The Lotus 340R is a limited edition sports car manufactured by Lotus Cars in 2000 at their Hethel factory.

Lotus 340R
Two 340Rs
Overview
ManufacturerLotus Cars
Model years2000
Body and chassis
LayoutMR layout
RelatedLotus Elise
Powertrain
Engine1.8L Rover K Series I4
TransmissionRover 5 speed PG1 Close Ratio Gearbox
Dimensions
Length142.2 in (3.61 m)
Kerb weight701 kg (1,545 lb)
Chronology
SuccessorLotus 2-Eleven

Overview

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Originally introduced as a concept car at the 1998 Birmingham Motor Show, the 340R is a special edition of the Lotus Elise. 340 were built, and all were sold before they were manufactured. It uses a custom built bodyshell with no roof or doors. All cars came with a silver and black colour scheme. Special A038R tyres were developed for the 340R in collaboration with Yokohama.

While road-legal in the UK and Europe,[1] most of the surviving cars are only used for racing, track use, or demonstrations.[citation needed]

Engine

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Side view of a 340R

The engine is a four-cylinder version of the 1.8L Rover K-Series engine called VHPD (Very High Power Derivative) used in the regular Elise which produces 177 bhp (132 kW; 179 PS) at 7800 rpm and 172 N⋅m (127 lbf⋅ft) at 6750 rpm as standard, or 187 bhp (139 kW; 190 PS) at 7500 rpm and 189 N⋅m (139 lbf⋅ft) at 5600 rpm with optional Lotus accessories. The former can accelerate to 60 mph from a standstill in 4.4 seconds and has a top speed of 133 mph (214 km/h).[2][3]

Specifications

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  • 0-160 km/h (99 mph) 10.7 sec
  • Power-to-weight ratio: 252.5 bhp (188.3 kW)/Ton or 3.96 kg (8.73 lb)/bhp
  • Price: £35,000

References

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  1. ^ "The Lotus 340R Is Still One Of The Most Extreme Cars Put Into Production". Jalopnik. 25 February 2018. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
  2. ^ 2000 Lotus 340R | Top Speed[1][2]
  3. ^ Lotus. "This Rare Lotus 340R Lives in the USA, and It's for Sale". Motor1.com. Retrieved 24 November 2019.
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