Lotus 340R – A road-going racing car

LOTUS
340R

A road-going racing car focused for pure driving pleasure

SINGLE PIECE MINIMALIST BODY OF COMPOSITE

Revealed as a concept at the 1998 Birmingham International Motor Show, the 340R’s unique profile captured the imagination of Lotus fans worldwide. The glass reinforced composite bodywork was sculpted by Lotus designer Russel Carr, who sketched out a Formula One inspired front wing and deep air intake and exit vents.

LIMITED TO JUST 340 UNITS

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Created in collaboration with UK motoring magazine Autocar, the 340R was first shown as a concept at the October 1998 Birmingham Motor Show, but production didn’t start until 12 months later.

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UPGRADED EXCELLENCE

340R bodywork was kept to an absolute minimum. With the optional 190 bhp upgrade to the engine and lightweight track centric components, the 340R achieved a power to weight ratio of 340bhp/ton that would be the namesake for the 340R.

CONCEPT TO REALITY

The futuristic design language of the 340R led the way for the design direction of the later “Series 2” Lotus Elise. Officially, the name of the car was the Lotus Elise 340R.

340R STATISTICS

Name Lotus 340R
Lotus Type No: 111
Year of production 2000
Volume 340
Engine 1,796cc, 4-cylinder
Power output 177bhp
Transmission 5-speed
Weight 601kg

Name Lotus 340R (Track Only Option)
Lotus Type No: 111
Year of production 2000
Volume n/a
Engine 1,796cc, 4-cylinder
Power output 190bhp
Transmission 5-speed
Weight 601kg

SPECIAL
EDITIONS

LOTUS EXPOSÉ

Lotus product manager Tony Shute developed a radical hill-climb version of the 340R. The idea for the see-through body that was made-up of four polycarbonate mouldings came from seeing his son’s radio-controlled Lotus model car. The Lotus Technology Group was drafted in to help, and the result was a lightweight, strong and easy-to-manufacture vacuum-formed polycarbonate body that shaved 25kg from a track-prepared 340R. A further 40kg was shed by removing the windscreen and heater mechanism.