Caterham Cars has opened the order book for the Seven 160 and 165 – its new entry-level variant of the iconic sportscar.
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When it comes to back-to-basics performance cars it doesn’t get much better than the Caterham Seven. Based on the legendary Lotus Seven, it is the modern day embodiment of the Colin Chapman philosophy of performance through low weight and simplicity. The fact that you can buy one in kit form for a reduced price and build it yourself just adds an extra dimension in petrol head nirvana for the aspiring spanner-fiddler in all of us.
Caterham Seven ownership has just become a whole lot more attainable with the release of the 160 and 165. Prices for the (UK only) 160 begin from £14,995 ($24,000) in build-it-youself form. UAE price for a fully built 165 will be from (approx.) AED120000 ($32600). Both feature a live-axle rear suspension, compact engine and low weight embodying the pioneering spirit of early Sevens and represents a new entry-point to the Seven range.
The ‘new’ rear axle might be a throwback to early Sevens in terms of simplicity and purity of design, however, the power unit is a turbocharged three-cylider engine from Suzuki which has been fine-tuned by Caterham Technology & Innovation to meet the desired performance criteria. Power output has gone from 64hp in the standard unit to 80hp which is good for 0-100kph in 6.5 seconds mainly due to the Seven weighing about the same as a packet of Rizzla.
The Seven 160 and 165 are essentially the same car with the number five at the end of the EU spec car’s moniker signifying that the vehicle complies with the EU5 emissions standards, allowing it to be sold across mainland Europe and beyond. Production of both will begin in January 2014.
