After seeing a Lotus 2-Eleven with its physique eliminated, Areg Balayan was instantly hooked on the concept of getting his personal. Nevertheless, you possibly can’t actually get 2-Elevens in america, and also you positively couldn’t drive one on the road. The Lotus Elise, although… properly, that’s a distinct story. Are you able to see the place that is going?
Areg determined to begin there, buying a clear 2005 mannequin with 45,000 miles on the clock in 2015 and promptly started tearing it aside, beginning with the clamshell bodywork and persevering with all the way in which all the way down to the engine itself. Whereas he was swapping within the Honda energy unit, Areg additionally ditched the suspension, brakes, wheels, inside, and just about every thing else.
As he went, he says, “I spotted simply how small of a staff designed and constructed the Elise, and I attempted to reimagine and reengineer the items it felt like they skimmed over attributable to price range or scheduling constraints.”
That’s fairly good plan should you ask me, and whereas it may appear loopy the top outcome is definitely fantastically executed. Oh, and it’s all carbon fiber, I hope that’s okay.
The carbon bodywork is a whole 211 wide-body from JG Racing, over which a matte clear-coat has been utilized for the sake of longevity. By the identical token, a paint-protection movie was added across the wheel arches since this might be pushed on the highway.
The wild-looking bodywork is accentuated with JG Racing’s entrance splitter and rigidity rod equipment, which is balanced by an enormous APR Efficiency GT-250 carbon fiber wing on the rear. The rear additionally makes use of a Difflow five-element diffuser for added suction to the tarmac.
The taillights, headlights, mirrors and gas filler have additionally been modified, and also you may discover — just like the manufacturing unit 2-Eleven — there aren’t any doorways.
It appears to be like completely wild on the road, and I really like that Areg truly makes use of the automobile correctly, even when solely from time to time.
The cockpit is up to date with Technocraft T3 carbon fiber bucket seats mounted to inventory sliders, and Areg’s FMV Industries emblem has been embroidered onto the headrest pads. You’ll additionally discover this emblem added to the Sparco steering wheel.
Down decrease, an InoKinetic shifter meeting has been added and hyperlinks up with an Modern Lotus adjustable shift cable adaptor.
The VSA Motorsports 2-Eleven roll bar has been powder-coated to match the engine’s valve cowl, and beneath the deck lid issues proceed to be fascinating.
Gone is the Toyota powerplant, and as an alternative sits a K24A2 sourced from a 2005 Acura TSX. The Rotrex-supercharged and Garrett water-to-air-intercooled engine has been handled to tunes for US 91 octane and E85, which produce 440hp/325lb-ft and 570hp/392lb-ft respectively. The Honda PRC/RSX ECU is operating Hondata Okay-Professional administration, whereas different up to date {hardware} features a Hybrid Racing gas rail, Grams 1,150cc injectors, K20 water and oil pumps, an FMV industries stainless-steel exhaust header, and a Burns two-stage muffler.
Cooling is dealt with up entrance via a Professional-Alloy three-pass radiator fitted with twin 9-inch followers that make the most of an FMV Industries mount.
Energy reaches the wheels via an NSN4 6-speed transaxle that was lifted from an RSX Sort S. Earlier than being fitted into the chassis, an extended TSX sixth gear was put in together with a 4.764:1 final-drive gear set. The Competitors Clutch light-weight flywheel suggestions the scales at simply 8.8lbs, and a segmented ceramic clutch meeting from the identical firm additionally was utilized.
Suspension is dealt with by a set of Nitron Professional coilovers paired with up to date InoKinetic spherical mono-ball bushings, and the steering, tie rods and varied {hardware} had been up to date on the identical time. The management arms and uprights had been zinc plated whereas the suspension was disassembled, and prolonged studs had been added when the wheel bearings had been changed.
Stopping energy comes from Alcon 4-pot calipers entrance and rear, and the 300mm rotors are barely thicker within the rear (32mm vs 30mm up entrance). Pagid pads end off the setup.
As for the wheels, the InoKinetic Ethos are double-staggered, measuring 16×7-inch within the entrance and 17×9-inch out again. I really like that Areg went with a delicate wheel alternative.
The Toyo Proxes R888R rubber is equally staggered, with 205-series tires paired with 275-series for the broader set.
Since completion of the undertaking Areg has added practically 2,000 miles and has stored the automobile’s registration present. He takes it to vehicles and low occasions and tears up the backroads on the weekends when he’s not busy working at SpaceX. By the way, he got here straight from the manufacturing unit to select up the automobile for our shoot.
Additionally by the way, his profession has thrown a monkey wrench into his plans for the automobile. After we shot, a cross-country transfer for work started to rear its head on the horizon. Restricted storage choices on the new location in addition to in California, the place indoor house is pretty costly, have had Areg reconsidering what to do subsequent with the automobile.
Ultimately he’s lastly dedicated to letting it go, and you could find it reside on Convey a Trailer quickly. Right here’s to hoping many extra miles can be added on American roads — and tracks — with its subsequent proprietor.
Trevor Ryan
Instagram: trevornotryan
tyrphoto.com
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