RE: Caterham Readying 'Entirely New' Car

[mattmurdock]

Paul Drawmer said:

From the clues my guess is:

SV sized with CSR suspension. Mimimal bits, maybe track only car with small turbo engine say 200bhp. Probably no lights, guards even. Option of all enveloping aero bodywork, or traditional panels.

Yup, given the clues (will not look like a Seven, new race engine) I think that is likely to be spot on - track only, new R400 tuned engine, full aero, priced at top of the range, with accompanying race series slotting in at the top of the Caterham motorsport ladder.

All those praying for Elan/Elise/340R etc need to bear in mind they are announcing it at a motorsport show, not a car show...

[anything fast]

is this the new car?

[taffyracer]

a GT car along the lines of the G50 would be nice

[Iwantoneofthose]

Westfield have ceased production of the '11'. Coincidence?



^^^ the Lotus/Caterham 11 ? ^^^

[Dave J]

me thinks its a Zolfe

link with Jez Coats and has a similar chassis, 750kg, duratec install.....

[Some Gump]

^ It's not pretty though, is it? That also looks kit-car esque. IMO if they want to shift numbers, it would have to be good looking, like the Elise. After all, Ginetta service the "good but pretty plain" market well, and they're not exactly selling like hot cakes...

[PhilJames]

Lawrence5 said:

Not sure why I got up your nose ! The points are a product of the same function – you need customers to pay money to develop cars that (hopefully) attach a strong market price to deliver margins to continue developing cars that sell.


I constantly read people wanting a car that’s 20% cheaper with 50bhp more – a company like Lotus lives on a knife edge..... my sole point really.

Anyway we digress – Caterham..... I like your 2-11 or 340r idea.

But I want it £5k less and with 300bhp please

Lol!
I wasn't convinced by what you seemed to be saying, you didn't get up my nose.

People will always want 'that' car with a little more power for less. A good manufacturer will always look to have an aspirational market.
That props up the used market so customers don't take a huge depreciation hit for buying a new car. Higher demand than supply means higher residual value.
Also when aspirational people have financial success, they buy one, 'I have always wanted one of those' and now I can get one.
The type of person who cannot afford or justify buying a new car, will be happy to pay 20% less for a used one and over the years buy some aftermarket performance mods.

Personally I'd rather have a 2nd hand car that I really want, rather than a new one which isn't as good.
I have 6 decent cars and most of them are worth less than £5k because they are 10 years old.
I can't buy a new one that's got better performance for £30k

[k-ink]

Dave J said:

me thinks its a Zolfe

link with Jez Coats and has a similar chassis, 750kg, duratec install.....

Stunning! I'd have one in an instant!

[grahamw48]

I like it too.

The 7 never pretended to be 'pretty' either.

For that people bought Elans.

[grahamw48]

Wilburo said:

I was day-dreaming yesterday that it could indeed be an S1 as a massive play from Bahar - like the stories of the general who takes his troops to some far-off country and then burns his own ships when they appear slightly reluctant.

"There is only one way out of here and it is the way I have shown - there is no going back, failure is now death!"

The Westfield XI would be awesome - that could well do with modernising (like a Seven has been modernised, i.e. modern engine and improved rear suspension, not manky bits from a Midget).

ETA: I don't actually think it'll be either of the above.

Edited by Wilburo on Tuesday 14th December 17:09

If you're referring to Lotus 7 rear axles, the more powerful (later) models normally had Ford axles. Mine were Cortina, and well up to the job.

[sunroof]

mattmurdock said:

Track only, new R400 tuned engine, full aero, priced at top of the range, with accompanying race series slotting in at the top of the Caterham motorsport ladder...... they are announcing it at a motorsport show, not a car show...

So they're building a clubmans car?

[thinfourth2]

You will all shout for something small and light wieght

Caterham will produce it

You will all go and buy a german behemoth with electric armchairs, more buttons then the space shuttle and wheels that wouldn't look out of place on a road roller and you will cal this 2 ton lump of lard a sportscar.

[surrey7er]

Interesting point thinfourth2; you're prob right that Caterham's customer base is thin. However, lots of us congregate on forums like these...

