Lotus 340R: Which Version Should You Buy?
The Lotus 340R catalogue contains one generation and one version: the 1.8 MT. Produced in 2000 as a Speedster, it combines a 1796 cm³ Gasoline engine with 180 hp, 171 Nm, a 5-speed Manual gearbox, and RWD. Because there are no alternative generations, engines, transmissions, or drivetrains in the supplied data, choosing a 340R is not a comparison between trims.
The Lotus 340R catalogue contains one generation and one version: the 1.8 MT. Produced in 2000 as a Speedster, it combines a 1796 cm³ Gasoline engine with 180 hp, 171 Nm, a 5-speed Manual gearbox, and RWD. Because there are no alternative generations, engines, transmissions, or drivetrains in the supplied data, choosing a 340R is not a comparison between trims. The decision is whether this single specification suits your priorities.
Lotus 340R generations compared
The 1 generation was produced from 2000 to 2000. It has a Speedster body and contains exactly one version, the 1.8 MT. No restyling or second generation is listed, so there is no later 340R with different performance, equipment, bodywork, or mechanical specifications to compare.
This also means there is no generation-to-generation change to calculate. Buyers cannot choose between an earlier and later engine, a lower- and higher-powered derivative, or different gearbox and drive layouts within the supplied catalogue. Every available comparison leads back to the same 1.8 MT specification.
Engine and specs
| Version | Power | Torque | Displacement | Fuel | Cylinders | Layout | Boost | Gearbox | Drive |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.8 MT | 180 hp | 171 Nm | 1796 cm³ | Gasoline | 4 | Inline | No | 5-speed Manual | RWD |
The 1.8 MT uses a centrally located, naturally aspirated 1796 cm³ Gasoline engine. It has 4 Inline cylinders, 4 valves per cylinder, distributed injection (multi-point), and no boost. Maximum output is 180 hp at 7800 rpm, while maximum torque is 171 Nm at 5000 rpm. The compression ratio is 11.5, and the bore and stroke are 80 × 89.3 mm. The specified fuel grade is 95.
Calculated from the supplied displacement and output, the engine produces approximately 100.2 hp per litre. Its specific torque is approximately 95.2 Nm per litre. These figures do not distinguish one 340R version from another because the catalogue has only the 1.8 MT, but they clarify what this version delivers from its engine capacity.
Performance, top speed, and mpg
The Lotus 340R 1.8 MT accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.5 seconds and has a maximum speed of 217 km/h. There is no lower-powered or higher-powered version in the data, so these performance figures apply to the sole purchasing choice rather than one member of a wider range.
City fuel consumption is not measured. Highway fuel consumption is not measured. Combined fuel consumption is not measured. CO₂ emissions are also not measured, and the environmental class is not measured. Therefore, the supplied data cannot support an mpg comparison or a fuel-cost comparison against another 340R version.
The fuel tank holds 40 litres. Driving range cannot be calculated because no city, highway, or combined consumption figure was measured.
Dimensions, weight, and ground clearance
The Lotus 340R 1.8 MT has a kerb weight of 660 kg. Gross weight is not measured. Ground clearance is 100 mm, and fuel-tank capacity is 40 litres. Wheel sizes are not measured.
Using the supplied kerb weight and power, the 1.8 MT has approximately 3.67 kg per hp, equivalent to approximately 272.7 hp per tonne. With 171 Nm moving 660 kg, it also provides approximately 259.1 Nm per tonne. These calculated ratios help explain the relationship between the listed output and mass without introducing specifications from outside the catalogue.
Both the front and rear suspension are Independent, spring. The front brakes are Ventilated disc, while the rear brakes are listed as Disc ventilated. Because wheel sizes and gross weight were not measured, those details cannot be used to compare potential configurations.
Gearbox and drivetrain choice
There is no automatic alternative to the 1.8 MT. Its only listed transmission is a 5-speed Manual, and its only listed drive system is RWD. Likewise, there is no boosted engine option: the boost field is explicitly No.
That makes the buying decision unusually direct. Anyone requiring an Automatic gearbox, AWD, or a choice of engine outputs will not find those alternatives in the supplied 340R range. Anyone specifically seeking the recorded combination of a 5-speed Manual, RWD, a central engine location, and a 660 kg kerb weight has only the 1.8 MT to consider.
Which Lotus 340R version should you buy?
Choose the 1.8 MT if its fixed specification matches your requirements: 180 hp, 171 Nm, 1796 cm³, 4 Inline cylinders, no boost, a 5-speed Manual gearbox, and RWD. Its main numerical case is the combination of 4.5-second acceleration to 100 km/h, a 217 km/h maximum speed, and a 660 kg kerb weight.
There is no “best value” derivative because no second version is available for comparison, and the supplied data contains no prices. Consequently, there is no extra amount of money that can be tied to more power, another gearbox, or a newer generation. The 1.8 MT is simultaneously the entry version, the most powerful version, and the only version in this catalogue.
Before choosing it, account for the missing measurements. City, highway, and combined fuel consumption are not measured; gross weight is not measured; wheel sizes are not measured; CO₂ emissions and environmental class are not measured. Those gaps prevent reliable economy, payload, wheel-fitment, and emissions comparisons.
In short, buy the Lotus 340R 1.8 MT for the specification that is actually documented, not because it defeats another 340R derivative. There are no alternative versions or generations in the data. The purchase rests on whether one package—180 hp, 171 Nm, 660 kg, 5-speed Manual, and RWD—is the package you want.