Autoblog

Caterham Supersport R gets 40-hp boost from 2.0L Duratec

Chris Tutor — Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Convertible, Performance, UK, Racing

How do you make a Caterham Seven Supersport better? If you said more power, Caterham agrees, as it now offers the Seven Supersport R with more and just a bit more weight.

In place of the standard Supersport's 1.6-liter, 140-horsepower Ford engine, the R gets a 2.0-liter Duratec (also from the Blue Oval) with 180 horses. Torque goes from 120 pound-feet at 5,790 rpm on the SS to 143 at 6,100 on the R. In a car that weighs less than 1,200 pounds, 40 horses should be enough to make a real difference. According to Caterham, it's enough to shave its 0-60 time to 4.8 seconds, but that's only a tenth of a second quicker. Top speed is up 10 mph to 130 from the Supersport, however, and we have to wonder if it's mid-range passing power that sees the most improvement.

In the UK, a fully built Seven Supersport R works out to about $45,000 USD including taxes, or the buyer can choose to do some of the assembly and save about $5,000.

A five-speed manual is standard, but customers can opt to upgrade to six gears as well as a long list of other, mostly cosmetic, options. Check out the UK-spec press release below for all the particulars.

Continue reading Caterham Supersport R gets 40-hp boost from 2.0L Duratec

Caterham Supersport R gets 40-hp boost from 2.0L Duratec originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 14 Nov 2012 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hardcore x2: How to flog a Caterham Supersports up a snow-covered French mountain

Jonathon Ramsey — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, MISC

The English are mad. And we know this for two reasons: one, they admit it; two, it's true. If more proof is needed, a video of Evo magazine's features editor, Henry Catchpole, sliding a Caterham Supersport up a French mountain in the snow should be enough. And the spindly car is missing its top. And he's missing his hat.

The Supersport is Caterham's street-legal version of the racing Seven used in the one-make racing series. It's got short gearing, a lightweight flywheel and LSD, a race-tuned suspension, and its 1.6-liter Ford engine has 140 horsepower to motivate a 1,146-pound car.

So, obviously, where else would you drive it? Follow the jump for the memorable action.

Continue reading Hardcore x2: How to flog a Caterham Supersports up a snow-covered French mountain

Hardcore x2: How to flog a Caterham Supersports up a snow-covered French mountain originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 12 Mar 2012 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Caterham R300 Superlight tackles the Nürburgring

Noah Joseph — Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:31:00 EST

Filed under: Videos

Caterham R300 Superlight at the Nürburgring - Click above to watch the video after the jump

Nothing punishes quite like the Nürburgring. Drive anything around its twisting, undulating ribbon of tarmac and you know the suspension is working overtime. But it's quite another matter to see it. Unfortunately, the suspensions on most cars are hidden beneath their bodywork - but not on a Caterham Seven.

The classic lightweight roadster has its wheels placed outboard, so when the suspension is in motion, you can see the whole car working, its cycle fenders bobbing up and down. And that's just what you'll see in the video after the jump.

The boys over at Bridge to Gantry - those lovers of everything Nordschleife - headed home to the Green Hell in an R300 Superlight. Not the most powerful car Caterham has ever made (in fact you'll see its 178hp engine maxing out around 125 mph flat-out) but its low, low curb weight, coupled to the expertise of the driver behind the wheel, more than makes up for it, as he passes hot hatches, a Porsche, a motorbike and even a Chevrolet Corvette - along with one car that got spit out the top of the second Karousel. Follow the jump to see for yourself.

Continue reading Caterham R300 Superlight tackles the Nürburgring

Caterham R300 Superlight tackles the Nürburgring originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 24 Jun 2011 19:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team Lotus buys Caterham, celebrates with special Seven [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:31:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Videos, Lotus, Earnings/Financials, UK, Specialty

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

We've been waiting a while for official confirmation, and it's finally here: Team Lotus has acquired British sportscar manufacturer Caterham. Both outfits lay claim to Lotus founder Colin Chapman's legacy without any actual support from Lotus Cars itself (with which it is currently embroiled in a naming rights legal dispute) and are now joined under the common ownership of Air Asia chairman Tony Fernandes.

