The Lotus Carlton’s most striking figures include a 0-140mph time of 24.0sec and, to our knowledge, the very first fifth gear 140-160mph time: 14.2sec and achieved, remember, within the confines of Millbrook’s straight.
The conventional benchmarks are no less breathtaking: zero to 60 takes just 5.1sec, 0-100mph 11.1sec. The standing quarter-mile is dispatched in 13.5sec, the standing kilometer in 24 dead.
Top speed? Our true speed was a ‘mere’ 163.6mph before it became imperative to slam on the Carlton’s almighty anchors.
Make no mistake, the Carlton will go faster than that: it was still accelerating with the promise of at least another 10mph to come.
Exactly how much faster will have to remain unknown for now, there being no available facility in this country for top speeds seriously past 160mph.
Focus on usable performance, and virtually nothing can live with this car. The helm feels precise but is slightly aloof. The Carlton turns in crisply nonetheless and has astounding reserves of grip.
It’s in tighter bends that it sometimes betrays its bulk. Understeer dominates here until the torque finally swings the tail wide.
But there’s a progressive quality to the Carlton’s behaviour, allowing all the engine’s fury to be deployed with confidence. Braking is fabulous – the best we’ve tried on a road car.