Autoblog

click above for high-res gallery of the Caterham CDX Seven

Our appreciation for the Caterham as a track day weapon knows no bounds. Although we're be willing to put up with a few inconveniences during everyday driving for its true calling on the weekends, the Caterham Driving Experience (CDX) could be a great option for non-owners. For those individuals wanting to replicate the fun had at the CDX events in a (barely) street legal package, Caterham has decided to offer a new Limited Edition Seven that mimics the cars used in the racing series. Painted in a gloss black finish with CDX-style graphics, the new Seven certainly looks every bit a racer. With its 135bhp 1.6L K-Series engine connected to a five-speed gearbox, the lightweight machine is certain to entertain. Power will be put to the ground effectively thanks to the standard limited slip differential and 13-inch Superlight alloy wheels with Avon tires. Individuals living across the pond can get theirs for £17,495 in component form while a completely assembled model will run you £20,495. We are officially jealous.


[Source: Caterham]

There's no arguing that the Caterham R500 is an amazing piece of four-wheeled machinery. In fact, it may just be the quickest way around a race track short of a Formula 1 car. We're equally as certain that the Ducati Hypermotard is an awesome motorcycle, so putting both of these performers on the same track and letting them have at it is certain to entertain. Autocar must have thought so, too, and udging by the video posted after the break, the event didn't let anybody down. As is usually the case when a bike is put up against a car, the race was close. In the longer straight sections of the track, the Duck's power-to-weight ratio allows it to pull away from the Caterham. The Caterham, with twice the number of contact patches, easily out-brakes the Ducati rider and can carry more speed throughout the turn. So, is the race that will finally put an end to the age-old question about which is faster around a given course? Probably not, but it sure is fun to watch. Want to know who won? Hit the jump, and be sure to pay attention as the Caterham goes airborne.

[Source: Autocar]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Caterham R500.

After getting teased and then leaked on, we officially have details on Caterham's new Superlight R500. The stats are as insane as we predicted, with a naturally aspirated 2.0-liter Ford Durtec sending 263 hp and 177 lb.-ft. of torque to the rear wheels through either a six-speed manual or a six-speed sequential gearbox equipped with launch control. With 520 hp per ton (it weighs 506 kg, or 1,116 pounds) the R500 can rocket to 60 in exactly 2.88 seconds, but that's only part of the performance equation.

Caterham fitted the R500 with a "Carbon Induction Airbox," Eibach springs and dampers pulled from the C400 Caterham racer, four-piston calipers in front and two-piston rotors out back, Avon C500 track-day rubber, and replaced many of the components with aluminum and carbon fiber to shed 9 kgs from the chassis. The R500 is also equipped with a new electronic IP nestled into a full carbon fiber dash. If you're in the UK and have £36,995 to spare, you could do worse for you next track-day excursion.

Make the jump for the full press release.

Click above for a gallery of the Caterham R500.

Caterham teased us yesterday, and today we get our first glimpse of its new minimalist masterpiece. While the paltry pics don't do it justice, we've got confirmation that the R500 will be packing a 263-hp, 2.0-liter Duratec four that can spin upwards of 8,500 rpm. Power is shoveled down to either a six-speed manual or a six-speed sequential 'box and launch control is part of the £37,000 package. While we don't think the clear plastic hood will make it to production and there's no word on weight, there's little doubt that the R500 will get you to 60 in under three seconds and do things to your hair only a jet turbine-powered blow drier could.


[Source: CarTribe via Jalopnik]

Caterham has released a teaser to follow in the over-powered, stripped-down footsteps of its predecessor, the R400. The Superlight R500 is rumored to be powered by a 2.0- or 2.3-liter Ford four-pot, hits 60 in under 3.4 seconds and tops out at around 150 mph. With a curb weight less than 500 kg (1,100 pounds) and body panels, dashboard and seats made up of carbon fiber, the R500 is expected to crest the 500 hp/per ton mark with ease. Sales will begin later this year with pricing expected to be around £40k.

[Source: Caterham via Car]

Click above for a high-res gallery of the Caterham RST-V8 Levante.

Caterhams have always been the model for minimalist motoring and it's rare that owners have been wanting for more motivation, but RS Performance has answered the call of a few owners that want insane power to match the Caterham's spartan looks.

