Even as PH has been busy having fun with
a brace of 'classic' Caterhams
, would-be rival Tiger has revealed this latest 'modern interpretation' of the Seven' theme.
Tiger is not new to this sort of thing. The Cambridgeshire-based kit car firm has knocked out 2500 cars since 1989, with a plethora of more traditional Caterham/Westfield style lightweights as well as some interesting historic replicas using the revived E.R.A (English Racing Automobiles) moniker.
The Aviator is its newest project, and is the result of a year's intensive development with designer Simon Keys (First Principle Design). It packs a 190bhp Ford Duratec engine, running through a 5-speed Ford 'box with Quaife internals and a Ford 3:1 differential, and even 'wet' and in full road trim, still weighs only 592kg.
The chassis is based on Tiger's popular R6 (a more traditional Seven-type kit) and shares its geometry, but with extra chassis tubes to improve stiffness and create a wider stance, which was apparently intended to resemble the head of an arrow.
PHers may cheer to learn that the broader shape was also intended to make way for larger frames. Director Jim Dudley told PH "We spent a year and a lot of money developing this car, we want as many people as possible to be able to drive it!".
Suspension is double-wishbone up front, with the R6's De-Dion setup at the rear, and is apparently set up for stability as well as nimble handling. "About 90% of our cars live on the road, so we didn't want it to be skittish or unstable".
Interestingly, Jim also mentioned that a lighter race version is definitely on the cards and should be appearing next season in Tiger's own series.
The price is not confirmed yet, but we're told it should be approximately the same as the turn-key version of the R6, which is £18,495.
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