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Official: New entry-level Caterham Seven to get turbo’d Suzuki 3-cylinder

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, MISC

Caterham's next entry level car will have a 660cc Suzuki three-cylinder engine.

Caterham is lowering the price and adding lightness to its newest entry-level Seven, with a sub-17,000-pound ($26,061) window sticker and a new engine from Suzuki, a 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder mill that will produce less horsepower than the current 125-hp entry level model (it was not mentioned if the Suzuki-powered Seven will replace any models). The new, lightweight engine complements a re-engineered chassis featuring major suspension revisions.

Without releasing actual horsepower or fuel efficiency numbers, the automaker said in a release that the Suzuki engine is the smallest, cleanest and most efficient engine ever used in a Seven. That’s not surprising when considering that the engine we suspect Caterham will be using was designed for Suzuki’s kei cars in Japan, such as the MR, which are restricted to a maximum of 660cc and 63 hp.

“Our intention for this car is to offer the joy of the Seven in distilled form, so the new entry-level car is lighter, cheaper, more economical and more accessible than ever,” says Caterham Cars CEO Graham Macdonald. Check out the press release below for a few more details, and sit tight for word on North American availability.

Continue reading New entry-level Caterham Seven to get turbo’d Suzuki 3-cylinder

New entry-level Caterham Seven to get turbo’d Suzuki 3-cylinder originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 05 Aug 2013 14:16:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caterham lineup set to expand under Team Lotus ownership

Caterham Seven Team Lotus Special Edition – Click above for high-res image gallery

It was only a few months ago that we reported on Caterham’s plans to expand its lineup. But a lot has happened since then, particularly for an automaker whose core product range is anchored in a design that goes back nearly six decades.

Since the launch of the SP/300.R, Caterham was acquired by Tony Fernandes – the same Malaysian entrepreneur behind Team Lotus F1. The new ownership is intent to keep the same management in place, but the cash injection is expected to lead to a further broadening of the company’s lineup.

Just what that will entail remains to be seen, but Autocar reports that whatever comes next down the pipeline will (arguably unlike some of Lotus’ own new products) remain faithful to Colin Chapman’s less-is-more philosophy.

The report also indicates a two-way door between Caterham and Team Lotus, the latter’s F1 cars set to feature the former’s branding while F1-derived technologies are set to trickle down to Caterham’s products. A Caterham Seven with regenerative braking and adaptive aerodynamics? Too soon to say, but the sky’s the proverbial limit.

Caterham lineup set to expand under Team Lotus ownership originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 May 2011 18:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Rumormill: Team Lotus to acquire Caterham

Filed under: Motorsports, Lotus, UK, Rumormill

Caterham 7 racing

Colin Chapman’s legacy is a great one, without a doubt. But Lotus – the automaker and engineering firm he founded – isn’t the only one wielding it these days. So, too, do a number of manufacturers that build “continuation” versions of the famed Lotus 7, chief among them Caterham. And so does Team Lotus.

The latter Formula One racing outfit, as you may recall, originally licensed the name from Lotus’ Malaysian parent company Proton. It then bought the team name from an outside party laying claim. All of this prompted a legal battle between the racing team and the automaker which is still ongoing, a situation that was further complicated when Lotus itself got into the sport by buying into the Renault F1 team.

Now it appears that the Malaysian-owned racing team could be seeking to outflank Lotus itself by buying-out Caterham, the leading manufacturer of contemporary Sevens, as well as new models like the SP/300R. A press conference is reportedly scheduled for next week, so we’ll find out soon enough if the reports prove accurate. But for now, they certainly sound intriguing.

[Source: Autosport | Image: Caterham]

Rumormill: Team Lotus to acquire Caterham originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caterham announces race-based Supersport

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Lotus, MISC

Caterham Supersport

Caterham Supersport – Click above for high-res image gallery

It’s not everyday that we get excited about a car with 140 horsepower and 13-inch wheels. But then the Caterham Seven is no everyday car.

Lately, Caterham has been focusing outside the mold of the Seven with new models like the SP/300R and plans for further new products. But after a couple of years when the only new additions to the Seven range have been cosmetic specials like the Monaco and Lambretta editions, the British automaker has announced a new Supersport model.

