Caterham has launched a new model in the UK based on their existing Seven 270. The Seven 310 R gets engine upgrades for more horsepower and is priced at GBP 24,995 (Rs 21.85 lakh approx.) or if you want to build it yourself, at GBP 21,995 (Rs 19.2 lakh approx.).
The Caterham Seven is very light as compared to other road going cars and weighs just a tad above 500kg, the 310R propels beyond 100kmph in 4.8 seconds, 0.2 seconds faster than its predecessor and is able to clock a top speed of 203kmph, six more than the previous car. The Seven 310R gets optional LED headlamps which will also be offered across the Seven range.
The Caterham 310R runs a 1.6-litre four cylinder petrol Sigma engine sourced from Ford. Caterham’s motorsport program used its learnings to extract 17 more horsepower from the 135bhp engine pegging the output at 152bhp. What started as a performance package programme, the way the Seven turned out after the tweaks, it warranted a new model said Simon Lambert, chief motorsport and technical officer for Caterham.
Existing Caterham 270 owners can avail the power bump for GBP 1495 (Rs 1.2lakh approx) with new camshafts and reworked ECU doing the trick. At its inception in 1973, the Caterham Seven started off based on the Lotus 7 from the 50s and has developed into an entirely new car over last 40 years.
