RE: Caterham Seven 310 announced

RE: Caterham Seven 310 announced

Monday 8th August 2016

Caterham Seven 310 announced

Miss the old K Series R300? Caterham reckons it has a successor



It's not something that happens at most 'normal' car manufacturers. Engineers working on a project don't accidentally invent a new model. But that's how the new Caterham Seven 310 has come about.

Sunshine in a Seven? Bliss!
Sunshine in a Seven? Bliss!
Based on the 270, the 310 is an 'unplanned baby' (their words, not ours), born after the firm's motorsport department decided to upgrade the 1.6-litre Ford engine to allow racers to move up to the Supersport category from Tracksport.

The intention was to make various tweaks to increase the power, then offer it as an upgrade for existing owners. But then bosses drove it, got misty-eyed about the old Rover-powered Superlight R300 (which, it claims, shared the 310's balance of performance and drivability), and decided to launch it as a new model.

Those tweaks? They're not particularly extensive. Think new high-performance camshafts, a new air filter, breather system and spark plugs, topped off by an ECU remap. This results in an extra 17hp, taking the 310's total output to 154hp.

Cosmetically, not a lot has changed - but the 310 will get some fancy new LED lights as standard (they'll be rolled out as an option across the range, too).

The price is from £25K...
The price is from £25K...
"This car will be loved by Caterham enthusiasts but will also convert car fans in general who understand that creating a genuinely fun driving experience is not about simply adding more and more power; that often, less is more," explains an excitable Simon Lambert, Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer for Caterham Cars.

He adds: "It's like an unplanned baby. A wonderful surprise that instantly becomes your favourite. We weren't expecting it but, of course, we wouldn't change a thing now.

"If Caterham was only going to make one car for the rest of its days, this would be it."

Deliveries will start early next year, with prices starting at £24,995 for a fully-built Caterham Seven 310. Existing 270 owners will be able to upgrade their engine for £1,495.

 

Author
Discussion

suffolk009

Original Poster:

5,344 posts

164 months

Monday 8th August 2016
quotequote all
Whatever the power output, is the Sigma as nice an engine as the K series? Genuine question, I dunnow, I've never driven one.

I did love my Superlight 1.6K.

CABC

5,528 posts

100 months

Monday 8th August 2016
quotequote all
K series was great.
fwiw, i thought the Sigma a better engine than the 2l Duratec in a caterham. sure the Duratec has loads of torque and may be a better road car , but on track the sigma felt right. these mods may well justify the pitch of 'new K series' (which in reality i don't completely buy, so many new marketing models thesedays).

Ozzie Osmond

21,189 posts

245 months

Monday 8th August 2016
quotequote all
"If Caterham was only going to make one car for the rest of its days, this would be it."

Yup, seems a classic specification IMO.

Hoonfest

141 posts

211 months

Monday 8th August 2016
quotequote all
Is the proposed pricing a bit out, you can get a 360 for 24K?

OwenK

3,472 posts

194 months

Monday 8th August 2016
quotequote all
I like Caterham but this is bloody reaching, surely. A "new model"? "Unplanned baby"?
It's got 17hp more. That's it.

Gingerbread Man

9,171 posts

212 months

Monday 8th August 2016
quotequote all
I'm more intrigued by the new LED rear lights.

neil-935ql

1,078 posts

105 months

Monday 8th August 2016
quotequote all
Looks nice , but then all caterhams do , more than happy with my 1.8 k series , saying that I have never driven the ford engine cars could be a really good package if you feel the need to buy brand new , interesting

Gixer_fan

290 posts

197 months

Monday 8th August 2016
quotequote all
Nice, but you'll be wanting the 6 speed box, rear anti roll bar, momo wheel, lowered floor, windscreen, heater..... Did the first Sigma cars not have claimed 150bhp??

SidewaysSi

10,742 posts

233 months

Tuesday 9th August 2016
quotequote all
I love Caterhams but preferred my 1.6K Superlight to the 360R I drove. I hope the 310 is better.

Oilchange

8,421 posts

259 months

Tuesday 9th August 2016
quotequote all
I once got slated, rightly, for slagging off a special edition because it only had a 10hp or so increase. The difference to the tune was, apparently, night and day and the power delivery far more sporty than the puny increase suggested. Worth driving it to see really.
OwenK said:
I like Caterham but this is bloody reaching, surely. A "new model"? "Unplanned baby"?
It's got 17hp more. That's it.

Smitters

3,995 posts

156 months

Tuesday 9th August 2016
quotequote all
Reassuring that my "old" k-series, with a similar output and setup is being held on high.

Regards the power, think of it in these terms - add 50bhp to a 1500kg M3 and see if it's marketable. As has been stated too, there are lots of different factors that make a Seven feel right - power and powerbands matching the gearbox for one, the right speed of rack and especially the wheels and tyres they put on it.

I'm glad Caterham like it. They have a great product, they just need to be a great company to be really successful in my eyes.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 9th August 2016
quotequote all
Gingerbread Man said:
I'm more intrigued by the new LED rear lights.
Looks like iit's LED front lights, with DRLs in the picture.

ETA- looks like a lovely sweet spot of performance and cost.

anonymous-user

53 months

Tuesday 9th August 2016
quotequote all
Gingerbread Man said:
I'm more intrigued by the new LED rear lights.
Looks like iit's LED front lights, with DRLs in the picture.

ETA- looks like a lovely sweet spot of performance and cost.


Edited by Polynesian on Tuesday 9th August 21:10

Plymsol

2 posts

96 months

Tuesday 9th August 2016
quotequote all
Gixer_fan said:
Nice, but you'll be wanting the 6 speed box, rear anti roll bar, momo wheel, lowered floor, windscreen, heater..... Did the first Sigma cars not have claimed 150bhp??
Yes, my Superlight has the Sigma 150 engine. I have no idea what the difference between my engine and this one is, does anyone know.

Caterham seem to have forgotten entirely that they have offered this engine before!

FN2TypeR

7,091 posts

92 months

Tuesday 9th August 2016
quotequote all
I'd love to own something like this one day and I reckon this 300 is about the sweet spot, I'm an average Joe driver and I wouldn't use it on a track (nowhere within 120 miles of here, sadly) so more power would be unnecessary (gasp) but the 3 cylinder turbo model (160?) probably wouldn't be enough to wet my whistle for evening and weekend duties, although I can appreciate its back to basics/lightweight approach.

I like it, a lot. cool

ZesPak

24,420 posts

195 months

Tuesday 9th August 2016
quotequote all
I always see these numbers pop up for a new one, but how is this on the continent? They seem very rare second hand, and while this is supposedly 25k GBP new, you'll have to look hard to find a decent Caterham under 20k EUR on the continent. Do these keep their values that well?