Modestly powered but sprightly in weight, the Supersport roadster is based on the track model used in the eponymous spec racing series. Its 1.6-liter Ford four is tuned by Caterham to produce 140 horsepower – a far cry from the 500hp supercharged V8 in the Levante model – but with only 520 kg (1,146 pounds) to schlepp around, it’ll do 0-60 in a tidy 4.9 seconds, and it probably feels even faster thanks to the classic low seating position that’s practically on top of the rear wheels and open cockpit.

Short gearing, lightweight flywheel, limited-slip differential, race-spec springs and dampers, stiffer anti-roll bars, racing buckets with four-point harnesses and a dashboard with shift lights round out the package that’s available as a DIY kit for £19,995 or factory-built for £22,995 in the UK – equivalent to $33k and $37k in U.S. dollars (including British taxes), respectively. Follow the jump for the full press release and check it out in our gallery below.

Gallery: Caterham Supersport

[Source: Caterham]

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Caterham announces race-based Supersport originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: Caterham to expand lineup even further

Filed under: Performance, UK, MISC

Caterham SP/300R – Click above for high-res image gallery

When Caterham launched the new SP/300.R just last month, it was only the second time (following the short-lived 21 of 1994) the company had veered away from the Lotus 7 formula into new territory. But it won’t be the last. Not according to the latest reports.

Britain’s Autocar weekly cites Caterham chief Ansar Ali on plans to expand beyond the 7 and the SP/300.R with an additional range or even several new models. The inspiration apparently comes from companies like Porsche that have expanded beyond their traditional sportscar roots with great success.

There’s no word on what form the next offering from Caterham could take, but Ali promises it won’t be far off from the purist performance machines for which it is known. Nor will it be abandoning the 7, either: to the contrary, Ali insists that the Seven will always be at the heart of Caterham’s range.

Gallery: Caterham SP/300R

[Source: Autocar]

Report: Caterham to expand lineup even further originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caterham to break out of the Seven mold with all-new model

Filed under: Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, UK, MISC

Is Caterham an automaker or merely another replicar manufacturer? Considering that the British company currently produces continuation models of the original Lotus Seven exclusively, it’d be tough to argue the former. But Caterham seems intent on breaking new ground, and to that end has announced plans to unveil an “entirely new model” in January.

Little in the way of details have been announced, but Caterham says its new car will mark “the beginning of a new dawn for the Company, but one that remains true to the lightweight, minimalist DNA of the legendary Seven.” Intriguing, to say the least.

The model is slated to use a new in-house engine, be built alongside the Seven (pictured above) and debut at the Autosport International Show in Birmingham (England, not Alabama) on January 13, so stay tuned. Official announcement after the jump.

[Source: Caterham]

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Caterham to break out of the Seven mold with all-new model originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 13 Dec 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caterham releases Roadsport 125 Monaco

Filed under: Performance, Specialty

Caterham Roadsport 125 Monaco

Caterham Roadsport 125 Monaco – Click above for high-res image gallery

Lightweight aficionados rejoice! Caterham has announced a new special edition roadster is joining its ever-expanding lineup. Allow us to introduce you to the Caterham Roadsport 125 Monaco. The brushed aluminum bodywork looks resplendent alongside the black nose and fenders. The red and white stripes which run up the nose and across the sides of the car represent the Monegasque flag – the official flag of Monaco. The theme continues into the cabin where the black and red color scheme is designed to represent the roulette wheels accessible throughout Casino Square.

The Caterham Roadsport 125 Monaco is powered by the same engine and transmission combination found in the Lambretta special edition – a 125 horsepower 1.6-liter Ford-sourced four-cylinder paired with a five-speed manual gearbox. Since Caterham adheres to Colin Chapman’s philosophy of lighter is faster, the 125 hp mill should provide plenty of thrills behind the wheel.

Pricing for the Roadsport 125 Monaco is set at £20,995 or around $33,000 U.S. However, Caterham is offering a discount on the first 20 Monacos sold. If you act early, you can scoop one up for £19,995 which is a hair over $31,000 US.

Gallery: Caterham Roadsport 125 Monaco

Caterham Roadsport 125 Monaco

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Caterham releases Roadsport 125 Monaco originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 08 Sep 2010 19:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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