Caterham gets Suzuki power
New sub-£17K entry-level Seven gets 660cc Suzuki turbo engine
Take the live axle from this (possibly)...
"We needed a particularly light powertrain but it had to be a unit that suited the characteristics inherent to all Sevens," says Caterham boss Graham Macdonald in the press release announcing the car. "Suzuki is a leader in producing compact vehicles with extremely efficient engines and that is clearly a shared passion. Thankfully, after lots of hard work, we have a package that works brilliantly."
Numbers are sparse in the Caterham press release but Macdonald does say: "Unfussy and easy to run, it is designed to give a neutral, supple ride yet carrying the sporting edge and turn-of-speed expected from any Seven."
...and add the turbo 660cc three-cyl from this...
It also reveals that the new car will use a Suzuki-sourced live axle fitted with CTI designed trailing arms and Panhard rod, which explains one way in which costs have been kept down.
So how much power will it actually have? Well, it'd seem Caterham has had a right old rummage around the Suzuki parts bin and a protracted virtual equivalent on the firm's Japanese website here in the PH office leads us to believe the engine is the turbocharged version of the K6A three-cylinder fitted to a range of JDM Kei cars. In standard form it makes 52hp and 56lb ft, the turbocharged version used in the Lapin and Wagon R Stingray (yeah!) upping that to a heady 64hp and 70lb ft. And that beam axle? Well, the pint-sized Carry pick-up has a dinky leaf-sprung, live-axle set-up, five-speed manual and uses a version of the K6A engine...
...to create an affordable, back to basics Seven
More concrete information when we have it but if you're keen orders open in the autumn with first deliveries before the year is out. The official release can be seen here.
That would make it a worthwihle option to those looking at the second hand market for standard Xflow / Vauxhall OHC engined cars, which have around that kind of power and can be picked up for £10k ish.
If there is tuning potential to take it over 100 BHP, then even better.
The only buyers I can think of are older folk who would potter around in it, in the same way that you'd use a classic car, but would many of them manage to get in and out of it OK?
The only buyers I can think of are older folk who would potter around in it, in the same way that you'd use a classic car, but would many of them manage to get in and out of it OK?
The only buyers I can think of are older folk who would potter around in it, in the same way that you'd use a classic car, but would many of them manage to get in and out of it OK?
Kei class cars (which this engine comes from) are limited to 64ps (actually 63bhp) by law, in order to fit in the "Kei" class (which has strict dimensions and power limits). A car built to this regulation is treated a bit like we treat quadricycles over here, rather than proper cars. It also permits use in some places where the user can't prove they have space to park it (which in Japan is a problem)
What do you suppose it'd be capable of without that legally proscribed limit? 80bhp? 100?
C
The big ones are lovely and I can understand why they get bought but this? Also if they wanted a small engine from suzuki why not one of the bike engines which make over 100bhp out of the crate!
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