All your Caterhams are Really Slow..........................
Discussion
http://www.crash.net/motoring/roadcars/news/articl...
Caterham has shown the first results of its new partnership with Hertfordshire’s RS Performance Ltd – the completely and utterly bonkers Caterham Levante.
Based on the SV chassis, the Levante is fitted with a 2.4 litre supercharged V8, which generates 500bhp at 10,000rpm and weighs an incredible 90kg. Incredible because that is 5kgs lighter than the 2.4 litre V8 bolted to the bulkhead of a 2008 Formula 1 car.
Thanks to a fastidious weight saving scheme that extends to carbon fibre panels, interior fixtures and fittings; Kevlar seats and careful selection of components right down to the last jubilee clip, hose and allen bolt, the Levante weighs a scant 520kg. This puts its power-to-weight ratio at a Veyron-destroying, Caparo-equalling 1,000bhp/tonne, allowing 0-60mph to be despatched in less than three seconds. Goodness knows how quickly it would hit its 150mph limiter. ‘Extraordinarily’ or ‘frighteningly’ would be my guess.
In a (very wise) break with tradition, the driver will get some electronic help in getting all that power on to the tarmac in the form of an advanced traction and launch control system and limited slip differential. The gearbox is a six-speed sequential with a paddle-shift option and the whole package is brought to a standstill by a large crash or, if your brain is fast enough, Hi-Spec disc brakes.
And the price for the ultimate 7? £115,000. Blimey
Caterham has shown the first results of its new partnership with Hertfordshire’s RS Performance Ltd – the completely and utterly bonkers Caterham Levante.
Based on the SV chassis, the Levante is fitted with a 2.4 litre supercharged V8, which generates 500bhp at 10,000rpm and weighs an incredible 90kg. Incredible because that is 5kgs lighter than the 2.4 litre V8 bolted to the bulkhead of a 2008 Formula 1 car.
Thanks to a fastidious weight saving scheme that extends to carbon fibre panels, interior fixtures and fittings; Kevlar seats and careful selection of components right down to the last jubilee clip, hose and allen bolt, the Levante weighs a scant 520kg. This puts its power-to-weight ratio at a Veyron-destroying, Caparo-equalling 1,000bhp/tonne, allowing 0-60mph to be despatched in less than three seconds. Goodness knows how quickly it would hit its 150mph limiter. ‘Extraordinarily’ or ‘frighteningly’ would be my guess.
In a (very wise) break with tradition, the driver will get some electronic help in getting all that power on to the tarmac in the form of an advanced traction and launch control system and limited slip differential. The gearbox is a six-speed sequential with a paddle-shift option and the whole package is brought to a standstill by a large crash or, if your brain is fast enough, Hi-Spec disc brakes.
And the price for the ultimate 7? £115,000. Blimey
t, that thing is cool. I wonder how many people will be brave enough and have the money! 
....but I like it!
having spent the day at Brands with a 2 litre minister K-series (the r500evo engine @ 250bhp) I have experienced what could be described as a bit too much. You have to be very slow and late getting on the throttle. Full throttle is definitely only a good idea when the car is in a completely straight line. So cool as it is, and if I had silly amounts of money I'd get one anyway for the hell of it, but this V8 will require a lot of skill to get the best out of and to avoid crashing.
I also had a go in a r300 at brands and it was a big advantage to be able to use full throttle out of corners. You could just use 100% of the car's performance whereas the r500evo was a matter of being a bit patient to get back on the throttle. Sure down the straights it made up the time with ease but the difference in lap speed with an amateur like me behind the wheel was pretty small.
I also had a go in a r300 at brands and it was a big advantage to be able to use full throttle out of corners. You could just use 100% of the car's performance whereas the r500evo was a matter of being a bit patient to get back on the throttle. Sure down the straights it made up the time with ease but the difference in lap speed with an amateur like me behind the wheel was pretty small.
The Pits said:
having spent the day at Brands with a 2 litre minister K-series (the r500evo engine @ 250bhp) I have experienced what could be described as a bit too much. You have to be very slow and late getting on the throttle. Full throttle is definitely only a good idea when the car is in a completely straight line. So cool as it is, and if I had silly amounts of money I'd get one anyway for the hell of it, but this V8 will require a lot of skill to get the best out of and to avoid crashing.
I also had a go in a r300 at brands and it was a big advantage to be able to use full throttle out of corners. You could just use 100% of the car's performance whereas the r500evo was a matter of being a bit patient to get back on the throttle. Sure down the straights it made up the time with ease but the difference in lap speed with an amateur like me behind the wheel was pretty small.
