week, and it looks the business.

Aimed at the true track day enthusiast, the 2-Eleven weighs in at just 670kg and produces 252bhp and 179lb.ft of torque through a supercharged and intercooled 1.8-litre engine. The power to weight ratio is claimed to be similar to that of a 1960's Formula 1 car, allowing the car to reach 60mph from a standstill in 3.8 seconds and top out at 155mph.

Under the 2-Eleven’s 40kg composite skin, mechanicals comprise of a Roots-type Eaton M62 supercharger (with a sealed-for-life internal mechanism negating use of the engine's oil), four high capacity injectors, an up-rated fuel pump, and a back-up engine oil reservoir with twin oil coolers. A sports-type clutch plate with heavy duty clutch cover put power down through the lightweight aluminium six-speed gearbox, mimicking the ratios of the Exige S.

The Lotus 2-Eleven uses a unique high-sided variant of the Lotus Elise lightweight chassis structure featuring epoxy bonded aluminium alloy extrusions. This package features a safety system with a glass-fibre reinforced composite front crash structure allied to a high sill chassis for side impact protection. Additional features include an FIA compliant six-point rollover structure with integral harness mounts and a galvanized steel rear sub frame.

A fully-independent suspension – utilizing unequal length wishbones and a set of two-way adjustable Öhlins dampers with coil over springs – are charged with keeping the car poised and predictable around bends, and the handling will certainly be enhanced by the adjustable front anti-roll bar and rear double shear track control arm brace. Lightweight five-spoke forged black alloy wheels (staggered 16-inch front and 17-inch rear) shod in Lotus Sport-specific Yokohama tires further serve to ensure grip at all four corners.

Stopping power for the car is provided by 288mm cast iron cross-drilled and ventilated discs with aluminium alloy AP Racing two-piston callipers at the front, and Brembo single sliding pistons at the rear. Lotus’ track tuned servo-assisted four-channel ABS system is also employed.

There will be two different versions of the 2-Eleven, though a ‘launch edition specification’ (comprising of a specific Lotus Sport colour scheme and racing decals) will be the initial offering. The road-legal car fitted with front and rear lights, exhaust catalyst, single plane rear wing and other items achieves compliance with UK requirements; while the track only version gets an enhanced aerodynamics package with a high-downforce single plane carbonfibre rear wing, high downforce front splitter, brake lights, rear indicators and a FIA approved driver’s race seat.

Production of the new track car is scheduled to start in April at Lotus’ manufacturing facility in Hethel, Norfolk, with pricing starting at £39,995.