http://www.cartoday.com/content/news/si ... sp?in=9077Those familiar with the R500 moniker will recall blistering track performance and superb handling enough to rival thoroughbred sportscars. Well, it seems Caterham is at it again with the new Seven Superlight R500.
The Dartford-based manufacturer has previously produced Sevens very capable of unseating the best-of-the-best on racing circuits but claim that the R500 is “the most potent race-tuned production Seven yet”. Those looking for a more cost-effective alternative to the suicidal Caterham RS will also be happy to hear that the R500 packs a high power-to-weight ratio of 385 W/ kg.
Underneath the long, lightened bonnet sits a highly tuned 2,0-litre Ford Duratec engine that produces in excess of 190 kW and 240 N.m of torque. Power is fed to the rear wheels via the standard six-speed gearbox or the optional Caterham Motorsport sequential-shift transmission. Caterham claims that the R500 (priced from R580 000) is capable of sprinting from zero to 100 km/h in 2,8 seconds (we’re talking hypercar territory here) and goes on to a top speed of 240 km/h.
In line with the original Colin Chapman philosophy, the engineers haven’t just focused on upping the ante of the 2,0-litre Duratec to increase performance, but have also shaved 9kg off the dry weight of the chassis used by the R400. Using more carbon, Kevlar and thinner body panels (even going so far as to employ aluminium taillight housings), the R500 now weighs 506 kg (think two-and-a-bit BMW M3 engines).
Various exterior enhancements were carried over from the flagship CSR models – like the carbon winglets that increase downforce, special grille that enhances aerodynamic efficiency and cooling air flow and a leather boot cover.
In order to increase the competitiveness of the R500 (not that Sevens were ever lacking in that department), Caterham engineers have included race-developed Avon CR500 tyres, four-piston calipers on the vented fronts discs and a fully adjustable suspension set-up as standard. The optional extras, guaranteed to cut a smidgen off your lap time, include launch control, sequential gearbox, carbon induction, and a race-derived Eibach suspension system.
As is the case with most competition-focused cars, the R500 has a very minimalist interior, with a decidedly racy theme made evident by the quick-release Momo steering wheel with integrated indicator switches, carbon Kevlar bucket seats with four-point harnesses, new electronic dashboard with keyless ignition, ACES shift-indicating lights, a detail-engraved plaque on the carbon dash and new digital display with scrolling text.
and topgears view:http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/2765/
The price is a bit of a sore point: £36,995 * 15.40 ex import tax = R569 723 8O
Speed of light
Prepare to be afraid. We've got all the details on the awesome Caterham R500, that we showed you a little bit of last week, and a bunch more pictures showing the lightweight face-reshaper in all its pearly-white glory.
The R500 gets a 263bhp two-litre Duratec four-pot that'll rev to a migrane-inducing 8,500rpm. That power will be put to the road through a six-speed manual or six-speed sequential box - and we know which one we'd take.
You want more techie specs? The R500 gets 13-inch anthracite wheels, 'aerodynamically-shaped front wishbones' (we're pretty sure they're good), fully-adjustable dampers, a dash straight out of a 1960s sci-fi film and Ferrari 599-style launch control as standard. Quite what it'll launch you into remains unclear.
To shave nine kilograms from the Seven's chassis, the Caterham engineers went wild with the Kevlar 'n' carbon fibre - there's even a carbon leather boot cover - and also developed bespoke thinner body panels and even aluminium rear light housings.
All that added lightness means 520bhp per tonne - and a staggering 0-60 time of 2.88 seconds. Yep, we thought we'd save that stat until the end. Two point eight eight. Enough said.
Well, nearly. Just one more stat for you: £36,995, which is what you'll pay for the R500. That might sound a lot, but put another way it's a mere £74 per kilo.
When you consider albino caviar costs £22,000 per kilo - and how much fun can you have with albino caviar and an open road? - that R500 looks like a veritable bargain.
Some pictures