Was it running on slicks? I'd agree that you do have to be wary on road tyres or cold slicks, but once they are warmed up you can play with the car - full throttle out of corners is fine on warm slicks - Clearways, Graham Hill for instance. But, then, my car has 20 bhp less than the Evo...perhaps that makes a difference?I also had a go in a r300 at brands and it was a big advantage to be able to use full throttle out of corners. You could just use 100% of the car's performance whereas the r500evo was a matter of being a bit patient to get back on the throttle. Sure down the straights it made up the time with ease but the difference in lap speed with an amateur like me behind the wheel was pretty small.
I haven't driven an R300 but for sure in the higher powered cars the lap is perhaps less fluid - in my hands certianly - I'm sure Graham Fennymore would make my car look as fluid as a Superlight
.Surely having to be patient getting to full throttle beats the hell out of just putting your foot down? You don't have to be any later using it either, just more measured, and with a bit more steering. Having driven a 200bhp R400 for the first time last weekend I certainly believe a lot more power is a more fun.
The Pits said:
having spent the day at Brands with a 2 litre minister K-series (the r500evo engine @ 250bhp) I have experienced what could be described as a bit too much. You have to be very slow and late getting on the throttle. Full throttle is definitely only a good idea when the car is in a completely straight line. So cool as it is, and if I had silly amounts of money I'd get one anyway for the hell of it, but this V8 will require a lot of skill to get the best out of and to avoid crashing.
I also had a go in a r300 at brands and it was a big advantage to be able to use full throttle out of corners. You could just use 100% of the car's performance whereas the r500evo was a matter of being a bit patient to get back on the throttle. Sure down the straights it made up the time with ease but the difference in lap speed with an amateur like me behind the wheel was pretty small.
Another factor is the setup of the car, suspension and diff ramp angles, etc. These can make a massive difference to how much power can be applied. A new car from caterham is unlikely to be set up that well in my opinion.I also had a go in a r300 at brands and it was a big advantage to be able to use full throttle out of corners. You could just use 100% of the car's performance whereas the r500evo was a matter of being a bit patient to get back on the throttle. Sure down the straights it made up the time with ease but the difference in lap speed with an amateur like me behind the wheel was pretty small.
dannylt said:
Well, especially since a new car is going to have a nasty ATB diff instead of a ZF plate! I am assured the ATB is better for road use, but I know which one I prefer on track.
Nothing wrong with an ATB. Used my new one for the first time on Sunday, in a race, not arsing about on a Trackday.
dannylt said:
I'm sure it's better than an open diff, but it still loves to spin away the inside wheel excessively (I think).
Anything is better that std / open diff. If you keep you foot in it. I had to adjust to the LSD years back with its initial behaviour of just wanting to understeer unless you keep you foot in it and it then pulls it back.Not really noticed much difference in the action of a Salisbury type to the new ATB (not in a Caterham - but comparing basic diff behavior here not overall car behaviour).
I tried both back to back with Bookatrack hire cars and it was very noticeable. With more power I'm sure the plate type is even more noticeably better. Better as in more fun, unclear if it's any faster or not, but since you have more adjustability options with a plate type I bet it could be setup faster.
rubystone said:
The Pits said:
having spent the day at Brands with a 2 litre minister K-series (the r500evo engine @ 250bhp) I have experienced what could be described as a bit too much. You have to be very slow and late getting on the throttle. Full throttle is definitely only a good idea when the car is in a completely straight line. So cool as it is, and if I had silly amounts of money I'd get one anyway for the hell of it, but this V8 will require a lot of skill to get the best out of and to avoid crashing.
I also had a go in a r300 at brands and it was a big advantage to be able to use full throttle out of corners. You could just use 100% of the car's performance whereas the r500evo was a matter of being a bit patient to get back on the throttle. Sure down the straights it made up the time with ease but the difference in lap speed with an amateur like me behind the wheel was pretty small.
Was it running on slicks? I'd agree that you do have to be wary on road tyres or cold slicks, but once they are warmed up you can play with the car - full throttle out of corners is fine on warm slicks - Clearways, Graham Hill for instance. But, then, my car has 20 bhp less than the Evo...perhaps that makes a difference?I also had a go in a r300 at brands and it was a big advantage to be able to use full throttle out of corners. You could just use 100% of the car's performance whereas the r500evo was a matter of being a bit patient to get back on the throttle. Sure down the straights it made up the time with ease but the difference in lap speed with an amateur like me behind the wheel was pretty small.
I haven't driven an R300 but for sure in the higher powered cars the lap is perhaps less fluid - in my hands certianly - I'm sure Graham Fennymore would make my car look as fluid as a Superlight
.That said, it was the brands indy track, I might change my mind once I've done the GP track. This engine needs some room to do it's thing! It's a good amount quicker over 100 mph.
Edited by The Pits on Sunday 6th April 00:50
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