Faster Than A Porsche 918: Lotus 3-Eleven Sets Hockenheimring Lap Record [w/Video]

The Lotus 3-Eleven has become the fastest car ever to be recorded by Sport Auto around the German circuit.

Driven by Sport Auto’s Christian Gebhardt, the fastest series production Lotus lapped the Hockenheimring short circuit in 1.06,2 min, besting the Porsche 918’s performance by 0.1 seconds around the famous track.

The performance of the hardcore Lotus is even more impressive considering that the 3-Eleven was on standard road tires and that the temperature of the environment at the time was not higher than 8 degrees Celsius.

“Christian set a fabulous lap in less than ideal conditions,” said Jean-Marc Gales, Lotus CEO. “We knew from the outset that we have created a simply phenomenal car that is capable of great things, and this lap record proves that beyond doubt. This is the ultimate embodiment of the Lotus design philosophy”.

The revised supercharged 3.5-litre V6 engine now makes 460hp, making the 3-Eleven capable of a 2.9 seconds for the 0-60mph procedure, with the maximum speed set at 180mph (290km/h).

Utilizing a new lightweight composite body and a bespoke aluminium chassis, the Lotus 3-Eleven offers a power-to-weight ratio in excess of 500hp. Lotus will build just 311 units over the next two years.

“The Lotus 3-Eleven is an amazingly fast and track focused car in which to have a lot of fun at the limit,” said Christian Gebhardt. “It is the fastest series-production car in the test history of Sport Auto on the Hockenheimring Short Circuit.”