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Caterham Superlight

Caterham Superlight

Caterham Superlight

Caterham Superlight

The Caterham Superlight has been designed to achieve the best possible dynamic package from the already competent Caterham Roadsport. This has been achieved by reducing the weight to a bare minimum whilst packaging the car with as many performance-enhancing options as possible.

Although the car is supplied fully road legal, this unique model contains many track options. The stripped out interior with carbon fibre dashboard, Caterham four point race harness, Caterham composite race bucket seats and wind deflector in lieu of windscreen are fitted as standard.
Standard equipment includes:
Competition specification engine
Carbon dashboard
Caterham 6 speed gearbox
Ventilated front discs with four pot calipers
de Dion competition derived rear suspension
Adjustable rear anti-roll bar
Wide track and bespoke road tyres

The complete package gives this car a total kerb weight of only 485 kgs, which is 65 kgs lighter than the standard Roadsport model. (R500 in standard form weighs in at 465 kgs). If you want to personalise your car, there is a list of options to add to your specifications and customers requiring the added practicality of windscreen and full weather equipment can of course specify these.
The Superlight Seven is available in three different guises.
R300
1.8 litre 165bhp K-Series power unit
15" Alloy wheels with Avon CR500 tyres
Anti-cavitation oil system
Carbon front wings
R400
1.8 litre 200bhp K-Series power unit
15" Alloy wheels with Avon CR500 tyres
Carbon pack including nose, wings and wing protectors
Stack instrumentation
Limited slip differential
Carbon nose and wings
R500
1.8 litre 230bhp K-Series power unit
13" Magnesium wheels with Avon CR500 tyres
Carbon pack including nose, wings and wing protectors
Magnesium upgrade pack including sump, bell housing and oil tower
Stack instrumentation

The Superlight R500 represents the ultimate expression of Colin Chapman’s fundamentals. Big power isn’t the only route to big kicks; the R500 is all about lightweight performance – be it on the road or track. Stripped to the bare essentials, all unnecessary comforts are removed to save weight and reduce mass. As with the other Caterham 7 Superlight models, the result is a car with performance to take your breath away by delivering driving thrills in the purest form. However, the R500 takes these values and triple distills them into super refined Class A, 101 octane, artillery caliber, weapons grade driving thrills. More Information The original R500 was legendary, with the old Rover K-series powered machine rewriting performance records for 0-60mph and 0-100-0mph times. This new variant has been equipped to supersede its predecessor by embracing the very latest in lightweight engineering techniques and technology. Whilst the Superlight R500 shares some common parts with the other Superlight model, it has many bespoke standard and optional items that define its intentions of being the ultimate performance model in our range. Weight savings are achieved through a philanthropic application of carbon-fibre goodies, bringing the total weight of the car in at just 506kgs. Extreme performance is attained through cramming the engine bay with as many horses as possible – 263 of them to be precise. Mathematicians amongst you will have already calculated that anyone committed enough to strap themselves into the Kevlar race seats will be deploying a mighty 520 bhp-per-tonne with their right foot, capable of firing the car from 0-60 mph in just 2.88 seconds. Superlight incorporates the motorsport expertise of Caterham Engineering, gained through 20 years of its industry leading one-make race championships. The Caterham 7 is among the most raced car models in the world, with over 700 competitors across 11 countries. Everything Caterham has learnt about performance and safety is incorporated into the design of the Superlight. Indeed, the R500’s new optional sequential gearbox has been tested thoroughly through our motorsport programme, clocking up track time equivalent to over a full season’s worth of testing, practicing, qualifying and racing in just a few months. What’s more, in another first for Caterham, we utilised the experience of over 50 racing drivers from various Caterham race series’ to test the gearbox. In all of this testing, the gearbox did not experience a single failure and was unanimously well received. In fact, the drivers liked it so much that it has been adopted into both the Superlight and CSR race series as an option. If you want a pure driver’s car that delivers blistering on-road performance, raw driving thrills and outrageous track-day ability in equal measure then the Superlight R500 is for you. Hold on tight. Engine & Performance Caterham Seven Superlight R500 Engine: 2.0-litre Caterham Powertrain (CPT) Ford Duratec Max Power (bhp/rpm) 263bhp @ 8500rpm Max Torque (lbs ft/rpm) 177 lbsft @ 7200rpm Weight 506kg (516kg sequential gearbox) 0-60mph 2.88 seconds Power-to-weight 520bhp-per-tonne Top Speed 150mph Standard Equipment 2.0-litre Caterham Motorsport Ford Duratec 6 Speed Caterham Gearbox Limited Slip Differential Superlight Suspension (wide track front and de Dion rear with Watts linkages) Carbon dash, nose cone, rear and front cycle wings ACES change-up lights Ventilated front brake discs with 4 pot calipers 13” Black Aluminium cast centre, spun aluminium rims, Avon CR500 tyres Carbon interchangeable wind deflector 4 point Harnesses Quick-release Momo Steering Wheel with integrated indicator switches Carbon Kevlar seats Optional Equipment Sequential Gearbox Launch Control Carbon Induction Airbox Race damper package Lowered floors Data logging Stack Dash instrumentation Heater Track day rollbar Battery Master Switch Interim Catalyst bypass pipe* Full roll cage *Track use only Technical Specification Transmission Close Ratio 6 Speed 1st: 2.69:1 2nd: 2.01:1 3rd: 1.59:1 4th: 1.32:1 5th: 1.13:1 6th 1.00:1 Final Drive: 3.62:1 Sequential 6 Speed 1st: 2.4:1 2nd: 1.84:1 3rd: 1.482:1 4th: 1.26:1 5th: 1.104:1 6th 1:1 Suspension Front: Adjustable double wishbone with roll bar, aero wishbones Rear: de Dion axle located by lower A-frame and Watts linkage Brakes Twin circuit split front/rear with low level warning system. Discs front and rear Steering Rack and pinion, 1.93 turns lock to lock Weight 506 Kg Wheels and Tyres Front 6J x 13” Rear 8J x 13” Aluminium wheel with Avon CR500 tyres.