Caterham-Lola SP/300R: British Sportscar Maker Reveals its First Ever Prototype Racer, Road Going Model a Possibility

The Autosport International Show in Birmingham, UK, welcomed the world premiere of Caterham's first ever sports prototype racing car, the Caterham-Lola SP/300R. Created in partnership with legendary British racing and engineering brand Lola, the SP/300R is currently in the final stages of development and will be ready for a one-make championship in 2012, with the company planning to build up to 25 examples per year. Caterham said that a road-legal version of the sports car is also being considered.

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Caterham Retires The Stig's Superlight R500 [with VIDEO]

The Caterham Superlight R500 took the world by surprise in 2008 with its 263 hp 2.0-liter naturally aspirated four-pot and sub-3.0 seconds 0-60mph sprint time. The same year it was launched, Top Gear’s racing driver, The Stig, drove it around the show’s test track completing a lap in just 1 minute and 17.9 seconds. That's the seventh fastest official lap time ever recorded on the show, putting to shame “heavyweights” like the Bugatti Veyron.

But everything comes to an end, and today, Caterham announced that the special model is making its final journey next week before being retired from active service.

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2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta

British sportscar-maker Caterham company Caterham Cars will be releasing a special edition of the Caterham Seven later this year.  The specialized automaker joined up with British fashion company Lambretta Clothing (named after the scooters) to create a new look for their version of the Lotus 7.

2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta

Few icons are as quintessentially British as the Union Jack and the Caterham Seven. Originally engineered by Lotus, the 7 is still built by British sportscar-maker Caterham, and has now been outfitted for a special edition by British fashion house Lambretta.

The British-owned fashion label, which is based in London’s famous Carnaby Street, has drawn on its characteristic flair and rich heritage in popular culture to create a bespoke, custom-tailored Caterham, which screams ‘Britannia’. The body paint, decals and livery leave you in no doubt of its geographic heritage with the Union Jack’s unmistakable hue of red, white and blue dressing the paintwork.

Under the skin, the engineering is pure Caterham.

Powered by a 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine, which pushes out 125bhp, the 2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta can call upon 120lbs ft of torque to propel its lightweight frame to 60mph in six seconds. The marriage of a quick-fire five-speed gearbox, with a purposeful chassis, provides the responsiveness and handling characteristics every Seven is famous for.

Available immediately, the 2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta is priced at £26,995 OTR. Lambretta’s managing director, Rob Harmer explained: “Designing the exterior and interior of a car is an entirely different challenge to our core business of fashion and accessories, but there are clearly some shared philosophies between the two companies, which made this collaboration so exciting.”  

2010 Caterham Special Edition Seven Sport Cars By Lambretta

2010 Caterham Sport Cars Seven Roadsport 125 Monaco

Manufacturer of specialist lightweight sports cars, Caterham Cars, announced the latest Special Edition. The Lotus Seven, and the Caterham Seven have been around for 53 years, it is still one of the basic and quintessential sports cars made. The Seven was never about power, it was about lightweight, minimalistic driving, and it remains true to it’s roots today. Caterham Cars is evoking the elegance, class and rich motorsport heritage of Monte Carlo with the latest Special Edition of its similarly timeless sportscar, the 2010 Caterham Sport Cars Seven Roadsport 125 Monaco.

The latest incarnation of Caterham’s iconic Seven, the Roadsport 125 Monaco, remains true to the original design by Colin Chapman in 1957. The Monaco features the British automaker’s brushed aluminum bodywork, with black nose and wheel guards. The familiar red and white of the Monegasque flag, the official flag of Monaco, form a motif that runs the length of the car, which takes us back to the golden era of motorsport.

2010 Caterham Sport Cars Seven Roadsport 125 Monaco

Caterham have kept the car fresh by producing several special editions over the years and this Monaco Edition is the latest. Powered by a 1.6 liter Ford four cylinder, it produces 125 horsepower and 120 ft/lb of torque, which should be entertaining since the car only weighs 1,100-1,200 pounds! According to Caterham the car is good for a six second 0-60 run and a top speed of 112mph.

