Niche British sportscar purveyor wheels out a new Seven variant that targets enthusiasts on a budget
Barebones sportster specialist Caterham has unveiled its latest addition to the enduring Seven range in the form of the Supersport, billed as "one of the purest versions" of the low-slung roadster.
Derived from the race car that competes in UK-based Caterham Supersport championship, the road-going edition allegedly borrows all of the track version's performance essentials, but is said to be "fine-tuned for the road".
Priced in the UK at £22,995 -- which extrapolates to an Australian price of just over $50k (see local pricing for the Caterham range) -- the 105kW Supersport is said to embody Lotus founder Colin Chapman's 'less is more' philosophy.
Propulsion comes from a Caterham Motorsport-tuned 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine, with drive being relayed to the rear wheels via a lightened flywheel and five-speed gearbox with 'sprint' ratio gearing.
The Supersport rides on race-prepped suspension featuring uprated springs and dampers borrowed directly from its race car cousin, stiffer anti-roll bars and CR500 Avon tyres wrapped around 13-inch rims.
It also comes with a limited-slip differential, track-biased dash with integrated change-up lights and an aero screen. Composite race seats and a four-point harness in lieu of standard seatbelts complete the track-inspired experience.
Although the 1.6-litre engine ekes out a modest 105kW, the Supersport's featherlike mass of 520kg contributes to a claimed 0-60mph (0-96km/h) sprint of 4.9 seconds, while top speed is around the 200km/h mark.
The Supersport comes just over two months after Caterham launched its extreme new sports racer, the SP/300.R, at the Autosport International Show.
Caterham Cars engineering director Mark Edwards says: "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."
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