RE: All-electric Caterham Seven promised
Discussion
PH User said:
Base model, factory built with weather equipment is £30k 0-60 5 seconds.
But to compare a 7 type car to a Golf is rather missing the point.
Not everyone drives a Caterham for the reason you are alluding too.But to compare a 7 type car to a Golf is rather missing the point.
I certainly didn't and I bought 4 of the things, raced them, drove them all over Europe and UK.
Yeah its nice to drive something with driver engagement but hand on heart any longer distance drives in a Caterham is actually not that enjoyable - for me. And as its my £ - thats all that counts, which is why I no longer have one. Never say never though.
Equus said:
And the other half, of course, is that the Caterham is still trying to muddle through with a rear suspension arrangement that Chapman abandoned as obsolete in the late 1950's - any number of its IRS equipped competitors do a much better job in such circumstances - but I probably shouldn't mention that, as I've upset Si quite enough already. 
You’d better call Caterham with your new world beating design, clearly you know exactly what they’re missing 
They tried IRS, and the S3 is still popular and competitive. It’s also cheap. You keep blithering on about their competition but if you want a 7 there’s no doubt Caterham command the premium still. The difference between most of them all is personal setup, not an enormous benefit of IRS This is a plan, not yet a product.
If they're selling plenty of petrol cars, and can invest profits in R&D for the inevitable need to embrace EV to some extent, why not do so?
If they can then offer customers a choice of powertrain, again why not?
Given how far/fast battery and charging tech has moved during the last 5 years, its possible that some of the problems highlighted here will be solved in two years when the electric 7 launches.
Also - a pure guess - but I wonder if having EV capability will ensure they can comply with future fleet emissions regs as they tighten.
If they're selling plenty of petrol cars, and can invest profits in R&D for the inevitable need to embrace EV to some extent, why not do so?
If they can then offer customers a choice of powertrain, again why not?
Given how far/fast battery and charging tech has moved during the last 5 years, its possible that some of the problems highlighted here will be solved in two years when the electric 7 launches.
Also - a pure guess - but I wonder if having EV capability will ensure they can comply with future fleet emissions regs as they tighten.
framerateuk said:
I've had my Caterham for about 8 years, since I was 28, so I'm probably still half the age of most Caterham owners.
I for one look forward to this! I think the chassis would benefit from quite a bit of a refresh to fit the batteries in (that old transmission tunnel could finally go!). I think it's pretty interesting since the move to full electric does away with so many bulky and unreliable components. I would hope they look at this as the next evolution of the chassis rather than trying to just bung everything into an S3.
I would definitely miss the pops and bangs, but we're all going to need to accept that the ICE is not long for this world, and eventually we have to move on.
One bonus would be my feet wouldn't get cooked as much on trackdays as no matter how hot those batteries get, they're not going to compare to an exhaust manifold mounted a foot in front of the pedal box!
HA, that's interesting, I'm a very similar age and have had my Caterham for a similar length of time. Feel exactly the opposite about it though!I for one look forward to this! I think the chassis would benefit from quite a bit of a refresh to fit the batteries in (that old transmission tunnel could finally go!). I think it's pretty interesting since the move to full electric does away with so many bulky and unreliable components. I would hope they look at this as the next evolution of the chassis rather than trying to just bung everything into an S3.
I would definitely miss the pops and bangs, but we're all going to need to accept that the ICE is not long for this world, and eventually we have to move on.
One bonus would be my feet wouldn't get cooked as much on trackdays as no matter how hot those batteries get, they're not going to compare to an exhaust manifold mounted a foot in front of the pedal box!
I actually really like the high transmission tunnel, it gives it a real tight cockpit feel. For what I use it for, I don't want any more space to move around in. BTW - put a couple of Oxted Trimming/Thundersport heat insulation shields either side of the tunnel and it makes a huge difference.
Personally, I have pretty much zero interest in an electric Caterham. I'm not anti EV at all. My mum has an i3 (which I pointed her in the direction of) and I absolutely love the thing. For daily/commuting duties an EV makes a huge amount of sense, and I fully expect to have one at some point soon.
That said, for my "fun" cars, I want the opposite. Personally, I don't really want effortless performance. I want something that's really envolving to drive, with a lot of feedback to the driver, and a very "raw" experience. TBH, as I get older and able to afford better and better cars, I find myself buying classics these days as I just have very little interest in the even ICE cars are going.
Of course I know not everyone is the same, but as most cars go EV, I think there will be a growing number of people wanting the rawer, more mechanical experience. It'll be similar to certain manual cars now being much more sought after as "driver's cars".
And hopefully there will be exemption for very small manufacturers to continue to make ICE cars after 2030. Problem is, Caterham Cars can't bank on that hope!
In the context of what typical cars will be like in 2030, an EV caterham is still going to be able to provide raw thrills and fun, which is what they're really about.
In the context of what typical cars will be like in 2030, an EV caterham is still going to be able to provide raw thrills and fun, which is what they're really about.
Based on that MegaWatt Westfield, the Sunday morning blatting will be like this:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtwkRd6zHwg scoot along to 1min
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GtwkRd6zHwg scoot along to 1min
hufggfg said:
HA, that's interesting, I'm a very similar age and have had my Caterham for a similar length of time. Feel exactly the opposite about it though!
I actually really like the high transmission tunnel, it gives it a real tight cockpit feel. For what I use it for, I don't want any more space to move around in. BTW - put a couple of Oxted Trimming/Thundersport heat insulation shields either side of the tunnel and it makes a huge difference.
