Caterham Seven Supersport

Caterham has announced a track-focussed addition to its Seven range. Called the Supersport, it has been developed directly from the version used in the Caterham Supersport championship.

Power comes from a 140 bhp (104 kW / 141 PS) 1.6 litre Ford Sigma engine, connected to a five-speed gearbox with ‘sprint’ ratios. A fairly modest output but, as the Supersport weighs only 520 kg (1,146 lbs), it’s enough for a zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) time of 4.9 seconds. Claimed top speed is 120 mph (193 km/h).



The chassis set-up features uprated dampers and springs, a limited slip differential and 13” wheels shod with Avon CR500 tyres. Completing the race-inspired package are composite race seats, four-point harnesses, dash-mounted gear change up lights, a lightened flywheel and an aero screen.

UK price for the Caterham Seven Supersport is £22,995, although those seeking the satisfaction of building their own car can order it in component form for £19,995.



Related post:

Caterham Seven Monaco

Caterham-Lola SP/300.R

A previous attempt by Caterham to expand its range beyond the iconic Seven was not a great success. Only forty-eight examples of the 21, launched in 1994, were ever built.



Now it’s having another go with the SP/300.R, a shrunken Le Mans Prototype in the style of cars such as the Westfield XTR and Radical SR series.

The project has been developed in collaboration with Lola Cars, which was involved in engineering the aluminium tub chassis and perfecting the aerodynamics.



As with the current Seven line-up, power is provided by Ford. In the case of the SP/300.R it’s a two-litre Duratec motor which, thanks to the addition of a supercharger, produces 300 bhp (223 kW / 304 PS). Drive to the rear transaxle is via a Hewland semi-automatic FTR gearbox.

With the Caterham-Lola weighing less than 600 kg (1,322 lbs), that set up is enough for a zero to 60 mph (96 km/h) time of about 2.5 seconds. Top speed should be in the region of 170 mph (273 km/h).



Keeping the SP/300.R on the tarmac is race-derived suspension. There are dual wishbones front and rear, pushrod dampers and an adjustable ride height, all of which is assisted by down force from the front splitter and rear wing.

Although a road-legal version might appear later, for now the SP/300.R is destined for the circuits only. There’ll be a UK-based one-make series from 2012, although the Caterham-Lola will probably find its way into other championships as well as numerous trackdays, too.



The price of the Caterham-Lola SP/300.R is £60,000 (about €71,600 at today’s exchange rate) excluding local taxes. Annual production volume is anticipated to be twenty-five units.