RE: Unveiled: Caterham's Dramatic New SP/300.R

[markCSC]

edb49 said:

zebedee said:

Is this the same Duratec as in a 2005 Mondeo 2.0? I have never seen a single tuning option for this engine, but lots of people seem to use them tuned. Doesn't anyone specialise in tuning them, would be interested in a few more ponies!

Lots of people tune Duratecs... try here for one of them: http://www.raceco.com/

and

http://www.scholarengines.co.uk/duratec_engines_fo...

[Andy T]

Caterham, welcome to 2001!

Seriously, why copy Wesfields idea with the XTR?

Edited by Andy T on Thursday 13th January 12:10

[edb49]

Andy T said:

Caterham, welcome to 2001!

Seriously, why copy Wesfields idea with the XTR?

Edited by Andy T on Thursday 13th January 12:10

To be fair, the XTR was quite a different product to this - engine was transverse which completely changes the character of the car. (Downforce/gearbox/cost!)

[alexpa]

I am disappointed

[TonyHetherington]

I hate to say it, but it does seem like a lot of money for a product that may not be as good as it's competitors, in an already saturated point in the market.

Hopefully I'll be proved wrong though.

I wonder if they've done this because the risk isn't too great? What I mean is, once designed, they can still carry on with the 7 business and if this works, great, if not then they tried and no problem.

[WMP]

Lola B08/90 Trackday car

http://www.lolacars.com/racecar.asp?RaceCarId=8

Look/sound familiar, not sure why C'ham set up a micro site with a clock countdown when they could have re-directed me here!?

[anonymous-user]

I can completely see why they have done this car, after years of being "fastest" having Radical pretty much jump in an nick that title on a regular basis at any track you care to name must be annoying! However, for me Caterhams are about much much more than pure racing, the magic is that you can race one (or track one etc) but at the end of the day, take off your helmet, lever the trouble and strife into the passenger seat, and just drive home! Come on Caterham, with the Elise being pushed ever up-market (and up £££), grab a bit of that action before anyone else does!

[soad]

Well, it looks terrific. And who wouldn't want to drive one?

[TonyHetherington]

A dedicated track machine with wings and a bought in engine seems almost, I don't know, too easy for Caterham. Of course they could do it.

What can they do when they're challenged, though?

[TonyHetherington]

soad said:

Well, it looks terrific. And who wouldn't want to drive one?

I agree.

But would you pay £60k +, of your own money, when you consider what else is out there for the same, or even less.

I feel like I'm being overly negative of it. I guess I am - and will withold such judgment until people drive it.

[Sam_68]

edb49 said:

To be fair, the XTR was quite a different product to this - engine was transverse which completely changes the character of the car. (Downforce/gearbox/cost!)

Looks longitudinal to me?

[fatboy18]

I don't know, seems a hell of a lot of money Love the look of the car but could not justify cost

[woof]

WMP said:

Lola B08/90 Trackday car

http://www.lolacars.com/racecar.asp?RaceCarId=8

Look/sound familiar, not sure why C'ham set up a micro site with a clock countdown when they could have re-directed me here!?

Spot on - identical car.
http://www.lolacars.com/downloads/racecar_8.pdf


Caterham

Wheelbase 2600mm
Overall length 4200mm
Overall width 1700mm
Ford Duratec Engine
Hewland JFR 5-speed manual

LOLA
■ Wheelbase 2600 mm
■ Overall length 4600 mm
■ Overall width 1660 mm


Engine Installation
■ Cosworth-prepared Ford Duratec 2-litre inline-4 engine producing 205 bhp

Transmission
■ Hewland JFR 5-speed manual sequential-shift longitudinal gearbox

Edited by woof on Thursday 13th January 12:58

[ArosaMike]

People keep saying it's expensive, but I haven't seen any offical prices yet? Am I missing something?!

Seems to me like it's been built to keep things reasonably cheap. The bodywork is polyurethane and the monocoque is ally. Engine is also relatively low cost. Whacking a supercharger on there and getting 300bhp is relatively easy and means the engine is probably fairly unstressed.

I'm happy to wait and see how this does. A large proportion of Caterhams business is through motorsport, and they simply have to capitalise on this to grow as a company. To develop a brand new road car would cost them far more money than they have and would likely be hugely dissapointing.

With the dissapearance of the R400 race series, to me it seems like a logical step for people who can find the budget after traditional Caterham racing. Fingers crossed I can pursuade them to give me a test LOL

[joz8968]

Wow! A 10 from me.

I love these 'Le Mans LP2' style trackday toys! And it has Radical SR3 Turbo-rivaling (maybe even -beating?!) spec. to boot! Must be a right weapon.

Edited by joz8968 on Thursday 13th January 13:52

[suffolk009]

I've had Caterhams in the past. Loved them all. This is emphatically not a car that in any way interests me.

[mattmurdock]

woof said:

WMP said:

Lola B08/90 Trackday car

http://www.lolacars.com/racecar.asp?RaceCarId=8

Look/sound familiar, not sure why C'ham set up a micro site with a clock countdown when they could have re-directed me here!?

Spot on - identical car.
http://www.lolacars.com/downloads/racecar_8.pdf


Caterham

Wheelbase 2600mm
Overall length 4200mm
Overall width 1700mm
Ford Duratec Engine
Hewland JFR 5-speed manual

LOLA
■ Wheelbase 2600 mm
■ Overall length 4600 mm
■ Overall width 1660 mm


Engine Installation
■ Cosworth-prepared Ford Duratec 2-litre inline-4 engine producing 205 bhp

Transmission
■ Hewland JFR 5-speed manual sequential-shift longitudinal gearbox

Edited by woof on Thursday 13th January 12:58

So the Caterham is shorter, wider, has 100 more horsepower and (aside from being in the style of a sports prototype) looks nothing like the Lola B08/90 and you think it is an identical car?

[ArosaMike]

woof said:

Caterham

Wheelbase 2600mm
Overall length 4200mm
Overall width 1700mm
Ford Duratec Engine
Hewland JFR 5-speed manual

LOLA
■ Wheelbase 2600 mm
■ Overall length 4600 mm
■ Overall width 1660 mm

Edited by woof on Thursday 13th January 12:58

I would hardly say that's identical. It's similar yes, but then it's bound to be as it's a small sportscar with downforce and a Duratec engine! Compare your average road car (A6, 5 Series, XF etc) and they'll all be within 100-200mm of each other on wheelbase and length.

[sa_20v]

I love it - please make it road legal!

[AA121]

There is no doubt that Caterham lose customers from their current racing series' every year to the likes of Radical. Makes perfect sense to me that they want to hang on to these (often wealthy!) individuals beyond the R300 and Supersport series and the best way to do this is to offer this type of vehicle.

What I really want to know though is if Riggers has blagged another freebie ride for 2012!!??