Caterham Launches New Superlight R600 with Racing Series in UK

CaterhamCaterhamUnited Kingdom, 1973 > present9 models
354 photos
1 video
has launched a new car called the Super R600 that is the brand's first supercharged, production SevenCaterham 7United Kingdom, 1973 > present67 versions
109 photos
1 video
. Caterham says that they took what they learned from the SP/300.RCaterham SP/300RUnited Kingdom, 2011 > present4 photos
prototype and applied it to the less expensive Seven. 

The engine is a modified unit from the SP/300.R with 275hp from a supercharged FordFordUnited States of America, 1903 > present92 models
2522 photos
11 videos
2.0-liter engine and 200lb-ft of torque, which is 13% more torque than the previous top Seven - the R500Caterham 7 Superlight R500United Kingdom, 2000 > present2 photos
1 video
. It uses a six-speed sequential transmission that sends power to the rear wheels with a limited-slip differential. The cars come from the factory with Avon slick tires. 

“As the fastest Seven we’ve ever built, this will provide our existing R300Caterham 7 Superlight R300United Kingdom, 2003 > present3 photos
racers with a real step up and a new and exciting challenge, even for experienced drivers. The R600 represents an increase in aggressiveness, although the linear power delivery of the supercharged engine makes it superbly driveable, much like the R300,” said Simon Lambert, Caterham’s Chief Motorsport and Technical Officer

While the R600 will be available for road use, Caterham will have a spec-series with 13 cars on the grid in 2013 and hopes to expand the grid to 30 cars for 2014. 

The R600 will start at £44,995 in the UK. There will also be a kit for R300 owners to update their cars to R600 specifications. Caterham has not announced pricing for the kit or outside of the UK yet.