Lotus 3-Eleven 430 Is The Fastest And Final Edition
Lotus is preparing to usher out the 3-Eleven and replace it (and the rest of the range) with a new generation of lightweight sports cars. But not before it makes one last version of the superlight speedster. Called the 3-Eleven 430, the ultimate edition of the most hardcore Lotus to date packs the company’s biggest engine into its lightest model. That means a 3.5-liter supercharged V6, kicking out 430 horsepower and 324 lb-ft of torque through a six-speed manual gearbox. No trick all-wheel-drive system, no dual-cluch transmissions… just a power-to-weight ratio of 467 hp per metric ton. With just 2,028 pounds to motivate – 11 fewer than before – the new 3-Eleven 430 will hustle to 60 in just 3.1 seconds and top out at 180 miles per hour with the wind in your face (or hopefully a full-face helmet). That’s measurably quicker than the previous version of the 3-Eleven, which took 3.3 seconds to reach 60 on its way to a 174-mph top end. More to the point, the Lotus 3-E...