Under the skin, the engineering is pure Caterham. The 1.6-litre Ford engine produces a top speed of 112mph and a power-to-weight ratio of 227bhp per tonne. The 5-speed gearbox propels the lightweight 500kg chassis from 0-60mph in under six seconds and full weather kit means the Roadsport is thoroughly enjoyable in any conditions.

2010 Caterham Sport Cars Seven Roadsport 125 Monaco

The Roadsport 125 Monaco options include the wide SV chassis and a lowered floor for extra comfort in the cockpit. The company added that the all black trim is also available for the customers to choose from.

For just £20,995, the Roadsport 125 Monaco combines Caterham’s thrilling performance and driving experience with a unique touch of European flare and glamour. However, the first 20 cars to be ordered are available for just £19,995.

2010 Caterham Sport Cars Seven Roadsport 125 Monaco

Manufacturer of specialist lightweight sports cars, Caterham Cars, announced the latest Special Edition. The Lotus Seven, and the Caterham Seven have been around for 53 years, it is still one of the basic and quintessential sports cars made. The Seven was never about power, it was about lightweight, minimalistic driving, and it remains true to it’s roots today. Caterham Cars is evoking the elegance, class and rich motorsport heritage of Monte Carlo with the latest Special Edition of its similarly timeless sportscar, the 2010 Caterham Sport Cars Seven Roadsport 125 Monaco.

The latest incarnation of Caterham’s iconic Seven, the Roadsport 125 Monaco, remains true to the original design by Colin Chapman in 1957. The Monaco features the British automaker’s brushed aluminum bodywork, with black nose and wheel guards. The familiar red and white of the Monegasque flag, the official flag of Monaco, form a motif that runs the length of the car, which takes us back to the golden era of motorsport.

2010 Caterham Sport Cars Seven Roadsport 125 Monaco

Caterham have kept the car fresh by producing several special editions over the years and this Monaco Edition is the latest. Powered by a 1.6 liter Ford four cylinder, it produces 125 horsepower and 120 ft/lb of torque, which should be entertaining since the car only weighs 1,100-1,200 pounds! According to Caterham the car is good for a six second 0-60 run and a top speed of 112mph.

Under the skin, the engineering is pure Caterham. The 1.6-litre Ford engine produces a top speed of 112mph and a power-to-weight ratio of 227bhp per tonne. The 5-speed gearbox propels the lightweight 500kg chassis from 0-60mph in under six seconds and full weather kit means the Roadsport is thoroughly enjoyable in any conditions.

2010 Caterham Sport Cars Seven Roadsport 125 Monaco

The Roadsport 125 Monaco options include the wide SV chassis and a lowered floor for extra comfort in the cockpit. The company added that the all black trim is also available for the customers to choose from.

For just £20,995, the Roadsport 125 Monaco combines Caterham’s thrilling performance and driving experience with a unique touch of European flare and glamour. However, the first 20 cars to be ordered are available for just £19,995.

Caterham

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Specifications

The New Car Caterham R500

Yellow Car Caterham R500


White Car Caterham R500


Blue Car Caterham R500

Caterham Increases Production by 10 Percent, Hires Extra Staff

An increased demand for its Seven sports car has prompted Caterham to rise 2009 production levels by around ten percent to about 420 units. The British firm said that it will recruit additional workforce to the production side of the business to help cope with the increased pressure as the company's order book is already full until mid-October. The maker of the classic two-seater that has remained unchanged over the years said that growth from UK, mainland Europe and other markets has exceeded expectations in 2009.

"Our international sales drive is delivering the results thanks not only to favorable exchange rates but more importantly the quality of business partners we have established in markets including France, Italy, Japan and Germany," said Ansar Ali, Caterham Cars managing director.

