Lotus Introduces Personal Exige-Based Race Car at Geneva

Finally available in North America, the Lotus Elise and its hardtop sibling, theExige S are two frills-free, but extremely fun ways of getting from A-to-B. Delivering genuine thrills, these two vehicles are helping Lotus to re-establish itself in North America in a way that mirrors its original roots. The latest product that Lotus has come up with is a track day car, or rather an affordable, privately owned racing car designed to be driven on the race track.

The 2-Eleven is essentially Lotus' head banging, supercharged Exige S sans the roof, side-windows, stock windshield and just about everything else, with a modified structure for improved crash protection, structural rigidity and reduction of weight. The new windshield is a small Plexiglas screen fit for a motorcycle. And while it doesn't have ABS brakes or airbags, it has something most cars don't.

Logically, the 2-Eleven maintains the same drivetrain supplied by its donor car, but it's more powerful. The supercharged Toyota 1.8-liter VVT-i engine now creates 252 horsepower at 8,000 rpm and 179 lb-ft at 7,000 rpm,which is borderline astronomical for a unit of this size and weight. Without the roof, glass and the usual Lotus luxuries (ie. floor mats, stereo, etc.), the 2-Eleven tips the scales at just 1,447 lbs, meaning that there's just 5.9 lbs for each pony to pull. Lotus' boffins calculated that the 2-Eleven has the power to weight ratio equal to that of a 1960s Formula One car. Granted that such a vehicle is approaching a half century in age, but this is Formula One we're talking about. The engine drives a short-ratio six-speed manual gearbox.

Lotus will be offering the 2-Eleven in two different and self-explanatory versions. There's the Road Going Version which, as the name suggests, is street legal. It features a catalytic converter, head andbrake lights, a rear spoiler and various other things to help it comply with UK regulations. Given that the Road Going Version abides by UK laws, it's only offered in its home market, though we question the sanity of anyone actually wanting to drive such a vehicle on city streets and highways (especially in rainy Britain).

The other available model (you guessed it) is the Track Only Version, which has its front splitter and rear spoiler tuned for high-downforce, brake lights (no head lights), and a proper driver's racing seat, approved by the FIA. This model will be sold in various other markets such as Europe and Japan. The first batch of 2-Elevens features the black, yellow and white paint scheme as standard.

And what price is Lotus asking for this authentic race car? The Track Only Version sells at £39,995, which is equal to $78,000; not at all bad for a race car. The Road Going Version is a touch more expensive at £41,095, or $80,200. The car will make its world debut in Geneva next week.