Caterham Cars will release a new, affordable entry-level version of the iconic Seven that harks back to the philosophy that inspired its creation. The car will come with an accessible price tag at under £17,000 and will pay homage to the brand’s engineering DNA of ‘adding lightness’, with a super-compact, flexible and EU6-compliant engine.
As Caterham celebrates 40 years of developing and manufacturing the Seven, the new car will take the brand back to its simple design roots. The as-yet unnamed car will be launched in Autumn this year, with first deliveries expected before the end of 2013.
Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald, said: “As we celebrate our 40th anniversary at Caterham, it feels good to be taking the brand right back to where it started. Colin Chapman designed the original Seven to be entirely ‘fit-for-purpose’ – a racing car for the road with the driving experience at its heart. “With that in mind, the new entry-level Seven will be uncomplicated, easy to run and, most important of all, an intuitive and exciting drive.”
Caterham’s minimalist DNA being applied to the engine, the car also stands a good chance of being the most fuel-efficient Seven ever built. Details of the powertrain, which is being developed in conjunction with the Caterham Group’s engineering consultancy, Caterham Technology & Innovation, will be revealed in due course, along with further specification details.