Packing a supercharged 2.4-liter, V8 driving the rear wheels through a six-speed gearbox, RS Performance is giving well-heeled drivers 550 hp (at 10,000 rpm!) to simultaneously dry their hair and wet their pants. With a curb weight of almost 1,150 pounds, that means a power to weight ratio of around 1000 hp per ton and a 0-60 time of under three seconds.

Getting that grunt to the ground is difficult, at best. With the majority of the body panels being replaced with carbon fiber bits, along with an F1-style front splitter, steering wheel and Kevlar seats, the lack of mass is something drivers will have to overcome. Thankfully, the chassis, sticky rubber and traction/launch control should keep things in check.

If the £115,000 cost of entry for the supercharged version is a bit more than your wallet can bear, a naturally aspirated variant is available as well producing a "paltry" 380 hp. Included in the cost of the RST-V8 is a two-day driver training course when you take delivery. Good call Caterham.

The full press release with all the technical details is posted after the jump.

Click image for gallery

None of us at Autoblog HQ are knocking on the half-century mark yet, but we can only hope that we're saluted in the same way that Caterham decided to celebrate its 50th anniversary.

The X330 Concept is exactly that, but it foretells the destiny of future Caterhams. A 2.3-liter, turbocharged Ford Duratec produces the concept's namesake, sending 330 HP and 221 lb.-ft. of torque through a six-speed manual gearbox to the rear wheels. Carbon fiber makes up the majority of the body panels, while a lighter steel frame holds it all together. The resulting thrust makes the lack of windscreen a disturbing proposition.

Although the X330 isn't slated for production, those of you who were in attendance at the Donington Park event this past weekend, celebrating the 7's golden anniversary, were in for a show.

[Source: Caterham]

Click image for photo gallery

Sure, the modern bare-bones open sports cars like the Ariel Atom and KTM X-Bow get all the attention these days, but some of us here at Autoblog still think that the 50-year-old Lotus Seven design in use by the speed fiends at Caterham is the way to go. After all, you simply can't argue with the performance the automaker regularly delivers to its customers.

Further proof arose this week with the launch of the astounding Superlight R400. Sporting a more rigid frame and a 2.0L Ford Duratec four-cylinder tuned in-house by Caterham Motorsport, the car has 210 horsepower on tap. Don't sniff at it. The R400 weighs in at a paltry 1,157 pounds and races to 60 mph in just 3.8 seconds. Shifts come courtesy of a six-speed manual, and the car's race-inspired themes are reinforced with features such as carbon-fiber fenders, a quick-release steering wheel, and 4-point belts. Does it look old? Yes. That's part of the attraction. Well... that and the fact that this simple, decades-old design is still capable of taking on the best modern automotive machinery out there and leaving it in its dust.

Full details and UK pricing can be found in the release after the jump.

[Source: Caterham Cars]

Ariel Atoms, Caterham Superlights, KTM X Bows, Derondas and the like tend to follow a certain formula that happens to be very successful in the world of racing. Keep it simple, keep it light, and keep it balanced. They don't need 500-hp V10s to prove their point. Small rev-happy motors that can churn out 140, 180, 220 hp are the norm, but there are always options. Some people look at these horsepower figures and think, "I know it offers a superior driving experience and can lap any given track as quickly as cars with rheww times the power, but what if this car had that much power, too?" That is why Brooke will now be offering a supercharged version of its Ford Duratec powerplant for use in the Double R. While horsepower can easily reach more than 400, they think the final tune will be around 350. Not a huge jump over the top current option at 300, but it will have twice the torque of the lesser motor, as well. That should really make things interesting in this sub-ton car.

[Source: Autocar]

Click above image for addition high-res shots of the Caterham Seven anniversary package

Caterham's letting buyers in on a bit of the fun (as if buying, driving and owning a Seven isn't fun enough) for its Golden Jubilee celebration. An anniversary appearance package will be available for any 2007-model Seven. Once 50 packages are ordered (one for each year, get it?), it's history. Buyers can select either silver paint with black and gold accents or a black finish with silver and gold accents. Each car receives a signed, numbered plaque, Union Jack badges, 50th Anniversary decals, gold-trimmed leather seats (if ordered) and anniversary wheel centers to boot. All 2007 Caterham Sevens get the 50th anniversary badge shown at right. The cost is £1,957, honoring the year Colin Chapman gave us the original 7. Nice to see that after fifty years, good things never get old. In the case of the Caterham Seven, it just seems to get better.

[Source: Caterham Cars]