Caterham RS Levante 500HP Sold Out - All Eight of Them (with Video)

Eight cars might not sound a lot, but at a cost of £115,000+ each, which is the equivalent of around $200,500 or €148,000 with the current exchange rates, it is somewhat surprising that that Caterham managed to sell all RS Levante supercars in a relatively short period of time. The most powerful production Caterham ever which is being hand-built by Hertfordshire-based RS Performance in association with Caterham Cars, packs a 500+bhp 2.4-liter supercharged V8 engine, housed in a modified version of the lightweight Caterham SV chassis. -Continued

Weighing in at just 520kg or 1,146 pounds, the RS Levante boasts a power to weight ratio close to 1000bhp-per-tonne, or nearly double that of the Bugatti Veyron... So it's not surprising that the Brits announce a 0-60 mph (96 km/h) sprint time of under 3,0 seconds -even though the top speed is limited to 150mph or 241 km/h.

Caterham Superlight R400: New version with a 210bhp 2.0 litre Ford Duratec based unit

The Superlight R400 is the latest addition in Caterham’s range and it features a 210bhp 2.0-litre Ford Duratec based unit tuned in-house by Caterham Motorsport. The all-alloy unit produces 152lbs ft of torque at 5,750 rpm while at 4,000 rpm the R400 will transfer 140lbs ft to the rear axle –taht about 16 percent more than the outgoing K-Series powered model at the same level.

The new engine hasn’t had any affects in the weight department with the R400 retaining its featherweight overall mass (525kg or 1.157 lbs). According to the Brits, the R400 sprints from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in just 3,8 sec. Interestingly enough, the prices for the R400 start at £25,995 (51.200 USD or 38.300 EUR), which is over £1,700 less (3.300 or 2.500 EUR) than the outgoing K-Series powered model. -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see the official press release & high-res pics

MOTORSPORT INSPIRED R400 UNLEASHED BY CATERHAM

Fifty years after Colin Chapman unveiled the first Seven, Caterham launches the latest in a long line of pure racing-bred British sportscars, the Superlight R400.

Inspired by the track, and designed for the road, the R400 packs a mighty 400bhp per tonne punch thanks to the introduction of an engine tuned in-house by Caterham Motorsport.

The new heartbeat of the legendary R400 is a 210bhp 2.0 litre Ford Duratec based unit that delivers a perfect balance of power and effortless performance. From a standing start, it will reach the magic 60mph mark in less than 3.8 seconds, well into supercar performance territory.

However, it’s not just about power.

The Caterham Motorsport badged powerplant, incorporating a bespoke plenum chamber, achieves excellent reliability, good fuel economy, smooth running at high engine speeds and a strong torque output, all of which combine to unlock an adrenaline-fuelled driving experience.

The all-alloy unit produces a staggering 152lbs ft of torque at just 5,750 rpm. Even at 4,000 rpm the R400 will transfer an impressive 140lbs ft to the rear axle – that’s a full 16 percent more than the outgoing K-Series powered model at the same level.

The Seven design may be celebrating its 50th birthday this year, but the level of ride and handling in the R400 has been further honed from its already benchmark status.

Mated to the all-new robot-jig welded chassis, the R400 provides the driver with even more confidence to plant the legendary sportscar into corners. The rigidity of the spaceframe has increased by 12 percent and the greatly reduced flex provides improved grip, improved feedback to the driver and ultimately more speed on the track. This chassis performance gain is delivered with no weight penalty and the R400 retains its featherweight 525kg overall mass.

The torque characteristics of the R400 powerplant provide instant performance, and more than ever before there is an emphasis on ensuring all the messages from the road are faithfully transmitted to the driver through the suspension and steering.

An improved progressive feel to the rear suspension has been achieved through no fewer than 30 changes to the dampers, including improvements by Bilstein to reduce rod to guide friction levels, plus optimisation on the anti-roll bars and road springs (front 170 lb/in, rear 140 – 250 lb/in).

Sitting purposefully on bespoke Avon CR500 tyres and 15” Caterham-designed alloys, the new R400 is fitted with a limited slip differential, 6-speed gearbox, wet sump and composite bucket race seats as standard.

