Caterham debuts new Super Seven 1600

CATERHAM has unveiled its new Super Seven 1600, a model the British sportscar specialist says reimagines the first Caterham-built Seven “with a modern twist”.

In creating the new Super Seven 1600, Caterham has stuck to its guns and maintained its now iconic styling, retain its classic front engine, cab back, open-top layout and injected the new model with some key design features first seen back in the 1970s.

The flared front wings have been lifted almost straight off the old Seven Series 3, exposed twin forties throttle bodies mimic the engine character of the old carburised engines of yesteryear while the polished windscreen surround is a unique touch reserved only for the Super Seven 1600.

Little exterior details aside, it is inside the cabin that Caterham claims to have made the most changes.

Inside, vinyl seats come as standard, while other kit includes retro-inspired Smiths instruments and dials embedded in the dashboard, ‘retro’ seats, polished trim as well as carpeted rear, side and floor panels.

Caterham says these small but thoughtful touches help distinguish the Super Seven 1600 from its more track-oriented stablemates.

Standard equipment – predictably for a Caterham – is far from generous in terms of gadgets and goodies, with the only features making it to the list being a 12V socket and a heater.

Under the bonnet resides the familiar Ford derived 1.6-litre four-cylinder petrol engine, tuned in this guise to develop 100kW of power and 165Nm of torque – exactly the same as Seven 275.

While the figures don’t look particularly mighty on paper, they combine with a kerb weight of just 545kg to jettison little sportscar from 0-100km/h in 5.0 seconds and on to a top speed of 196km/h.

Drive is sent exclusively to the rear wheels via a five-speed manual transmission and optional rear limited-slip differential.

The whole package rides on Bilstein suspension while the 14-inch ‘classic’ alloy wheels are shod with grippy Avon tyres.

Just like its rather sparse standard equipment list, the list of driver aids and safety features makes for an equally short read – the Super Seven 1600 doesn’t have any.

No anti-lock brakes, no automatic transmission, no traction or stability control systems, no airbags even.

The options lists for both the interior and the vehicle’s underpinnings is far more impressive however and includes things like sport and track suspension packs, ventilated front discs, leather dashboard, limited slip differential, aero wishbones, leather seats and dashboard, high intensity lights with LED daytime running lights, wooden rimmed steering wheel, rear anti-roll bars, lowered floors and a map pocket to name just some.

In its base spec, the new Super Seven 1600 retails for £33,495 ($A65,724) plus on-road costs in the UK and is in local showrooms now.

Things in Australia however are a little less clear cut – GoAuto has contacted Caterham Cars Australia for confirmation if the new model will be offered here.

The current Australian line-up is comprised of just three models compared to the eight available in the UK, those being the Seven 275, Seven 355 and Seven 485.