Lotus racer -- all the way to 11

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The Lotus 2-Eleven is solely for track use. But considering Lotus is one of the great names in motor sport, this is no bad thing. The 2-Eleven (so named in homage to the original Lotus 11 made from 1956 to ’58, the company’s first entry into Le Mans) is bereft of anything that isn’t required for racing. So, in true Lotus fashion, it’s incredibly lightweight. What it does have is plenty of race-bred knowledge in its chassis and engine.

The 1.8-liter four-cylinder engine, mid-mounted (as opposed to the old Lotus 11’s front-engine layout), delivers 250 horsepower, propelling the car to 60 mph from a standstill in a ruthless 3.8 seconds. The transmission is a six-speed manual.

Now here’s the good news and the bad news. The 2-Eleven is available now. And it costs $78,500. That’s a pretty serious investment in one’s racing career, weekend warrior or no.

-- Colin Ryan