Caterham Cars, a long-time builder of custom versions of the lightweight British sports car, the Seven, has announced a performance arm in its partnership with RS Performance. The UK-based duo’s first product, the Seven RS, is certainly an attention-grabbing start, as it offers over 1,000 horsepower per ton in top-trim supercharged spec. RS Performance makes this, the ultimate Seven, possible thanks to its 2.4 liter RST-V8 engine that reportedly revs to at least 10,000 rpm.
In naturally-aspirated guise, the small, lightweight V8 is rated at 380 horsepower at 10,000 rpm, which is a rev ceiling unheard of in engines meant for the street, much less V8 configurations. Torque numbers are slightly more pedestrian, but the 190 lb-ft peak is also delivered in the range of engine operation most powerplants never see: 8,500 rpm. The five-valve-per-cylinder V8 can also be had with a supercharger, sucking in the atmosphere to the tune of 0.8psi, which is good enough for “500+ hp at 10,000 rpm” according to the press release, along with 300 lb-ft at the same 8,500 rpm. Dubbed Levante, the Caterham SV-based RS will be the first Seven to roll out of the RS Performance Hertfordshire workshop, and fittingly, production will be limited to just seven examples.
All this doesn’t come cheap, at about £115,000 (or approximately $226,000). For that money, however, the exclusive clientele get a car with traction and launch control, an LSD in the six-speed sequential transmission, carbon fiber interior, Kevlar seats. The all-aluminum, dry-sump engine is true to the lightweight motif, weighing in at just under 200 lbs fully dressed.
All these numbers predictably translate to more impressive performance: Caterham and RS Performance promise the 0-60 sprint to be gone in less than three ticks, while top speed is artificially limited to 150mph, probably a good idea in a car that weighs less than 1,200lbs with little aerodynamic support. A much-advised two-day driver training course is included with each Seven RS delivered.
02/28, 3:23 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
Yay a Vette motor in a Go-Kart.
02/28, 3:24 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
Somebody will die in this thing
02/28, 3:24 AM
posted by:
400horseSS
3rd too bitches
02/28, 7:07 AM
posted by:
BlackX
Either its a mistake or this is WAY TOO EXPENSIVE
02/28, 7:08 AM
posted by:
peter g
…A much-advised two-day driver training course is included with each Seven RS delivered…And throw in a first aid course…This car is awesome and will probably kill someone…
02/28, 7:25 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
God bless the Brits…
02/28, 8:30 AM
posted by:
burns
0.8psi?
Surely that should be 0.8 bar or there’s no point…
02/28, 8:50 AM
posted by:
Madcapp
That is a colossal waste of time and money.
02/28, 9:01 AM
posted by:
doghis
the guys at Caterham are insane
02/28, 10:03 AM
posted by:
LexusSoarer
0.8 psi can’t be right, it HAS to be .8 bar. Anyway, it’s kind of funny Caterham offers a “performance” variation. As if the “regular” models aren’t performance oriented.
02/28, 10:08 AM
posted by:
SS4LIFE
Man this thing is going to be a killer on the track!!! I saw a kit version similiar to a Caterham although I do believe it was a replica or a kit car, but I’ve never seen something move so fast on a track next to a bike or a kart. $226,000???? Ok wow for that money I’d buy myself a ZR1 and a GT-R and then a truck and a trailer to pull them in…. Still got mad respect for the Caterham cuz these things are crazy fast!
02/28, 10:35 AM
posted by:
jumpoffit
never knew coffins could cost $226,000
02/28, 10:59 AM
posted by:
F451
Love the automobile, but would go this route in this category: D8 GT
02/28, 11:05 AM
posted by:
SwerveEarly
That is insane RPM and HP/Liter. Sounds ideal for cars mission.
02/28, 11:29 AM
posted by:
LBNA
Formula SAE on steroids…
02/28, 11:36 AM
posted by:
atourya
For the price I would never buy one… but it is magnificent. And whoever called this a corvette motor must have been joking. This motor is only 200 pounds!
They are getting over 400 horspower per liter here, which is just insane.
02/28, 12:06 PM
posted by:
F3INT))AP3X
I know these things hold a lot of the ‘Gring records but still, it looks like a jukebox.
02/28, 1:58 PM
posted by:
corvette
this car is a beast.
02/28, 3:32 PM
posted by:
jayjc08
Damn, that thing is beastly.
02/28, 4:28 PM
posted by:
928dreamer
It’s not 400HP per liter. It is a 2.4L V8 producing 500bhp. So, it is “only” about half that. Still pretty amazing.
But, for $226,000 I would expect it to be so. I am thinking there is a lot more performance bang for the buck out there. Would be fun to have, but even if I had the money I don’t think I could justify getting one.
02/28, 4:30 PM
posted by:
928dreamer
Also, I agree, the article must have meant 0.8bar. That would gel with the increase in power from 380 to 500+.
02/28, 5:47 PM
posted by:
DeansterTJ
190 torque? I’m surprised it does 0-60 in under 3 seconds
02/28, 8:54 PM
posted by:
bigp
10,000 rpm for an v8 is crazy take that honda vtec crew
02/29, 1:00 AM
posted by:
Pwr2Wt
Amazing car but it would be a killer on the road and seems a little pricy when you consider how little actual car you get
02/29, 7:23 AM
posted by:
JohnnyBlazE
I bought my BMW from the Caterham area… if I visit the previous owner and his mate, we might drop down to the factory and see this thing sometime
02/29, 5:44 PM
posted by:
jonnycat
Those side pipes will burn the leg of every owner. LOL.