Caterham Cars

Caterham Cars, by 1989 Seven Cars, is an automobile manufacturer in England who specializes in sports cars.

The company was founded by Graham Nearn, who was a resident merchant of Lotus Cars in Caterham. After Lotus had lack of liquidity ended the production of the Lotus Seven in 1972, Nearn bought in 1973 the rights to the design and then took the production on again.

Models

Nearn not produced the final version of the Lotus Seven on, the Series 4 with a larger body and controversial design, but with a few modifications, the previous Series 3

Over the years, Caterham launched a number of variants of the Seven, where several motors were used to drive: the tried and true Ford four-cylinder of the Kent Series 1300 or 1600 cc on the Lotus twin cam twin cam engine, Vauxhall / Opel machines ranging motorcycle engine for the Honda Blackbird. Since the mid- nineties they Rover K-series engine with 1400, 1600 or 1800 cc, including the VVC engine used ( with variable valve timing ) from the MGF. In January 2007, the smaller Rover engines were replaced by the 1.6 -liter Sigma engine from Ford, ( 115-150 hp) is offered in different versions of 85-110 kW.

Technically learned of Seven in the course of time a number of changes; from 1985 was instead the rigid rear axle also a De Dion axle stock, coped with more power; several times the frame was made ​​stiffer and since 1995 are available on request and a self-developed by Caterham six-speed gearbox. In 2005, Caterham under new management with CSR is probably the most comprehensive model change since the Lotus Seven Series 4 before. The newly designed CSR frame is longer, wider and much stiffer. He is no longer soldered by hand, but welded by robots. The CSR has independent suspension and front in Formula 1-style inboard springs and dampers. As an engine developed by Cosworth 2.3 -liter Ford Duratec is ( 200/260 hp) with 147 or 191 kW. This is so far the most powerful engine in a series Caterham.

The Seven is a so-called kit car, a kit car you can build yourself. Kit cars were invented in the 60s in England, so as to circumvent the then very high initial tax.

Even if there is no longer this high initial tax Caterham offers his chariots still to build yourself. Alternatively, you can let the cars assemble for a higher price in the Caterham factory. In contrast to the classic kit car, in which, besides the frame most of the components have been adopted by large-scale series vehicles ( often referred to as second hand parts), today almost all modules of the Seven are made ​​specifically for this vehicle or modified profoundly, at least for use. The recoverable by the DIY cost savings has thus taken virtually always on and is now (as of May 2006) 4,000 EUR, which corresponds to depends on model about 7 to 15%.

No great success was the attempt to provide an independent second model with the Caterham 21; 1995-1999 came only 49 copies of this temperate roadster.

In January 2011, Caterham Cars surprised with the SP/300R, a modern redesign of a race car in collaboration with Lola Cars.

In April 2011, bought Tony Fernandes and his business partner in Formula 1, there in dispute with Lotus Cars to the name Team Lotus, the company Caterham Cars.