Personally, I have pretty much zero interest in an electric Caterham. I'm not anti EV at all. My mum has an i3 (which I pointed her in the direction of) and I absolutely love the thing. For daily/commuting duties an EV makes a huge amount of sense, and I fully expect to have one at some point soon.
That said, for my "fun" cars, I want the opposite. Personally, I don't really want effortless performance. I want something that's really envolving to drive, with a lot of feedback to the driver, and a very "raw" experience. TBH, as I get older and able to afford better and better cars, I find myself buying classics these days as I just have very little interest in the even ICE cars are going.
Of course I know not everyone is the same, but as most cars go EV, I think there will be a growing number of people wanting the rawer, more mechanical experience. It'll be similar to certain manual cars now being much more sought after as "driver's cars".
I don't disagree at all - I too like that the car wraps around you with the tunnel on the one side and the high door sills on the other. But I think Caterham could really come up with a whole new design, while still staying true to the original idea. I mean, do you think Chapman would have had a tunnel if he didn't need the prop shaft? I actually really like the high transmission tunnel, it gives it a real tight cockpit feel. For what I use it for, I don't want any more space to move around in. BTW - put a couple of Oxted Trimming/Thundersport heat insulation shields either side of the tunnel and it makes a huge difference.
Personally, I have pretty much zero interest in an electric Caterham. I'm not anti EV at all. My mum has an i3 (which I pointed her in the direction of) and I absolutely love the thing. For daily/commuting duties an EV makes a huge amount of sense, and I fully expect to have one at some point soon.
That said, for my "fun" cars, I want the opposite. Personally, I don't really want effortless performance. I want something that's really envolving to drive, with a lot of feedback to the driver, and a very "raw" experience. TBH, as I get older and able to afford better and better cars, I find myself buying classics these days as I just have very little interest in the even ICE cars are going.
Of course I know not everyone is the same, but as most cars go EV, I think there will be a growing number of people wanting the rawer, more mechanical experience. It'll be similar to certain manual cars now being much more sought after as "driver's cars".
If Caterham (and other producers of fun cars) are going to survive then they'll eventually have to go electric. It doesn't stop us buying old cars (at least while we can still get petrol), but there is going to be a point when you simply won't be able to buy a new petrol car anymore. We can either pretend it's not going to happen and companies like Caterham will just die out, or they can prepare for the inevitable!
I don't intend to get rid of mine anytime soon, in fact I'm planning a full respray soon (it was meant to happen in March last year!), but I'm realistic about the fact that they can't go on fitting petrol engines forever.
framerateuk said:
I don't intend to get rid of mine anytime soon, in fact I'm planning a full respray soon (it was meant to happen in March last year!), but I'm realistic about the fact that they can't go on fitting petrol engines forever.
Can I be nosey and ask what kind of budget is needed for the respray? (90s 7 owner here )cerb4.5lee said:
For me a Caterham is one of the best(if not the best) drivers cars that there is. So for me Caterham deserve to go down the toilet for even thinking about going electric. It is a sad day for sure.
There are plenty of boring car manufacturers going electric as it is, so now that the exciting ones are going electric it doesn't give me much hope at all for sure.
If they don't go electric, they will, as you say, go down the toilet.There are plenty of boring car manufacturers going electric as it is, so now that the exciting ones are going electric it doesn't give me much hope at all for sure.
What do you suggest they do instead?
deadscoob said:
It’s not about waking up it’s about removing a few of the fundamental elements that entice owners to the brand, sensory overload and lightweight agility. Remove that and what is left to make you spend that much money on one?
It’ll be quick for sure, but heavy, no real sensory enjoyment outside the Electric grunt. It just becomes a small normal car.
That’s over simplifying it a bit but like any vehicle like this, electric power won’t help them survive because it’s replacing a core part of their appeal with something unappealing.
Pro EV people will disagree but in the main they’re not the customer base for these cars anyway.
100% agree.It’ll be quick for sure, but heavy, no real sensory enjoyment outside the Electric grunt. It just becomes a small normal car.
That’s over simplifying it a bit but like any vehicle like this, electric power won’t help them survive because it’s replacing a core part of their appeal with something unappealing.
Pro EV people will disagree but in the main they’re not the customer base for these cars anyway.
Only hope I have for the weight issue is this:
https://scitechdaily.com/big-breakthrough-for-mass...
TheOctaneAddict said:
Sign me up, this would be an absolute sideways hooligan. I'd love to see them go electric but retain a manual transmission.
That would be interesting, although would it just be a gimmick? I mean, if you already have a wall of torque, perhaps a gear stick is as redundant as a shifter on a big old US V8?ddom said:
braddo said:
Can I be nosey and ask what kind of budget is needed for the respray? (90s 7 owner here )
£2-£5K last time I asked, depends upon paint and if you do any preparation before hand? )With today’s battery tech and HV charging and management electronics it will be significantly heavier than today’s ICE variant and, due to the nature of the beast, will have a limited range unless you are cruising around.
So to start with it will be compromised, but like it has been said in the thread, you need to start somewhere, and the future is EV if you like it or not, so go for it Caterham and hang on until we have lighter more energy dense batteries that have high speed charging so you can top-up in-between your track sessions
So to start with it will be compromised, but like it has been said in the thread, you need to start somewhere, and the future is EV if you like it or not, so go for it Caterham and hang on until we have lighter more energy dense batteries that have high speed charging so you can top-up in-between your track sessions
Edited by apexeater on Saturday 15th May 08:47
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