Not many manufacturers have stayed completely true to their original ideals, as demanding customers continually require manufacturers to embrace the latest ideas and technology. Caterham, founded in 1973 and based in Sussex, has a different kind of customer and is perhaps more able to comfortably stick within its niche. The announcement of Caterham’s latest two models, the Super Seven 600 and the Super Seven 2000, provides just as much excitement as any other new Caterham, while the vehicles themselves are almost timeless in appearance. Both Super Sevens might also be thought of as an advance party for Caterham’s forthcoming 50th birthday celebrations for next year.
One of the manufacturer’s initial models was the Caterham 7 launched in the first year of Caterham’s existence and based on a Lotus Seven Series 3. Today, we have two models inspired by this popular model, both available in kit form for true kit-car enthusiasts as well as fully assembled.
The Super Seven 600 gets Caterham’s Juno wheels, while the 2000 gets the company’s Classic wheels – both 14-inch alloys. The two cars also get 4 new paint options unique to these models in the form of Bourbon, Fawn, Windsor Blue and Ashdown Green.
Caterham has kept the heritage feel but added some newer touches to these models as well. While Smiths dials and tastefully retro colours are on offer here, Caterham says that it’s remastered the Seven for modern times, with more of a focus on longer journeys rather than track day experiences. It’s perhaps more fitting to think of these as Caterham Seven grand-tourer models.
Under the bonnet, the Super Seven 2000 features a 2,000cc Ford Duratec engine (you begin to see where the inspiration for the car names came from) pushing out 180bhp, which is plenty enough on such a lightweight vehicle. The Super Seven 600 comes equipped with a 660cc Suzuki turbo offering up 84bhp with a 0-60mph of 6.9 seconds. The more powerful Super Seven 2000 will get you from 0-60mph in a slightly more exhilarating 4.8 seconds. The 2000 also comes with the option of a larger chassis variant, sport suspension pack, an anti-roll bar and uprated brakes. Both can also be configured with a limited slip differential.
Nice extras, but both cars arrive perfectly capable as standard too, with flared front wings, a choice of eleven different colours, Avon ZT7 tyres, chrome embellishments on the windscreen, filler cap and grille, and a tactile leather Moto-Lita steering wheel finished in black. The exhaust is polished, the rear panel carpeted and both cars feature LED rear lights.
Wheel option include a choice of gold centres or body-coloured – or a custom colour option exists if you prefer. Equally, there are plenty of colour options for the seating, side panels and carpeting as well as the gaiters surrounding the gearbox and handbrake. You can even designate unique stitching if you want to take personalisation to extremes. Pricewise, you are looking at upwards from £29,990 for the Super Seven 600 and £39,990 for the Super Seven 2000.
Images: caterhamcars.com
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