Caterham spots a gap, goes for it
New Supersports R replaces Superlight R300
This installs the two-litre Ford Duratec engine in place of the 1.6-litre Sigma unit in the standard Supersport to create a faster version of what the firm describes as a 'track-oriented road car'.
The Supersport mini-range slots in above the Roadsport and below the frenetic Superlight R300 (or rather, replaces it. See below for the update), both of which are also offered with the two-litre engine.
In this guise it costs £27,995 fully built and makes 182hp - up 5hp on the other two-litre cars - to record a 4.8-second sprint to 60mph according to the firm.
Equipment includes a limited slip-diff, four-point race harnesses, composite seats, 'race dampers' and a push-button start. It also comes with the Supersport half doors and aero screen.
In a statement Caterham boss Graham Macdonald described it as "well-balanced, satisfying and fun in terms of the driving experience it offers". Although the same could be said of all Caterham's range.
The launch marks a welcome reminder after all the hoopla of the Renault link-up that Caterham is a supplier of bare-bones, lightweight machines fitting an original description of the term sports car.
Please, have fun playing around with Renault and Alpine in creating a new range, but we're sincerely looking forward to writing about the 21st version of a Caterham 'Seven' here in 2018.
Update: What Caterham neglected to tell us was that the new Supersport R actually replaces the Superlight R300.
According to Caterham's PR company: "You can technically still buy a Superlight R300, but they feel you'd be mad to given the Supersport R ticks the same boxes."
The Superlight R300 was more expensive as £30,995 built, but as someone below points out, the Supersport R doesn't get the six-speeder.
And I don't get the need to need to stick CATERHAM down the sides of the car (or about a dozen other places either). For a pared down car they do go heavy on the logo.
This looks to me like a brilliant spec for the money and I think it will do very well in terms of sales as it starts with loads of performance goodies and the engine can be tuned well beyond 182bhp as and when wanted.
Well done Caterham.
Given that they've sold plenty of R300s I can see these selling as well. I also bet most of the Supersport R's sold will be north of 30k.
And I don't get the need to need to stick CATERHAM down the sides of the car (or about a dozen other places either). For a pared down car they do go heavy on the logo.
No compulsion to have the CATERHAM logo on the side either I wouldn't have thought.
It does look as though this has replaced the R300. Does it have the 6-speeder?
A quote from Caterham's PR company (who've now been brought back up to speed):
"You can technically still buy a Superlight R300, but they feel you'd be be mad to given the Supersports R ticks the same boxes as the Superlight R"
The Superlight R300 was more expensive as £30,995 built, but as someone pointed out, the Superports doesn't get the six-speeder.
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