Caterham 7 hits max economy
Eco-marathon figure beggars belief
Slippery Caterham Seven
That’s exactly what a modified Caterham Seven achieved at the recent Shell Eco-Marathon at Rockingham.
Customised by carbon fibre specialist Axon Automotive, with the support of Energy-Efficient Motorsport (EEMS), the standard Caterham Seven Roadsport 1.6-litre K Series used enhanced aerodynamics, new lightweight seating, narrow low rolling resistance tyres and economic driving techniques to ensure it maximised every drop of fuel. The sportscar smashed the team’s initial 100mpg target.
The Shell Eco-Marathon is an annual competition to determine the car with the greatest fuel economy after 40 minutes driving and seven laps of the track at a minimum of 15mph. Each entry must meet strict safety requirements and drive using as little petrol, LPG, diesel or hydrogen as possible.
Axon Automotive project leader, Dr Steve Cousins comments: "We are showing that careful driving and relatively simple modifications to conventional cars can lead to significant fuel savings. Significantly the Caterham 2R was the only car in the competition that was moulded from a road-legal vehicle."
The whole point of the 7 is enthusiastic fast driving - nobody would put up with all the disadvantages of the Caterham to save a few quid on petrol FFS.
I'm not normally a miserable boo-boy but this seems not only largely pointless, but almost an embarrassing display appearing like they're trying to suck up to the green anti-car t
ts. (back off rant box, the wheels look like the collapsible space saver in the front of my 911!)
The whole point of the 7 is enthusiastic fast driving - nobody would put up with all the disadvantages of the Caterham to save a few quid on petrol FFS.
I'm not normally a miserable boo-boy but this seems not only largely pointless, but almost an embarrassing display appearing like they're trying to suck up to the green anti-car t
ts. (back off rant box, the wheels look like the collapsible space saver in the front of my 911!)
Agreed, but this sort of low speed stunt still atracts the media, the interest of the general public and gets us talking about it, so just as a PR exploit it will bring them business and raise their company profile
Edited to add quote cos slinky got in there..
hey slinks, its not a race you know 
, blowed if I know who though. If this is a trend, we'll have diesel race cars next then! - oh sorry, we already got them didn't we? 
- (well prototypes anyway) 
- Any takers who don't hug trees
?
The whole point of the 7 is enthusiastic fast driving - nobody would put up with all the disadvantages of the Caterham to save a few quid on petrol FFS.
I'm not normally a miserable boo-boy but this seems not only largely pointless, but almost an embarrassing display appearing like they're trying to suck up to the green anti-car t
ts. (back off rant box, the wheels look like the collapsible space saver in the front of my 911!)
Agreed, but this sort of low speed stunt still atracts the media, the interest of the general public and gets us talking about it, so just as a PR exploit it will bring them business and raise their company profile
Edited to add quote cos slinky got in there..
hey slinks, its not a race you know Agreed, but still a relatively pointless exercise seen as nobody drives like that or you would fall asleep at the wheel trying.
If you don't think efficiency counts, then not only are you a miserable cnut, you are an ignorant, miserable cnut!
</rant>
BTW, well done to Caterham and those involved.
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