Wednesday 1st March 2006

Caterham moves into Italy

Plucky Brit challenges supercar heroes

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Caterham CSR

Italians can now buy a Caterham direct from a local dealer in Este -- which is not that far from Modena.

Caterham has announced a deal with Italian importer, Automobil Trivellato, to sell its brand new Euro IV compliant Caterham Seven CSR200 from January 2006. The family run business in Este, near Venice, has a 40-year history of selling performance cars and a first class reputation for outstanding customer service. 

Caterham boss Ansar Ali said: “Automobil Trivellato’s intimate knowledge of high performance cars and its unerring commitment to customer service will see our drivers receive the special Caterham experience 800 miles from the home".

Capable of slingshotting to 60mph in 3.7 seconds and with a top speed of 140mph, the lightweight, Cosworth powered CSR200 could potentially out-sprint local supercars from the likes of Lamborghini and Pagani. Of course, top speed and creature comforts are different issues...

[cathalm]

that csr really does look sexy as hell, if only i had the wonga

[dmax]

Does anybody know, if the cars already available to order in italy without european homolgation yet?
it is very messy situation in europe about the availability of the csr. A few country (germany for exemple) under national regulations can have the CSR already, but the french importer was waiting a european homolgation announced by Caterham but wich obviously might never arrive.

so in Italy do they sell under some national homologation too?

[dino ferrana]

I believe that Caterham are most of the way to Euro 4 approval now. They will sell cars in Italy, they won't have sent a release out if they haven't got the situation in hand.

[mightymouse]

Well done Guys

[oppressed mass]

dmax said:

Does anybody know, if the cars already available to order in italy without european homolgation yet? it is very messy situation in europe about the availability of the csr. A few country (germany for exemple) under national regulations can have the CSR already, but the french importer was waiting a european homolgation announced by Caterham but wich obviously might never arrive. so in Italy do they sell under some national homologation too?

Here's what I know (whether it helps or not you can decide)
Some countries like Germany sometimes accept UK low volume type approval as long as you can prove tailpipe emissions compliance and suitable on board diagnostics( I believe) , some countries ( I beleive this includes France and maybe italy??) may also accept the majority of UK LVA testing but have some unique additional requirements as well which have to be met, for example some lights / seats etc. This differs from country to country.

AFAIK the only way to get carte blanche access to all European countries is to certify the car to Whole vehicle Type Approval EUIV/ EOBD. This includes crash testing and lots of other things (which cost) and therefore is not a route that Co.s such as Caterham can't use.

There is (apparantly) going to be a new standard 'European Small Series' which should commonise requirements for across Europe. last I heard no-one could agree on what the parameters re volumes etc should be. If anyone knows more about this please post it, I would keen to find out.

[scalper]

[redacted]

[The_Red_Baron]

Well done guys, best of luck the British car industry is dead but not quite yet buried...

[.Adam.]

Why do they need Euro IV compliance? Is it just to make things easier for them in Europe? Westfield have had dealers all over Europe for a while now, including Italy, and I don't think they have gone through the Euro IV tests, although I may be wrong.

[ewenm]

Good move by Caterham - the Italians love 7s. When i was in the dolomites a few summers ago, parked up between a Boxster and a 911 and the Caterham got all the attention

[dino ferrana]

Caterham have sold cars all over Europe for years too. They have done it through various local laws and loopholes, I think they are trying to make sure they have a decent level of compliance in most countries of the world. The Euro 4 emission standard is accepted by almost every country in the world except America, which makes it kind of worthwhile having!

[.Adam.]

I see, sort of makes them a 'proper' manufacturer in the eyes of other European countries. I guess America is the next step!

[Steve-B]

.Adam. said:

I see, sort of makes them a 'proper' manufacturer in the eyes of other European countries. I guess America is the next step!

they already sell in the USA, www.rmsci.com and www.caterhamusa.ccom are in the same building in Colorado. Thee RMSCI guys were part of our support trucck structure for USA2005, and incredibly fun and helpful guys

[Cotty]

I assume they wont be left hand drive or am I wrong

[ewenm]

They will definitely be LHD