Caterham Supersport Seven Special Edition

The British bespoke sportscar manufacturer Caterham released a new version of its iconic seven. Well, we say new, but you know Caterham always look the same and doesn’t really change! This model is called the Supersport edition and it is based on the actual race car they use in the Caterham Supersport championship, but re-tuned to be road-legal and slightly less brutal to drive. It is still a full-blooded sportscar powered by a 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine that churns out 140 PS. That’s not astonishing, but what is, is the fact that the Seven Supersport weighs no more than 520 kg and that means incredible power to weight ratio. That also means 0 to 60 mph in 4.9 seconds and top speed of 120 mph, plus an enormous smile on your face because of the fun it delivers! Fans of Caterham know that the company offers its cars as kit, so enthusiasts can build it themselves. It’s a palaver really putting together a car in your garage, but if you are into that sort of things,  you can get the Supersport kit car for £19,995. A factory-made ready t go model costs £22,995. More technical details in the press release below: Caterham Cars’ first brand new addition to the world-renowned Seven range in two years – the Supersport – is one of the purest versions yet of the iconic British sportscar. Derived directly from the race car that competes in the highly-successful Caterham Supersport championship, the road-going edition borrows all of the track version’s performance essentials and then, for good measure, is fine-tuned for the road. Priced £19,995 (incl tax) in self-build form, the 140bhp Supersport carries the DNA of Colin Chapman’s 1950s concept of ‘less is more’ and remains true to his philosophy of lightweight, minimalist machines that place outstanding handling characteristics and the thrill of driving at their core. A Caterham Motorsport-tuned 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine, five-speed ‘sprint’ ratio gearing, lightweight flywheel and race-prepared suspension with CR500 Avon tyres on 13” wheels  promise a raw and unadulterated driving experience – not for the faint-hearted but certainly for driving purists at home both on the road and on the track. Weighing just 520kg, the Ford powerplant will propel the Supersport from 0-60mph in 4.9 seconds and will achieve a top speed of 120mph without breaking a sweat. Equipped with a motorsport-honed limited-slip-differential and gearing with sports driving in mind, the Supersport also features uprated springs and dampers borrowed directly from its race car cousin, stiffer anti-roll bars, track biased dash with integrated change up lights and an aero screen. Composite race seats and a four-point race harness instead of standard seat belt complete the track-inspired experience. Engineered for the track but at home on the road, the latest Seven packs an unrivalled punch for its price tag too. Factory-built, the Supersport will cost £22,995 with enthusiasts able to purchase in component form for £19,995. The Supersport is unveiled just over two months after Caterham launched its extreme new sports racer, the SP/300.R to great acclaim at the Autosport International Show. Caterham Cars engineering director, Mark Edwards, said: “The SP/300.R was our first brand new model for 15 years. But the Supersport is all about our roots. The Seven was born out of motorsport and this new model illustrates the values – accessibility, affordability and unadulterated fun – that have made Caterham the iconic brand it is today and which will ensure the Seven’s continuing global success. “We’ve built faster and more powerful accelerating cars before, but the Supersport’s character, value and low running costs have generated a machine that will excite sportscar fans, including those on a budget.” The Caterham Supersport Championship represents the third rung of its ‘motorsport ladder’ and is Caterham’s fastest-growing series. With 14 rounds over seven race weekends, the championship heads to the new Snetterton 300 circuit on 24-25^th April.