Autoblog

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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Help design Caterham's next sportscar with Project Splitwheel

Noah Joseph — Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:41:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, UK

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

Caterham is making a new sportscar. But we can't tell you what it is, because you haven't designed it yet.

The British sportscar company has made its name by producing the Super 7 of Lotus fame long after Lotus had moved on. They've made a whole basketful of versions since, but it all boils down to that bare-bones, long-nose, cabin-over-rear-axle design. The format has legions of faithful fans around the world, but Caterham is preparing to move on with a second range to accompany the 7, and is opening up the design process to user submissions. The project is being undertaken in conjunction with Project Splitwheel, an open-source collaborative project that seeks to combine the efforts of gearheads around the world into one resource. Interesting idea, and Caterham is committed to producing at least a working prototype of the final design. The project kicks off in January, with the first prototype scheduled to debut sometime in 2010. Follow the jump to watch a brief explanatory video, or the link to Splitwheel's website for more info.

Gallery: Caterham R500

[Source: Project Splitwheel via Autocar]

Continue reading Help design Caterham's next sportscar with Project Splitwheel

Help design Caterham's next sportscar with Project Splitwheel originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 05 Nov 2008 12:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Australia's Eflin debuts Type 5 Clubman in Sydney

Noah Joseph — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:57:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Misc. Auto Shows, Holden, Australia

Click above for high-res gallery of the Elfin Type 5 Clubman

Fans of the original Lotus 7 will undoubtedly be familiar with Elfin. Others who, like Lotus itself, have come to realize that automotive development has advanced in the past few decades, may be less so. The Australian sportscar-maker is right up there with the likes of Caterham and Westfield, only from the land of reverse-flushing toilettes and leaf-eating marsupials. The company is under the care of Tom Walkinshaw, a legend in the motorsports and tuning communities who has leveraged his close ties with GM's Holden subsidiary for the vehicle you see here, called the Type 5 Clubman. Replacing the discontinued Type 3, the new Type 5 joins the line-up alongside the MS8 Streamliner and was recently unveiled at the ongoing Sydney Motor Show.

The new roadster features the same 260-hp turbo four from the Pontiac Solstice GXP and Saturn Sky Redline, only in a much lighter frame of just 750kg (about 1,650 lbs). The combination of generous power and low weight means the Type 5 is pegged to hit 100 km/h (62mph) in a rapid 3.7 seconds while commanding a sticker price comparable Down Under to a Nissan 350Z or Mazda RX-8, only without frivolities like a roof or doors.

Gallery: Elfin Type 5 Clubman

[Source: Elfin]

Australia's Eflin debuts Type 5 Clubman in Sydney originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 11 Oct 2008 18:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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