As Lotus prepares to enter a new chapter in its life, the British automaker is saying goodbye to the pee-inducing 3-Eleven with an even more limited version of the already limited track superstar. Confused? Don’t be. The Lotus 3-Eleven 430 is the true limited edition model here because only 20 models are going to be made. It also happens to be the fastest and most powerful car Lotus has ever created, a staggering boast considering that its predecessor was already cable of accelerating from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.3 seconds before setting off to a top speed run reaching 174 mph. If you thought the 3-Eleven was fast, Lotus will beg to differ. The 3-Eleven 430 has taken its place on that throne.

What makes the Lotus 3-Eleven 430 special

Maybe I should get inside a Lotus 3-Eleven 430 because, by the looks of it, this bad boy has evil intentions.

You only need to look at it to know what I mean. The 3-Eleven 430 draws plenty of similarities to its predecessor, the 3-Eleven. It has a body made from a lightweight carbon-composite material and a bespoke aluminum chassis. The Barchetta-styled sports car even shows up in a sexy red outfit with trims of black and silver for good measure. Throw in all the fancy aero bits, including the large splitter, reshaped fenders, and that enormous wing at the back that’s mounted higher than the one found on the standard 3-Eleven, and you have a car that looks like the quintessential definition of a sports car. Mercy me, it doesn’t even have a roof! And that exposed rollover hoop at the back? That’s another sprinkling of sexy and functionality in one package.

There was nothing ordinary about the 3-Eleven when it debuted in 2016. But when it comes to the overall cosmetic package, it has nothing on the 3-Eleven 430. And for what it’s worth, Lotus even found a way to strip five kilos from the car’s dry weight, allowing it to tip the scales at a svelte 920 kilos, or right around 2,028 pounds. Remember the weight because it’s going to play a huge part in the car’s performance, which I’ll get to later.

In the meantime, let’s look at the 3-Eleven 430’s interior. Unfortunately, Lotus couldn’t be bothered to give the sports car’s cockpit anything that resembles class and luxury. It’s still as spartan as the 3-Eleven, though it does have one important element that its predecessor lacked. Notice it? Yep! There are two bucket seats now! Not only is that a significant departure from the one-seater 3-Eleven, but it also provides the opportunity to give an unsuspecting person the ride of a lifetime.

While I’m in the subject of the “ride of a lifetime,” it’s worth noting that one of the biggest improvements Lotus made on the 3-Eleven 430 sits under the hood of this carbon fiber pocket rocket. There’s a 3.5-liter V-6 engine in there, one that produces a mouth-watering 430 horsepower and 324 pound-feet of torque. It’s capable of sprinting from 0 to 60 mph in just 3.1 seconds, making it 0.2 seconds quicker off the line than the 3-Eleven. The 3-Eleven 430’s top speed number is also trending in the right direction. It doesn’t just stop at reaching 174 mph like the “old” 3-Eleven. It adds another extra six mph into the equation, helping it achieve a top speed of 180 mph.

All that power coming out of that V-6 engine is channeled to the wheels by a six-speed manual transmission. To improve traction, Lotus also gave the 3-Eleven 430 a Torsen-type limited slip differential and a six-position variable traction control, the latter of which is directly linked to the V-6 engine’s ECU.

Oh, and remember what I mentioned about its weight? Put the weight and power numbers together and the result is a power-to-weight ratio of 467 horsepower per ton. Not only is that an increase of 24 horsepower per ton over the 3-Eleven, but it’s higher than what the Ferrari 488 GTB — 454 horsepower per ton — is capable of.

When the Lotus 3-Eleven was unveiled in 2016, it was hard to imagine the automaker developing a more extreme version of what’s already an extreme car. And yet, here we are. The Lotus 3-Eleven 430 is a fitting swan song for Lotus as it prepares to close this chapter of its life. The 3-Eleven 430 is limited to just 20 units with each model carrying a price of £102,000. That’s around $143,000 based on current exchange rates. Sure, it’s not cheap, but then again, most things in life that come in this package aren’t exactly bargain bin finds.

If you’re interested in being one of the lucky few to score a 3-Eleven 430, you better hurry up because the automaker is already taking orders for the car.

References

Lotus 3-Eleven

Read our full review on the 2017 Lotus 3-Eleven.