RE: Caterham AeroSeven Concept

RE: Caterham AeroSeven Concept

Friday 20th September 2013

Caterham AeroSeven Concept - official

UPDATE! Official info on Caterham's 240hp AeroSeven Concept confirmed



UPDATE: Following leaked images of Caterham AeroSeven Concept's last night full details of the car have been released.

Based on the Seven CSR chassis and initially running the 240hp EU6 compliant Duratec-based 2.0-litre from the Seven 485 the AeroSeven "signals the brand's intentions in terms of product engineering processes, speed to market, as well as a hint to its styling direction for future models." This, Caterham is keen to point out, includes "the all-new sports car being developed in conjunction with Renault and due for release in early 2016." Production versions of the AeroSeven will go on sale in autumn 2014.

Based on CSR platform, clothed in carbon
Based on CSR platform, clothed in carbon
The 'updated interpretation' of the CSR chassis means trick push-rod style independent suspension in a class above the classic Seven chassis and suitably fancy underpinnings to match carbon fibre bodywork. This takes the Seven into unfamiliar territory, otherwise known as a wind tunnel, and has used know-how from the F1 team in its design to improve aerodynamics and safety with a beefed up roll-over structure incorporated into the design.

The choice of 240hp, 8,500rpm 2.0-litre driving through a manual gearbox will give the AeroSeven a power to weight ratio of around 400hp per tonne, equating to an all-up weight of around 600kg. Caterham is keen to point out that this is just a start though and "project engineers will be assessing a number of powerplant options for the final production version."

Beneath lurks 240hp motor from the Seven 485
Beneath lurks 240hp motor from the Seven 485
Other features include Caterham's first traction control system, fully adjustable from a control on the steering wheel and incorporating a launch control function too. In a quirk underlining where the AeroSeven will be most at home the default setting will be Race, with a selectable Road setting with reduced power and rev limit. Caterham Technology and Innovation has also developed the graphical display unit (GDU) offering flashy 3D displays of speed, revs, fluid temperatures, brake and traction control settings and more.

And this is just the start. "Over the coming years, we will be expanding our range of sports cars as we look to meet the differing needs and desires of potential customers - from the lifestyle customer to the ultimate thrill-seeker," says Caterham boss Graham Macdonald. "The AeroSeven Concept is the first model in that journey."


Original story:
Pictures of the Caterham AeroSeven Concept have been leaked early ahead of an official unveiling at this weekend's Singapore Grand prix. We knew Caterham was planning to announce a new car at the race because, well, they'd told us already.

But now pictures of said car - described by us as a 'supercar' - have appeared ahead of a formal announcement. And, OK, we were probably a bit out with that prediction because the AeroSeven looks a bit more minimalist than a 458 or Gallardo.

Instead we've got a speedster look not entirely unlike the Vuhl 05 and (going by the sketches on the firm's website) Zenos E10 being built by former Caterham boss Ansar Ali and discussed in depth here on PH. Unlike those two the AeroSeven would appear to be front- rather than mid-engined, this and the name suggesting some manner of shared genetics with more traditional looking Sevens.

Just to be clear, the AeroSeven is an entirely separate development from the joint project Caterham is working on with Renault-Alpine and has been developed with "significant input from of all of Caterham Group's specialist business arms." This includes Caterham Technology and Innovation, Caterham Composites and Caterham F1 team. Meaning it's probably safe to assume carbon fibre will feature somewhere in its construction.

More on the AeroSeven when we have it.

[Sources: MotorAuthority]








Author
Discussion

pSynrg

Original Poster:

238 posts

181 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
Err, yuk?

storminnorman

2,357 posts

151 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
Interesting.
So an x-bow/atom/mono competitor?
Wierd looking bunch of sportscars they'll be.

OwenK

3,472 posts

194 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
Oh dear, that's not gone well.

Many have tried to rebody the Seven - and to my knowledge, none have succeeded (in making something that looks good). Something about the proportions and layout of the platform just doesn't work for anything besides the traditional Seven silhouette.

I really hope someone succeeds one day, because I love everything about the Seven apart from the fact that it looks broadly the same as it did fifty-six years ago.

I'm interested in the second Zenos, the one with the sketch that looks like a targa or something. But that too has the potential for massive styling failure.

RabRS

29 posts

143 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
Um, that looks completely hideous!

Are you seriously telling me that someone finshed the design sketch, stood back and went 'yep, the wide mouth guppy fish look is exactly what I am tying to achieve'


Matt UK

17,649 posts

199 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
Caterham certainly have amition to branch out beyond the 7 - I like that.

But that nose really needs a lot of more work, its very awkward.

mikebradford

2,483 posts

144 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
looks a dog!

RobM77

35,349 posts

233 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
rofl

Edited by RobM77 on Friday 20th September 08:42

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

197 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
Ahhhhhahahahahaha.
Srsly?

Lyons

132 posts

283 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
Ugly!

NGK210

2,866 posts

144 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
From this angle it looks OK:



But when you get round to the front... ahh, the Caterham BOBFOC, I presume? laugh

Edited by NGK210 on Thursday 19th September 23:48

Fastpedeller

3,848 posts

145 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
RabRS said:
Um, that looks completely hideous!

Are you seriously telling me that someone finshed the design sketch, stood back and went 'yep, the wide mouth guppy fish look is exactly what I am tying to achieve'
But has this suffered from the 'wide angle lens syndrome'?
Many cars are photographed with the photographer very low down and using a 28mm? lens....... I remember years ago a tv programme featuring Kit Cars, and a pal said the next day 'but they all look like they have bulbous front ends!' and he couldn't realise the lens doesn't always flatter.
Maybe a photo with 60-80mm lens, taken at eye height will give a better indication of what the car look like to the human observer standing nearby?

eggchaser1987

1,608 posts

148 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
Would of liked to be the fiirst one to say I like it, but I can't. Really needs a look at, nice to see they are trying though.

MX7

7,902 posts

173 months

Thursday 19th September 2013
quotequote all
The green bit looks like a cheap clip-on body over a more conventional 7. Not good.

I think the 7 is an incredibly difficult to modernise, Many have tried, and most have failed. The best I've seen was from a Dutch company, I think. Can't remember the name.

CrutyRammers

13,735 posts

197 months

Friday 20th September 2013
quotequote all
Donkervoort ?

gweaver

906 posts

157 months

Friday 20th September 2013
quotequote all
Can't help but think that some mildly modernised Lotus 11 clothes would work a lot better.

luke g28

174 posts

158 months

Friday 20th September 2013
quotequote all
Wow I actually really like it...........said nobody ever.


MX7

7,902 posts

173 months

Friday 20th September 2013
quotequote all
CrutyRammers said:
Donkervoort ?
Thanks. smile

Edit: Nice Dax. thumbup

dandarez

13,246 posts

282 months

Friday 20th September 2013
quotequote all
Didn't they think when looking at it from the front... 'back to the drawing board boys'?

Or do Caterham think this is 'our pretty baby'?

FER4L

122 posts

159 months

Friday 20th September 2013
quotequote all
Finally out-fuglies the S4! smile

ChrisG99

18 posts

132 months

Friday 20th September 2013
quotequote all
Reminds me of a Basking Shark