The Malaysian businessman and his partners bought out Caterham's previous owner, Corven Ventures, but have elected to keep Caterham's current managing director Ansar Ali at the helm. The new cash injection ought to help Caterham springboard off the SP/300R to further expand its lineup, while cementing the iconic Seven as a veritable staple of sportscar design.

To celebrate the tie-in, Caterham is preparing to launch a special run of Team Lotus Sevens, of which only 50 examples will be made - 25 for the UK and 25 for overseas. The special package can be added to any variant in the Seven range, bearing the same classic green-and-yellow livery as the team's Formula One racers and a special plaque in the cabin, along with a commemorative book and an invitation to tour the team's factory in England.

Click on to view the special edition in our high-res image gallery below, and follow the jump for a video announcement and press releases on both the acquisition and the special edition.

Gallery: Caterham Seven Team Lotus Special Edition

[Source: Team Lotus]

Continue reading Team Lotus buys Caterham, celebrates with special Seven [w/video]

Team Lotus buys Caterham, celebrates with special Seven [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Apr 2011 09:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Team Lotus to acquire Caterham

Noah Joseph — Fri, 22 Apr 2011 18:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Lotus, UK, Rumormill

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]

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

Noah Joseph — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 13:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Lotus, MISC

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]

Continue reading Caterham announces race-based Supersport

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

Noah Joseph — Mon, 07 Feb 2011 15:58:00 EST

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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Dutch Delight: Donkervoort launches D8 235 E

Jonny Lieberman — Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:41:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Europe

Donkervoort G8 235 E - click above for high-res image gallery

Spring is in the air, and if any car shouts "Spring!" the loudest it's a Se7en. If you happen to be in the unfortunate position of not knowing what makes a Se7en, they are modern day interpretations of the legendary Lotus 7. Only because of a long fought, still-running legal battle, they're called Se7ens. Featuring no roof, no doors and practically no weight, there's almost nothing between you and the road ahead. Many people take to describing Se7ens as four-wheeled motorcycles, a definition we can't argue with.

Speaking of Se7ens, Holland-based manufacturer Donkervoort has just released their newest, the D8 235 E. Donkervoot is probably best known to Autoblog readers for the hardcore, closed coupe D8 GT. A stud of a performance monster, no doubt, though we must say that enclosing any Se7en's cockpit is kinda not the point. But hey, different folks, strokes, etc. Thankfully, Donkervoort also sells open top cars, including the new D8 235 E.

The big news vis-a-vis the D8 235 E is that power is up. By reworking the intake and exhaust, and remapping the ECU the Audi-sourced 1.8-liter inline-four now makes 235 horsepower, up from 210 hp. If that doesn't sound like much, remember that the D8 weighs around 1,300 pounds. Having driven a number of Se7ens in the 125-hp neighborhood that car crest 60 mph in five seconds flat and we can tell you that 235 hp is a much more than adequate amount of power. But hey, need more? Donkervoort will happily sell you a 270-hp version called the D8 270 RS.

Gallery: Donkervoort D8 235 E

[Source: Donkervoort]

Dutch Delight: Donkervoort launches D8 235 E originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 26 Mar 2010 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Entry-level Ariel Atom 3 priced from $49,980

Jonny Lieberman — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Car Buying, Convertible, Performance, Specialty

Ariel Atom 3 - Click above for high-res image gallery

Admittedly, "entry-level" is a bit of a stretch, as one ~~Jefferson~~ Jackson shy of $50k is a nice chunk of change. But we're getting ahead of ourselves. Two years ago we learned that TMI AutoTech would be the Ariel Atom's new master here in the U.S. After a few fits and starts, TMI is now selling the new Ariel Atom 3 with a starting price of just $49,980. This base model ships with a 2.0-liter Honda motor good for 219 horsepower.

We can hear some of you scoffing from over here. Never forget, the Atom weighs just 1,350 pounds. Meaning that a 219-horsepower engine can catapult the car to 60 mph in 2.9 seconds. For the sake of silly comparisons, the 638-hp supercharged Corvette ZR1 takes 3.3 seconds to achieve the same velocity. Also, don't forget we're talking about the entry-level Atom. A 245-hp version can be yours, as well as a supercharged 300-hp example. Of course, those will cost you extra.

