Friday 28th November 2014

New Caterham Sevens for 2015

Superlight, Supersport and Roadsport to be replaced by numerical naming strategy

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It was bound to happen soon enough. Not only are the two extremes of the Caterham Seven range represented by 'numbered' Sevens (the 160 and the 620R), the same policy is used overseas. Think of the Seven 360 and 480 sold in America and 485 in Europe. So from next year the Seven gets a range refresh that will replace the Roadsport, Supersport and Superlight models with derivatives named on their power-to-weight ratios.

Names are changing, fun will remain

Using our expertly judged powers of deduction we would say that those models are probably the aforementioned 360 and 480, or at least very close to them. The 360 offers exactly the same power as the current 2.0-litre Duratec Supersport R at 180hp and the 240hp 480 is actually a little ahead of the Superlight's 210hp. That does still leave the two 1.6-litre Sigma engined Roadsport models (125 and 140hp) to be replaced, perhaps by 250 or 280 models as they follow the power-to-weight idea. Apparently styling changes will be incorporated to the range refresh to mark out the new models as well. And fear not, UK cars will keep the side exhaust and not default to the noise strangled rear-exit system on Euro spec cars.

The European 485 did, however, introduce a 'Sport' button to the Seven so that will likely make an appearance in these new Sevens. All of the new models will also be offered with two option packs, R or S. The former is a 'Race' pack, the latter a 'Sport'. The CSR remains untouched in the Seven range.

Expect the new Sevens as the sun comes back out again in the spring, with full confirmation of the models and prices soon.

[john7]

Don't know what happened, I rated this car at 10 not 5

[WMP]

Seems to make sense, sort of...

Will the 480 be a de-tuned supercharged duratec or a tuned n/a unit??

I'm also a bit concerned with the "sport button" for the euro market but if that's what's necessary to pass the noise regs, c'est la vie!

[GregorFuk]

Every time I think of buying one of these I price up my ideal build and end up asking the same questions, where is the money going? And look at what else I can get for the same money! I'm just not sure I want one badly enough. I know I could scale back my aspirations but that would only niggle away at me over the long run.

I either need to take the plunge or write the idea off completely.

[pikeyboy]

GregorFuk said:

Every time I think of buying one of these I price up my ideal build and end up asking the same questions, where is the money going? And look at what else I can get for the same money! I'm just not sure I want one badly enough. I know I could scale back my aspirations but that would only niggle away at me over the long run.

I either need to take the plunge or write the idea off completely.

Just buy a used one, find out you love it and loose no money on it when you decide its time to move it on buy your ideal 7

[Benbay001]

GregorFuk said:

Every time I think of buying one of these I price up my ideal build and end up asking the same questions, where is the money going? And look at what else I can get for the same money! I'm just not sure I want one badly enough. I know I could scale back my aspirations but that would only niggle away at me over the long run. I either need to take the plunge or write the idea off completely.

They are a very safe bet financially. Very cheap to run for the performance and sod all depreciation.

[justboxsters]

I'll take a caterham 7-11 please.

[soad]

Sport button? 'Sport' mode to sharpen driving characteristics.
CO2 emission regulations then.

[Oddball RS]

So its just power in BHP x2 for new name, wowsers.... why?

[soad]

Oddball RS said:

So its just power in BHP x2 for new name, wowsers.... why?

"Caterham is to launch three new Seven variants in 2015 in a bid to simplify its line-up and make the differences between its models easier to understand by adopting a new numerical naming system loosely based on the power-to-weight ratio."

[suffolk009]

Are they selling any of the 620R? It's just I haven't seen any for sale secondhand.

Also the idea that they hold their value and are without depreciation is a myth. Like all new cars you'll be down a big percentage if you need to sell quickly.

[soad]

suffolk009 said:

Are they selling any of the 620R? It's just I haven't seen any for sale secondhand.

Found one here: http://uk.caterhamcars.com/pre-owned/1445-seven-62...

[suffolk009]

soad said:

suffolk009 said:

Are they selling any of the 620R? It's just I haven't seen any for sale secondhand.

Found one here: http://uk.caterhamcars.com/pre-owned/1445-seven-62...

I think that is one of two press/demonstrator cars. The other one is bright blue.

[Howroyd]

I want one. I only drive on weekends, and the MX5 is great but a bit too refined for such a limited mileage. I could get down with one..


Next year.. next year

[mikesalt]

GregorFuk said:

Every time I think of buying one of these I price up my ideal build and end up asking the same questions, where is the money going? And look at what else I can get for the same money! I'm just not sure I want one badly enough. I know I could scale back my aspirations but that would only niggle away at me over the long run.

I either need to take the plunge or write the idea off completely.

Have you considered any of the competitors? There will always be those that say only the Caterham is a proper 7, but if you can get past that, you can have a new-build Westfield or perhaps something from the Jeremy Philips stable.

[GregorFuk]

boy said:

GregorFuk said:

Every time I think of buying one of these I price up my ideal build and end up asking the same questions, where is the money going? And look at what else I can get for the same money! I'm just not sure I want one badly enough. I know I could scale back my aspirations but that would only niggle away at me over the long run.

I either need to take the plunge or write the idea off completely.

Just buy a used one, find out you love it and loose no money on it when you decide its time to move it on buy your ideal 7

I hear what you are saying but if I'm going to do the Caterham thing then I'm building my own. Buying a pre-built Caterham is a non starter for me.

[jaylward]

Don't bother with Caterham. Get better quality and much better value for money from Tiger Racing:

http://www.tigerracing.com

http://www.tigerracing.com/images/avon/avon-5.jpg

[CrutyRammers]

Subtle

[arkenphel]

Sport button? In a Seven? Honestly?

What is the world coming to? I'm willing to bet nobody ever bough a Seven thinking it needed a sport button...

[canucklehead]

can't help but love incomprehensible numbering schemes as car names.

qv McLaren.

altho none will ever be more magnificent than Ferrari's botched rebirth of its original numbering scheme. i loved that 50s and 60s Ferraris were usually identified by the cc capacity of 1 cylinder of the engine - fantastically obscure and engineering-y. but Fiat, *cough* Ferrari, botched the rebirth of this at the end of the 90s and soon lost all cohesion, and now they've given up completely. La Ferrari indeed - give me a Caterham any day, whatever its called.

[suffolk009]

^^^^^ I also like the old number system at Ferrari - so, that could be Caterham 104 or more pathetically Caterham TheCaterham?

I always thought Superlight was just about the coolest name going. Seriously, why would they drop that.

Edited by suffolk009 on Friday 28th November 17:20