New Caterham Seven 160 Offers Driving Thrill for €24,995

CaterhamCaterhamUnited Kingdom, 1973 > present9 models
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started teasing its new entry level SevenCaterham 7United Kingdom, 1973 > present67 versions
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last winter and revealed its new 660cc turbocharged engine from SuzukiSuzukiJapan, 1909 > present47 models
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at the Frankfurt Motor Show. Now it is finally time for the Caterham Seven 160 and 165Caterham 7 165United Kingdom, 2014 > 2014 to go on sale, and it represents a chance to bring affordable high performance to the masses.

The entry level Seven is offered in two models – the 160 and 165. The name comes from the car’s 163bhp-per-tonne power-to-weight ratio. The only difference between them is that the 165 meets EU5 emissions rules and will be sold in Continental Europe. It can be upgraded to meet EU6 emissions if necessary. The 160 does not meet the EU emissions rules and will only be sold in the UK for now.

The 160/165 uses a 660cc turbocharged three-cylinder engine from Suzuki with 80hp and 79lb-ft of torque (107Nm) that received extra tuning from Caterham Technology & Innovation. The only available transmission is a five-speed manual. It will accelerate to 60mph in 6.5 seconds to a top speed of 100mph.

Caterham says that they made the car to be fun to drive, rather than for outright speed. For simplicity, it uses a live-rear axle. The latest car weighs 490kg (1080lb)

“The 160 offers something truly different to the entry-level market. It’s more economical, more accessible and every bit as fun on the road as other Sevens but has its own unique personality,” said Caterham Cars CEO Graham Macdonald.

Options for the car include a carpeted interior, full windscreen, tonneau cover, heater, leather seats, Momo steering wheel, aluminum fuel cap, spare wheel and 12v power socket. Caterham has not announced prices for the options yet.

Prices for the 160/165 start at £14,995 as a kit or £17,995 fully built; it starts at €24,995 in Europe and will only be sold in complete form there. It predicts that it would take a novice 60-70 hours to build the car from a kit, and Caterham says that it takes 20 hours to build each car in the factory. Orders are open now, and the first deliveries are expected in the spring. There are no plans to sell the car in North America due to costly homologation.