Caterham made its name selling replicas of the legendary Lotus Seven, and has done it for so long that it’s arguably improved upon the original package. The sight of a spindly, knee-high roadster with separate fenders is just as likely to make modern car guys think “Caterham” as it is “Lotus,” these days.
At the SingTel Singapore Grand Prix, Caterham unveiled an exciting concept that takes the iconic Seven concept to the next level–and they say it’s going to be a production car in 2014. The odds of the AeroSeven Concept’s production version making it to the United States are low, but Driving Fans just had to check it out anyway.
Based on the Seven CSR platform and borrowing from Caterham’s Formula One experience, the AeroSeven does away with the classic styling of the Super Seven in favor of a carbon-fiber envelope body. It’s still a two-seater and still knee-high to a grasshopper, but the modern, flowing lines are a complete departure from Caterham’s usual products and represent a significant change in future products. A new rollover hoop provides more structure and protection for the occupants.
Under the hood, a 237-horsepower 2.0 liter four-cylinder engine is hooked up to a six-speed manual transmission. This engine is a wild revver, delivering peak horsepower at 8500rpm, and Caterham claims a 0-100kpm time of under four seconds. To keep that power under control, the AeroSeven is the first Caterham to feature traction control. The suspension is fully independent and uses an inboard pushrod front suspension, similar to Formula One cars.
The interior features a vehicle-function display unit for engine speed, gear, traction and brake settings and other information, that replaces the traditional instrument panel. The steering wheel has race-inspired functions like “flash to pass” and “pit lane speed limiter.” Caterham suggests that most of these options will make it to the street when the AeroSeven’s production version goes on sale next year.