However, if you're looking to spend a little less, TMI AutoTech can still accommodate you. For an undisclosed sum they'll happily sell you a rolling chassis and you're free to cram whatever motor you like into the Atom. Might we suggest the LS9? Though if cheap(ish) topless, doorless motoring really is your thing, a fully built Se7en can be had for around $30,000 depending upon the options. And unlike the "porky" Atom 3, proper Se7ens usually weigh in at 1,200 pounds. Just sayin'.

Gallery: Ariel Atom

[Source: TMI AutoTech via Motor Trend]

Entry-level Ariel Atom 3 priced from $49,980 originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Donkervoort tweaks the D8 GT for 24-hour race debut in Dubai

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Audi, Specialty, Middle East, MISC, Racing

2010 Donkervoort D8 GT(4) endurance racer - Click above for high-res image gallery

While fanatics around the world debate the supremacy of one sportscar over another based on numbers alone, here at Autoblog we postulate that such exotic machinery is only as good as its capacity to transport you to another place, if not in body then in your mind. So bear with us and imagine the following scenario: You're based in Holland. You've created what could be the ultimate neo-Lotus 7, and with it you've already placed in a major racing series. So where do you go next? Why, to Dubai, of course!

We're talking about the Donkervoort D8 GT, undoubtedly one of the most futuristically phallic retro road rockets on the street or track today. We got our first glimpse three years ago, and took a closer look in Geneva back in 2007, before production began last year. The 1400-pound cab-rearward track tool packs an Audi-sourced 1.8-liter turbo four driving 270 horsepower to the rear wheels. That's enough power to sixty in less than four seconds.

With the D8 GT, the Dutch manufacturer has already taken second place in the FIA GT4 European Cup, and it is now heading to its first 24-hour race at the Dubai Autodrome on the shores of the Persian Gulf. To prepare for the event, Donkervoort has tweaked the fuel system, the brakes, the aerodynamics, the carbon-fiber sandwich panels and aluminum chassis to create the D8 GT(4). The results ought to be interesting as the 24 Hours of Dubai kicks off in mid-January, but you can check it out now in the gallery below and the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2010 Donkervoort D8 GT endurance racer

[Source: Donkervoort]

Continue reading Donkervoort tweaks the D8 GT for 24-hour race debut in Dubai

Donkervoort tweaks the D8 GT for 24-hour race debut in Dubai originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Dec 2009 13:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Tokyo 2009: Caterham CSR 175 makes unexpected world debut

Chris Paukert — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:58:00 EST

Filed under: Convertible, Performance, Tokyo Motor Show, Specialty

Caterham CSR 175 - Click above for high-res image gallery

It would be tempting to call this year's Tokyo Motor Show an entirely domestic affair, but that's not entirely accurate, as a few smaller specialty automakers like Lotus and Alpina took advantage of a surplus of available square footage by nailing down prime floor space for themselves. As a belated addition to the festivities, Caterham, England's merry band of Colin Chapman acolytes marked the occasion with the world debut of its CSR 175.

The new model slots in as a new bottom rung to the CSR franchise, which is paradoxically the marque's premium range. The 175 joins the range's existing trio of variants, the 200 bhp CSR200, the 260bhp CSR260 and the full-house 260 bhp CSR Superlight. If you're paying attention, you can therefore deduce that the new addition possesses 175 bhp. That may not sound like a lot of power, but in a car that weighs as much as an anorexic gnat, we reckon the Ford-sourced 2.3-liter Duratec four-pot will still be plenty entertaining.

Either way, traditional minimalist roadsters like the Se7en have never been about terminal velocity, they've always been predicated on leech-like cornering and giant-kiling acceleration. And given that the 175 shares the CSR family's stiffer spaceframe chassis, updated suspension and refined aerodynamics, Caterham's latest should continue corner like a cat on carpet. And given the vast empty expanses of the stuff here at the show, we'd be tickled if someone handed us the keys for a bit of after-hours fun...

Gallery: Tokyo 2009: Caterham CSR 175

Continue reading Tokyo 2009: Caterham CSR 175 makes unexpected world debut

Tokyo 2009: Caterham CSR 175 makes unexpected world debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 10:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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