Once upon a time, Ford wanted us to remember that “Quality Is Job 1”; Subaru began touting “The Beauty of All-Wheel Drive”; and Peugeot invited us to “Live the Pleasure.” Yeah, some slogans clearly originated with the marketing department, but they didn’t inspire stylists or production workers to get on board with the whole concept. Lotus’ “Performance through Light Weight” stands as an exception. Company founder Colin Chapman didn’t brainstorm this as an empty slogan while sitting in a conference room; it was his fundamental philosophy.
Despite his death in 1982, Chapman’s mantra still echoes throughout the Lotus works in Hethel, England. In case there’s any doubt, witness the introduction of the 2-Eleven earlier this year at the Geneva International Motor Show. Based on the already-impressive Elise, the 2-Eleven is fit with unique bodywork that is reminiscent of an open-cockpit Le Mans car. Before you dream up your perfect vanity plate, be aware that the Road Going Version is only an option for UK customers. Our only choice is the aptly named and equipped Track Only Version. A demi-bummer, sure, but it’s better than being denied altogether.
So, how does the 2-Eleven measure against other exotics on the bases of luxury and practicality, relatively speaking? Each category is worth up to 50 points, so let’s see if 2-Eleven adds up to 100.
The luxury ride
The 2-Eleven does more than look like a racer; it goes like one too. That’s handy, since on this side of the pond its only earthly reason is to log track time, and quickly. Lotus reckons 0 to 60 mph should come and go in 3.8 seconds, 0 to 100 mph in 9.1 seconds and hit a top speed of 155 mph. There’s no windshield on the 2-Eleven (unless you count the low-profile Perspex deflector), so this all feels turned up to 11. Also absent are the things that don’t contribute to higher speed and lower track times. That means no doors, windows, top, stereo or HVAC. It does, however, feature an FIA-spec six-point rollbar and adjustable, fast-reacting, engine-based (rather than brake-based) traction-control system. Gentleman racers may scoff at the latter, but we’re sure many of them are secretly thankful.That partially explains why the 2-Eleven is so forgiving, especially for a mid-engine car. Rather than discovering you’ve reached 10/10ths only as you sail backwards into the Armco, handling is predictable all the way, and is even adjustable based on track and personal style. As we mentioned, the 2-Eleven is based on the Elise chassis and Exige S running gear, but it’s specially assembled in the Lotus Sport workshops at Hethel, essentially the higher performance, racing works, which might seem redundant. That Le Mans-like composite bodywork is both bolted on and lightweight (88 pounds all told) for easy removal. In fact, the whole car weighs in around 1,477 pounds.
Under that skin, the magic continues. The familiar, tough-as-nails, Toyota-sourced 16-valve, 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine is supercharged, intercooled and voodooed to kick out 252 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, with 179 lb-ft of torque at 7,000 rpm and a lofty 11.5:1 compression ratio. A six-speed manual is the sole transmission.
ABS is present, but unnoticeable until you really stand on the pedal from speed. Also at work are cross-drilled and ventilated discs located at each corner, with AP calipers in front and Brembos to the rear. Hoisting this hardware are four five-spoke alloys (16” fore and 17” aft) wrapped in Yokohama rubber.
The verdict
You have to commend Lotus for the 2-Eleven. This is not the only exotic that delivers stratospheric performance numbers right out of the box; however, it’s one of a very few bare-bones rides that make no concessions to luxury or overwhelm you with too many driver aids.Luxury score: 44
The 2-Eleven’s luxury score was nice, but will it garner similar results in the practical category?
the practical ride
OK, I can sense you giving me the stink eye. Even in the context of exotics, how can the roughly $80,000, track-only 2-Eleven even be considered on the basis of practicality? Well, by the time you outfit a lesser sports car into a track car with the 2-Eleven’s prowess, you have a sizable investment tied up. And since you’re imagining ownership anyway, imagine one that’s street legal.Cynics will sniff that the 2-Eleven’s name comes from the maximum height a driver can be to fit in the cockpit. Yes, it’s race-car snug, especially for those of us with very American bodies. On the plus side, the low-slung body and lack of a roof allow virtual step-in/step-out entry and exit. It’s infinitely easier than shimmying out of an Elise with the targa in place, which is an ungraceful process that surrealistically resembles birth, complete with facial contortions and cries of pain.
Inside the 2-Eleven, the driver is held in place with a six-point harness and the passenger with a four-point unit. This nearly concludes the tour of the cockpit. There’s really nothing else beyond essential gauges and controls. If this car were street legal, you’d have to entertain yourself with the noise of the engine (not at all Ferrari-esque) and shouted conversation. You’ll feel every bump, and you’ll feel every raindrop. If you were to get away for the weekend, you’d either fly solo or force your passenger to share space with your bags.
Then again, that engine may not wail like it was born in Maranello, but its toughness ensures owners won’t wail over five-digit repair bills either. And though EPA mileage estimates haven’t been determined, the 2-Eleven would theoretically achieve road results similar to the relatively economical Elise and Exige).
The verdict
Practicality forces me to set aside all the emotional lust for the 2-Eleven. If that’s even possible, I can’t pretend it would function well on the street. That doesn’t curb my enthusiasm, mind you.Practicality score: 39
and the total is...
Car slogans may be as soulless as some of the dispassionate drones that develop them, but “Performance through Light Weight” is Lotus’ raison d’être, perfectly demonstrated in the new 2-Eleven. It may only be coming to a track near you, but for the privileged few, it’s a pricey toy that will probably turn the quickest laps, sip fuel and withstand a beating. Thank you sir, may I have another?83/100
Resources:http://www.grouplotus.com/mediactr/pr_download.php?pid=318 - Summary
http://www.grouplotus.com/mediactr/pr_download.php?pid=329 - Tech specs
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lotus_2-Eleven
0 comments:
Publicar un comentario