2009 Lotus 2-Eleven

The 2-Eleven is by any standard an extreme car. In the United States (and likely other jursidictions), it’s so extreme it can’t be driven on the street, and lives only on racetracks (where it must be admitted it is most at home). However, in Lotus’ home market, for a small fee you can have Lotus equip the 2-Eleven for road use with lights, mirrors, and the like. That being said, it takes a strong nerve to drive this minimalist car, with no top, windscreen, or amenities like a carpet or radio, on the road. In particular, the car’s unique qualities might be a hindrance too, as the 2-Eleven single-handedly seeks to redefine “extreme performance.” Weighing just 1,650 lbs., and with 251 horsepower courtesy of a supercharged 1.8-liter motor, the 2-Eleven is superlative in virtually every performance metric—despite technicalities, the 2-Eleven is truly a racecar. It’s also a worthy successor to its namesake, the original Lotus 11, a similarly light and powerful car for its day.