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This is the new Caterham Seven Supersport. It weighs 520kg, packs 140bhp and will hit 0-62mph in 4.9 seconds. Top speed is 120mph.
Pub stattage resolved, the Supersport - the first new Seven in two years - derives from the race car that competes in the Caterham Supersport championship, before being fed through a Bertha-style refining machine to make it road-usable.
See more pics of the Seven Supersport
None of which is discernable from the spec: you get that 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine, a five-speed ‘sprint' ratio box, lightweight flywheel, a motorsport limited slip diff, uprated race-spec springs and dampers, stiffer anti-roll bars, a track-biased dash with change-up lights, composite race seats and a four-point race harness.
Caterham director Mark Edwards said: "We've built faster and more powerful accelerating cars before, but the Supersport will excite sportscar fans, including those on a budget." It certainly won't excite those with expensive dental work or those suffering from Spondylolysis. Yes, we said "Spondylolysis" (look it up).
If you're handy with a spanner, you can buy the kit for £19,995 and bang it together yourself. If you're not handy with a spanner and want to prevent bludgeoning your fingers into a bloody pulp, Caterham will supply it ready-made for £22,995. Which frankly we recommend. Heed the lessons the chaps learnt when they tried to knock one together...
UPDATE: as if by magic, and with summer officially underway, we now have this very car parked downstairs in the Top Gear car park (nestled next to our long-term Renault Wind). We'll let you know what we think...
Open Car Bar
What do you think?
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GR1P commented on this article
at 04:52 pm on 11 April 2011
New Caterham? Time to play 'Spot the Difference'!
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samey.umako commented on this article
at 04:54 pm on 11 April 2011
After years and years watching cars, this one still remains my dream car... nice color too!
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granturismo1106 commented on this article
at 05:10 pm on 11 April 2011
How come that I've never even driven a Caterham, despite having owned over 200 cars. From what I've heard, they handle brilliantly and are great fun. They have to be one of the most likeable cars ever made. I'll drive one some day...
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Beebsy commented on this article
at 05:45 pm on 11 April 2011
Looks like someone took an old Allis-Chalmers tractor and turned it into a sports car!
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NobleM600 commented on this article
at 05:49 pm on 11 April 2011
really, it sound pretty boring and i spose the only reason they've made it is to get some money becuse theyre gnna go bust, but like the colour
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