My Caterham is light and small. But it is parked next to my Beemer

[nomisesor]

Greg_D said:

nomisesor said:

A stretched version - 5 seater (1+2+2)for the family man, with a LongSV (1+2+2+2) for those who'd otherwise need a Zafira. I haven't the photoshop skills to illustrate this wonderful idea.

Photoshop isn't necessary, behold the magnificence


Greg

Edited by Greg_D on Tuesday 14th December 15:16

Magnificent, I agree (!) and good to see shots of the mule, but the superredesigned motor won't have the passengers perched on top of the diff, it'll be the full stretch, with underzorst pink [low weight LED] "neons" as an option.

[MKnight702]

Wilburo said:

The Westfield XI would be awesome - that could well do with modernising (like a Seven has been modernised, i.e. modern engine and improved rear suspension, not manky bits from a Midget).

Trouble with the XI is that the sleek low Costin designed bonnet isn't high enough for a modern engine (excepting perhaps wankel) and the headlight position is too low for our European legislation.

Oh, and the "manky Midget bits" perform very well thank you very much. There is a good reason that EVO liked it so much, IIRC they placed it higher than both the normal Westfield and Caterham cars in EVO Track Car of the Year 2006(?), in fact they liked it so much they built one.

There is far too much obsession with BHP numbers and big sticky tyres at the moment, and cars without at least 200bhp are ignored, try a low powered car on skinny little tyres and see if you don't come away grinning like a loon.

[scubadude]

Dave J said:

me thinks its a Zolfe

link with Jez Coats and has a similar chassis, 750kg, duratec install.....

That would do, prettier than a 7 (not hard) but of course more practical (roof, boot etc) will handle like a 7, go like scalded cat and use lights and instruments off of defunct Fords and Vauxhall, perfect recipe for Caterham :-)

[chickensoup]

from the Caterham website

web said:

Join us as we introduce an entirely new model to our line-up at next month’s Autosport International Show. The latest addition to the renowned Caterham stable marks the beginning of a new dawn, but one that remains true to the lightweight, minimalist DNA of the legendary Seven.

Odds on it being 5 new models & delivery starting in 5 years time at twice the price of current offerings. Maybe they can start a couple of F1 teams also

Edited by chickensoup on Wednesday 15th December 11:32

Edited by chickensoup on Wednesday 15th December 11:33

[alexpa]

rhinochopig said:

Elise / Exige with Honda power would sell like hot cakes.

Please, please, please!!!

The 1.8l (B18C spec R) out of the DC2 integra (and it's rifle bolt gearbox) in an Elise S1 type car would be puuurrrfect!

Alex

Edited by alexpa on Wednesday 15th December 11:56

[Lefty]

Lawrence5 said:

4) Insufficient price attached by customer (see the guy above who wants one for £15k)

If you're referring to me with your slightly condescending tone can I suggst you re-read my post?

I didn't say I wanted a new caterham for £15k, I said that the budget sports car that Gordon Murray is talking about would be in that price bracket with low weight and low power.

[Wilburo]

MKnight702 said:

Wilburo said:

The Westfield XI would be awesome - that could well do with modernising (like a Seven has been modernised, i.e. modern engine and improved rear suspension, not manky bits from a Midget).

Oh, and the "manky Midget bits" perform very well thank you very much. There is a good reason that EVO liked it so much, IIRC they placed it higher than both the normal Westfield and Caterham cars in EVO Track Car of the Year 2006(?), in fact they liked it so much they built one.

Indeed, I followed evo's build and fell in love with the car, but they had so much trouble with getting the Midget bits to work well together, that it would be very difficult for a novice builder. By manky bits / modern suspension, I simply mean that the Midget components should be replaced with modern items (new de-dion tubes etc), with the objective of making the kit more accessible / reliable.

I would love it to be the XI or Zolfe, rather than a Seven derivative. For those unsure of the Zolfe, there was one near the Porsche Curves at Le Mans 2010 and it looked great in the flesh. hmmm, XI with the N/A 2.4 V8? That would be terrifying.