OK, by now it should be readily apparent that this is my kind of a car. I LOVE light-weight, bare-bones, handling-above-all-else sports cars. Lotus 7s, Miatas, MR2s, Elises, Ferrari Dino 206S,those are my kind of rides. If I could figure out how to get a Formula Ford licensed for street use, I’d do it by sundown tomorrow - I swear I would.
So when Lotus says that they’re taking their already highly desirable 2-eleven and making an entry level version of it (essentially they dropped the power plant from the Elise R into this version of the 2-Eleven), I am SO there.
The whys and wherefores are pretty impressive:
189hp naturally aspirated engine, weight of only 720kg (that’ll be around 1600 pounds here in the U.S. of A.), zero to 60mph in just 4.3 seconds, top speed of 140mph.
And the options are just as tasty:
Two different limited slip differentials, an FIA approved 70 liter bag fuel tank, a removable competition steering wheel, a carbon fiber tonneau cover, four piston front brakes and an Aero accessories pack consists of an adjustable carbon fiber rear wing and a lengthened composite front splitter. The Sport accessories Pack adds Ohlins two-way adjustable dampers.
Great right?
Of course, there’s problems … three problems as near as I can tell:
1 - The price starts at €34,695 (which is, what, around $53,204.58 since the dollar is dropping as fast as W’s approval ratings)
2 - It’s a track only car
3 - You can’t get it in the US anyway
They need to make this car cheaper (low to mid 20s would be good), road legal and import the damn thing … alas (sigh) …
More pictures after the jump … now somebody out there get me street legal Formula Ford!
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