New Seven 310 Encore bids farewell to Sigma
Final fling for venerable Ford engine gets racy upgrades; just 25 will be made
We’ve known for a good while now that the Ford Sigma engine was to be dropped from the Caterham Seven lineup, taking some of its most popular models with it. Indeed, with Super 1600s, 270s, and 310s unavailable for years - plus a new Academy engine hinting at a future mid-range powertrain for the road cars - we thought all the 1.6s were spoken for. But it seems not; in a final flourish for Ford power, Caterham has made this, the Seven 310 Encore.
CEO Bob Laishely describes the new model as a “fitting celebration of the Ford Sigma’s indelible mark on Caterham history.” Pleasingly, too, this is rather more than just some cool colour schemes (though we’ll talk about those in a second). Boasting the most powerful derivative of this engine used in Sevens, the 154hp Encore also benefits from some motorsport-inspired upgrades.
So it employs the lighter flywheel, 254mm front discs (with four-piston calipers and a beefier master cylinder), plus sports suspension pack— wider front track, adjustable spring platforms, and rear ARB— from the 310R racer. Toyo R888R tyres are standard fit. All of which ought to make an exciting road experience even more invigorating. The five-speed manual is standard, for 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds and 127mph.
The exterior extras seen here are included in the Encore package, including carbon front wings, black accents, a grille like the 420 Cup, and a 620-spec nose cone. It’s on 13-inch wheels, like all the best Caterhams. There’s more carbon inside, plus Encore badges and dials, change-up lights, harnesses, and a quick-release Momo wheel. All the stuff you would have specced for a fairly serious 1.6-litre Caterham anyway, seemingly all included.
The Encore will be offered in six colour schemes ‘inspired by well-renowned pop and rock songs’: Blue Monday, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Green Light, Orange Crush, Back in Black, and White Noise. Which all look great, of course. Caterham hasn’t specified if a fixed number of certain colours will be made, so some potentially stand to be extremely rare. With only 25 produced for three different territories - UK, US, UAE - Encores in any colour will be seldom seen.
Given the rarity, the significance, and the spec, then, you’d expect this special Seven to cost a pretty penny. Particularly so given the £80k CSR 20. Happily, however, we can report that it won’t. Well, not by Caterham standards, at least - the Encore price is from £39,995. It isn’t clear yet whether all the goodies are included for the £40k, but it would certainly seem like this final Sigma Seven will be one of the more affordable ways into a collectable Caterham. Best get a hold of your dealer now - if they haven’t spoken to you already…
I love REM, so I’ll go for Orange Crush please.
I also love AC/DC, but a black caterham would be invisible to other road users.
Luxury not being a word used in a Caterham article often!
Perfect spec. Stick on the chunkier trackday rollover hoop and I'd love one in blue please Santa.
The bank account doesn't permit so I'll keep bookmarking lightly used 310s from a few years ago instead.
With regard to these special editions - there’s no point going low-key in a car like that. I’d have that “Kawasaki ninja” green, or the Focus ST “ASBO orange”!!!
Luxury not being a word used in a Caterham article often!
I'd take one in any colour bar the black, thank you. Although it would be easier to appreciate the colours if the background wasn't the same colour as the car.
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