RE: Unveiled: Caterham's Dramatic New SP/300.R
Discussion
ArosaMike said:
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
All of the various news outlets are stating the price will be £60k + VAT.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
LOLTo be honest, this car is what I was expecting (I have an R500 on order so was able to get some choice hints over what was coming), and given the stated aim is to provide a race car on a reasonable budget I think they have succeeded. Obviously the proof will be in the driving, but I doubt you would be able to find a comparable level of performance or specification for much less money.
It looks stunning, like all CN2 derived cars. However I feel its 5 years too late.
Majority of the old CSR, R400 racers went onto VdeV in Norma's, Ligiers and Juno's which were on price comparison slightly more expensive but came with greater downforce and better transmission and paddle shift etc.
The issue is those guys left 2-5 years ago and the market for this kind of expensive track day toy is very limited now.
Its a shame they didnt go at it alone but with limited funds for devlopment and no CFD, Simulation in house Lola is a sensible choice to ensure the car has speed and reliability on circuit.
Radical have the one make race series' sewn up with the range of cars, good support, and spares support which Caterham always failed to deliver.
If its to make a successful race series then I hope caterham can support it as they should do and tempt some of the old customers back and strictly scrutinise the championship as there is large scope for modification.
For now I shall stick my series 3!
Majority of the old CSR, R400 racers went onto VdeV in Norma's, Ligiers and Juno's which were on price comparison slightly more expensive but came with greater downforce and better transmission and paddle shift etc.
The issue is those guys left 2-5 years ago and the market for this kind of expensive track day toy is very limited now.
Its a shame they didnt go at it alone but with limited funds for devlopment and no CFD, Simulation in house Lola is a sensible choice to ensure the car has speed and reliability on circuit.
Radical have the one make race series' sewn up with the range of cars, good support, and spares support which Caterham always failed to deliver.
If its to make a successful race series then I hope caterham can support it as they should do and tempt some of the old customers back and strictly scrutinise the championship as there is large scope for modification.
For now I shall stick my series 3!
60k plus VAT and some options. That'll be 80k then. That pegs it into a specific place in the market. So they say they are going to make 25 a year. If they have a one make race for them, they'll need all of those together to have a sensible grid. Doesn't sound an impossible task to seel 25 for racing, but not that easy either.
I hope they don't have any r500 style gremlins left in!
Bert
I hope they don't have any r500 style gremlins left in!
Bert
As far as I can tell from reading the brochure there are no options - the idea being that everything you would need is included as standard. They seem to be making a big thing of other race cars having extensive options that push the price up.
According to the tech specs in the brochure this is what you get for £72k incl VAT in the UK (apologies for the long post):
Powertrain
• Caterham supercharged Ford Duratec 1999cc
• Rotrex supercharger with charge air cooling
• Aero optimised induction
• Uprated conrods, pistons and bearings
• Dry sump oil system
• High efficiency ducted cooling system (40oC ambient)
• Aero optimised high level ducted quiet exhaust
• Hewland FTR six speed sequential gearbox
• Shiftec paddle shift system
• Dual plate sintered clutch
• Limited slip differential
Suspension
• Adjustable pushrod activiated coil-over spring-dampers
• Adjustable anti-roll bars front and rear
• Lola Formula 3 gearbox mounted suspension
Chassis and Body
• Lola-developed aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis
• Seven-piece lightweight polyurethane body system
• Lola-developed aero package, including:
– Adjustable carbon rear wing
– Composite front splitter
– Composite rear diffuser
– Aero optimised dive planes
– Three stage downforce configuration
• Quick lifting onboard air jack system
• Left or right hand drive
• Schroth six point harnesses
• MSA specification twin roll over protection hoops
• MSA specification front crash structure
• FIA approved fuel cell with external filling point
Braking System
• AP Racing braking system
• AP Racing adjustable pedal box
Wheels and Tyres
• ATS centre-lock Formula 3 wheels 9x13 and 10.5x13
• Cooper Formula 3 size bespoke slick tyres
Electronics
• Front low/high beam lights with permanent LED
running lights
• Rear LED running lights with integrated brake lights
• High-intensity rain light
• Pectel engine and gearbox management system with
integrated data logging
• Momo steering wheel with integral driver display system
According to the tech specs in the brochure this is what you get for £72k incl VAT in the UK (apologies for the long post):
Powertrain
• Caterham supercharged Ford Duratec 1999cc
• Rotrex supercharger with charge air cooling
• Aero optimised induction
• Uprated conrods, pistons and bearings
• Dry sump oil system
• High efficiency ducted cooling system (40oC ambient)
• Aero optimised high level ducted quiet exhaust
• Hewland FTR six speed sequential gearbox
• Shiftec paddle shift system
• Dual plate sintered clutch
• Limited slip differential
Suspension
• Adjustable pushrod activiated coil-over spring-dampers
• Adjustable anti-roll bars front and rear
• Lola Formula 3 gearbox mounted suspension
Chassis and Body
• Lola-developed aluminium honeycomb monocoque chassis
• Seven-piece lightweight polyurethane body system
• Lola-developed aero package, including:
– Adjustable carbon rear wing
– Composite front splitter
– Composite rear diffuser
– Aero optimised dive planes
– Three stage downforce configuration
• Quick lifting onboard air jack system
• Left or right hand drive
• Schroth six point harnesses
• MSA specification twin roll over protection hoops
• MSA specification front crash structure
• FIA approved fuel cell with external filling point
Braking System
• AP Racing braking system
• AP Racing adjustable pedal box
Wheels and Tyres
• ATS centre-lock Formula 3 wheels 9x13 and 10.5x13
• Cooper Formula 3 size bespoke slick tyres
Electronics
• Front low/high beam lights with permanent LED
running lights
• Rear LED running lights with integrated brake lights
• High-intensity rain light
• Pectel engine and gearbox management system with
integrated data logging
• Momo steering wheel with integral driver display system
Does anyone know if this is indeed related to Lola's Sports 2000 Duratec racer? I've asked the question a while ago, and I'm curious. That was half the price, but it uses the same engine, same configuration etc etc. The other question we all seem to be asking is how much input Caterham had into the car, other than just using their more mainstream name to market the car better.
k-ink said:
Stunning looking machine. Now Caterham need to update their 1950's road car. The gulf could hardly look any wider.
That would the CSTR and the ilk you'll be wanting then.Having recently driven one of those and having driven original 7s there is no comparison other than the shape similarity.
BBS-LM said:
Sam_68 said:
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?
RobM77 said:
Does anyone know if this is indeed related to Lola's Sports 2000 Duratec racer? I've asked the question a while ago, and I'm curious. That was half the price, but it uses the same engine, same configuration etc etc. The other question we all seem to be asking is how much input Caterham had into the car, other than just using their more mainstream name to market the car better.
It is related in so much that Lola designed both cars, and they both use Duratec engines. I guess the key thing with the SP\300.R is that it has more horsepower, and is likely to use a different chassis design.DonkeyApple said:
k-ink said:
Stunning looking machine. Now Caterham need to update their 1950's road car. The gulf could hardly look any wider.
That would the CSTR and the ilk you'll be wanting then.Having recently driven one of those and having driven original 7s there is no comparison other than the shape similarity.
And that's not forgetting that the funny little 1950s car is still one of the most fun and best handling cars money can buy, and can lap a circuit quicker than the majority of supercars. I've got a video at home of an R300 wasting a 996 GT3 round Brands in just one lap - with the same very capable driver at the wheel of both, and the R300 has a 160bhp Rover engine in it Oh, and 7s cost peanuts to run as well. Safety and motorway comfort are pretty much the only things they don't do to be honest.
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