Caterham Superlight R500
Can Caterham get any more extreme!?
They've been quiet for a while but now Caterham have played another high card with the new Caterham Superlight R500.
Weighing just 470 kg, the lightweight Seven packs a monstrous 530bhp per tonne punch from the specially bored 1998cc K Series engine. Impressive figures but the real clout comes from the 190lb ft of torque that kicks in at less than 4,000 revs flinging you up the road at a truly indecent pace.
The minimalist cabin is dressed with lightweight carbon-fibre trim, carbon-kevlar race seats and the classic Superlight Stack speedometer. New lightweight 13-inch eight-spoke wheels shod with Avon CR500 tyres help convert the raw power into road performance, whilst the AP Racing brakes have been fine-tuned at endurance events at Nurburgring and in the USA.
Fully adjustable dampers allow those buying the R500 evolution for track day fun to fiddle to their heart's content and bore fellow track day goers with riveting tales of suspension set up.
On sale from end of April, the Superlight R500 evolution is priced at an eye watering £42,000!
Engine 4 cylinder 1998cc MG Rover K Series, prepared by Minister Racing Engines
Power: 250bhp at 8000rpm
Torque: 190lb ft at 4000rpm
Power to Weight: 530bhp per tonne
Top Speed: 150mph
0-60mph: 3.2secs
Weight: 470kg
Mpg: Who cares?
Mpg: Who cares?
Links
S2000 would do the trick . . . 240/208 iso 250/190 But impressive . . . and a looker. Bit strange tires. Want one in lemon yellow.
www.ukintpress.com/engineoftheyear/18-2.html
>>> Edited by dinkel on Thursday 8th April 11:41
Dave Tripp said:
Back in the early 70's, I was in Atlanta, and one of the boys who worked for Jimmy Downing (Mazda Kudzu, HANS-device, etc) gave me a ride in his Lotus 7 Series 4. The original owner managed to get it into the Chattahoochee River; the boys pulled it out and replaced the Lotus engine with one of Jimmy's old Mazda rotaries. Given dinkel's comment below about that sweet Honda engine, and the link to the international engine awards, it is interesting that the Renesis was the overall winner last year. Now THAT would be a tool and a half...
So RX8 Wankel in a Catherham: must be room enough!
and a good idea I did not came across yet.murph7355 said:
( . . . )
Also note that you are not simply losing 1 sec to 60 in going from a 7 to a Tuscan. You're losing handfuls of time around a lap of any circuit you care to mention, and the absolute shame of being lapped on many too if you stay out for more than a few lapsThe Caterham is simply one of the quickest road usable tools out there (still, after over 40yrs). ( . . . )
. . . and you catch a cold in the 7 for sure!
MikeE said:
Interesting comments below, I've just sold my 135bhp Superlight, before that I had two Tuscan S6s and a Griffith. I've got to say I NEVER got overtaken by any TVR on track and that's with only 135bhp, even on the Bedford GT circuit I was way faster than the Tuscans and Cerbs.
So I've sold my Superlight after two trouble free and very enjoyable years ownership (incidently in those two years I suffered 15% depreciation so running costs were very low). I've now ordered an R500 with all the goodies (all the carbon , stack dash, adjustable suspension, full roll cage etc) but minus one vital ingredient, I've deleted the K-series engine (and gearbox, exhaust and ECU) from the order. The reason? I'm going to fit a 250bhp 2.3l Duratec (which weighs about 5 kg more than a K-series)
IMHO the Duratec is the way to go, for less than an R500 I'll have a fully kitted track spec Superlight (R500) with more power/torque than an R500 Evo but with standard (ish) Duratec internals.
Good story, have fun with the 2.3! Post the pics . . .
Imagine that at 8000 rpm! in front of you . . .ShawSpeed said:
Sorry to disappoint folks but our Duratec engine which was referred to earlier is 269bhp at the flywheel not the wheels. Also the picture posted by Dinkel is of a 1.6 Ford Sigma engine which we have running at 220bhp at the flywheel. The Duratec is a remarkable engine with heaps of torque. Our 230bhp demonstrator had no trouble keeping up with R500 Caterhams at Anglelsey on Saturday.
220 out of 1.6! great work and must be a real screamer . . . Please post a full-dressed 2.3 pic. I found these stunners
Dear Seven Enthusiast:
"We are pleased to announce our new Duratec engine program. This motor offers better performance on HP and Torque as well as being considerably lighter. We will have power from 200 Hp to 300 HP. Please contact us for more details. This motor is in addition to our Zetec program and will be offered for any conversion requested."
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