For those venturing regularly on the track, the R400 will also feature the option of an exclusive Caterham-designed dry-sump system to provide added protection from oil surges at high speed.

The Superlight engineering team, which includes Dave Minter, the man responsible for ride and handling development for the Lotus Elise, and David Taitt, a world renowned powertrain expert, have remained true to Chapman’s design philosophy of performance through low weight and superlative ride and handling.

Carbon-fibre front cycle wings are matched by a carbon-fibre dash, Momo quick-release steering wheel, road 4-point harness, gear change lights, ventilated front discs and 4-point callipers plus Caterham’s legendary Superlight suspension to present an undiluted racetrack inspired package. Prices for the R400 start at £25,995, which is over £1,700 less than the out-going K-Series powered model. On sale now.

Technical Specification

Engine 2.0-litre Caterham Motorsport Ford Duratec
Max Power 210bhp @7800
Max Torque 152lbsft @ 5750
0-60mph 3.8 secs
Top Speed 140mph
Wheelbase 2225mm
Overall length 3100mm
Overall width 1575mm
Height 800mm
Ground clearance 80mm
Weight 525kg

Standard Equipment

1. 2.0-litre Caterham Motorsport Ford Duratec
2. 6 Speed Caterham Gearbox
3. Limited Slip Differential
4. Superlight Suspension (wide track front and de Dion rear with Watts linkages)
5. Carbon front cycle wings
6. Carbon dash
7. ACES change-up lights
8. Black pack
9. Ventilated front brake discs with 4 pot calipers
10. 15” Anthracite Alloy Wheels with Avon CR500 tyres
11. Composite interchangeable wind deflector
12. 4 point Road Harnesses
13. Quick-release Momo Steering Wheel
14. Composite seats

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Caterham celebrates Golden Jubilee with exclusive anniversary pack for the Seven

I haven’t had the luck to drive a Caterham, but from what I’ve read and been told by pals of mine who’ve taken a Seven for a spin, it’s a unique experience. As for the anniversary pack, not much to say as the “chosen” ones (since availability is limited to 50 units) will have the choice of two distinctive color schemes, a Platinum Silver Metallic paint with a Gold/Black anniversary twin-stripe and noseband, or the reversed scheme with Sapphire Black Metallic paint with Gold/Silver stripes. Caterham also throws in a signed copy of the book ‘The Magnificent 7’ and two VIP tickets for the celebrations at Caterham’s Golden Jubilee Race Weekend at Donington Park, 2-3 June 2007. The pack costs 1.957 BP (3.850 USD – 2.900 EUR). -Continued: Click “Read More…” below to see the official press release and more pics

PRESS RELEASE - CATERHAM CELEBRATES HALF A CENTURY WITH EXCLUSIVE ANNIVERSARY PACK

As part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations, the iconic Caterham Seven can now be purchased with an exclusive Anniversary options pack. Available only on Caterhams ordered during 2007 and limited to just 50 units, owners will have the choice of two distinctive color schemes, both featuring a striking gold motif.

The colour options are Platinum Silver Metallic paint with a Gold/Black anniversary twin-stripe and noseband, or the reversed scheme with Sapphire Black Metallic paint with Gold/Silver stripes. The limited edition Anniversary pack also includes gold ‘7’ grille, gold trimmed leather seats*, an individually numbered special edition certificate and dashboard plaque, plus bespoke gold wheel centres, 50th Anniversary decals and Union Jack badging.

In addition, buyers will receive a special signed copy of the newly updated book ‘The Magnificent 7’ by Chris Rees and two VIP tickets to join in the celebrations at Caterham’s Golden Jubilee Race Weekend at Donington Park, 2-3 June 2007.

In recognition of the 1957 launch of Colin Chapman’s original 7, the Anniversary Pack will cost just £1,957 including VAT. The Anniversary Pack is available to order now on the complete range of Caterham 7’s, including the new range of Ford Sigma engined cars. As well as adding the Anniversary Pack option to the range, every new car manufactured in 2007 will feature a special 50th Anniversary nosebadge and standard 12 months RAC cover.

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