2000 Lotus 340R

The Lotus 340R’s wild looks do more than inspire wonder, they embody the bottom-line of Lotus founder Colin Chapman’s design philosophy: “Simplify, then add lightness.” The 340R takes adding lightness to the extreme. A glance at this bare-bones roadster and you’ll see that nearly everything has been stripped off, while still retaining what makes the Lotus Elise great. At a svelte 1,541 pounds with 177 horsepower from its rear-mounted 1.8-liter four-cylinder, the 340R will float through corners and leap like a kangaroo from launch. Tame this low-production specialty on the road or let it run wild in the Outback. It’s ready to be abused in the search for speed.