Tuesday 27th May 2014

Caterham announces Kobayashi limited edition

Single seater JDM Seven goes on sale today; Ericsson edition to follow?

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Kamui Kobayashi's gung-ho approach to F1 has won him plenty of fans off the circuit if not amongst his racing contemporaries. And how better to tap into that popularity than with a limited edition signed off by the man himself?

Kamui wanted one seat so goodbye passenger!

Furthermore unlike some 'motorsport' specials, there are some desirable extras standard on the Kamui. As well as the single seater layout, it gets the limited-slip differential and six-speed gearbox optional on the Japanese 250R (ostensibly our Roadsport 125).

The exterior is finished in a high-gloss black with matt black stripes. Every Kamui car gets a number 10 badge on its nose and wing protectors finished in carbon 'infused with a unique Caterham green lacquer'. This is the first Seven to wear them, so there's another option for the build of your Seven...

The Caterham green carbon is used inside too, signed by the man himself and continuing a green theme that also features contrast stitching on the carbon seat, an anodised key and gear knob (both green) and Takata 4-point harnesses in you know what. Don't forget the Kamui logo as well.

Kamui wants an LSD, Kamui gets an LSD

Mr Kobayashi's comment on 'his' Seven is refreshingly candid: "In my Caterham F1 car, I have electronics that control everything but to drive the Seven is to truly understand the car and to truly understand the enjoyment of driving. I hope my styling of the Seven adds something special to a car that is already awesome to drive." What more could you want?

UK availability would be nice but unfortunately that isn't happening. Just 10 will be made for Japan at 6,000,000 yen (35K) each including local taxes.

 

[Oddball RS]

Should this be celebrated?

[SeeFive]

Is each one delivered with a front corner knocked off.

[Rog B]

Is this April 1st?

Purely personal opinion, but I think he's an awful driver (in the context of F1 drivers), and I can see most probably share the same viewpoint given the usual 'Kobycrashi' joke has already been posted above.

I eagerly await news from Mercedes about their planned Lewis Hamilton edition with factory baby seats and a mobile to keep the driver amused on long journeys.

[alexnaderinkram]

I belive there is a typo in the text, this car is actually on sale for 350 million, not 35k

[jakeb]

coming to a crash barrier near you soon

[cianha]

I thought I was reading a SniffPetrol headline for a moment. But given the JDM love of Caterhams and F1, I expect they'll sell buckets of them. Smart move. It doesn't matter a damn what we think about the driver or the team, this is a good leveraging of the brand.

[Lost soul]

SeeFive said:

Is each one delivered with a front corner knocked off.

no that's the Ericsson edition

[em177]

Rog B said:

Is this April 1st?

Purely personal opinion, but I think he's an awful driver (in the context of F1 drivers), and I can see most probably share the same viewpoint given the usual 'Kobycrashi' joke has already been posted above.

I eagerly await news from Mercedes about their planned Lewis Hamilton edition with factory baby seats and a mobile to keep the driver amused on long journeys.

So you think a limited run of 10 cars to Japan, a country who actually have a fund going where fans help pay for his drive ,isn't a decent marketing idea?

[Spyder5]

Kobayashi limited edition with no bumpers? Seems a bit odd...

[suffolk009]

Come on PH writers. The car company, F1 team, and has consultancy firms have reportedly just been put up for sale, and you're trotting out a press release about how lovely their green tinted carbon fibre is?

[AlpinaB5s]

cianha said:

I expect they'll sell buckets of them. Smart move.

A wild stab in the dark, pulled from the air, best guestimate would suggest they'll sell only 10 of these.

[cianha]

That's what I get for skimming the end of the article!

[Ozzie Osmond]

No doubt it will be known as the "Mobile Chicane" edition.

[bubney72]

Oh dear.
I like Kobayashi, and the Caterham, but this is one lame non-event.

[Gecko1978]

suffolk009 said:

Come on PH writers. The car company, F1 team, and has consultancy firms have reportedly just been put up for sale, and you're trotting out a press release about how lovely their green tinted carbon fibre is?

Read this on car buzz also so this could be a final edition too, there was scant information about why it was up for sale but is the F1 team bleeding the owner dry or are the cars not making a profit, the tie in with Renult has fallen through and the new version of the Seven did not seem to go down well (forget its name but it had enclose wheels and no windscreen I quite liked it)

[Vee12V]

Say what you want, but this is very nicely specced 7.

[wile7]

There have been a few special editions recently (did you see Harry Redknapps 'gift' from TF last week?) and this edition will sell really easily in the JDM. Massive cult following of the car there.

I quite like the look of the thing and I think Kobayashi sums up the basic yet fundamentally pure driving experience rather well. Surprised they did not do it on the 160 car though (not enough oomph?)

I'd like to have that rollbar on mine - in chrome

Dave

[ecs0set]

cianha said:

I thought I was reading a SniffPetrol headline for a moment. But given the JDM love of Caterhams and F1, I expect they'll sell buckets of them. Smart move. It doesn't matter a damn what we think about the driver or the team, this is a good leveraging of the brand.

+1, this had SniffPetrol written all over it!

[ajprice]

ecs0set said:

cianha said:

I thought I was reading a SniffPetrol headline for a moment. But given the JDM love of Caterhams and F1, I expect they'll sell buckets of them. Smart move. It doesn't matter a damn what we think about the driver or the team, this is a good leveraging of the brand.

+1, this had SniffPetrol written all over it!

http://sniffpetrol.com/2014/04/28/ford-announces-k...

Ford announces Kubica special edition

[possibletowel]

beats Sebs Infiniti special edition anyway!