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Caterham Superlight is back

26th August 2005 Print
Caterham has confirmed the launch of a new model in its Superlight range. Once again offering the perfect balance of power to weight, the original ‘Superlight’ is back, with production beginning later this year.

Combining the dependable power of the lightweight 1.8 litre X-Power K-series engine with pin sharp handling and a race-bred legacy of stripping all but the essentials – windscreen, heater and carpets are all options – Caterham is delivering a back-to-basics, hear-it-before-you-see-it, Superlight that will slingshot the driver to 60mph in under 5 seconds.

And just like its predecessors, this new Caterham Superlight delivers all the thrills of telepathic steering, high revving eager performance, slick gear change and frantic acceleration, yet packages it in a vehicle that is perfectly balanced to focus the driver on driving and the handling experience. That said, this adrenalin-pumping Caterham Superlight delivers a maximum 124lb ft of torque at 5000rpm and packs the same power to weight ratio as the Ferrari 360 Spider.

Standard equipment centres on handling performance. 13" motorsport wheels with Avon’s CR500 tyres – exactly as used in the Caterham Roadsport race series - are coupled to adjustable suspension and uprated brakes. The driver sits in a G-defying race seat, held securely in place by a 4-point harness; controlling the car through a Momo steering wheel and shifting the power via Caterham’s bespoke 6-speed gearbox.

As you would expect of a stripped-to-the-minimum Caterham Superlight, the options list is long and includes windscreen, heater and weather gear for the road orientated owner, or dry sump, track day roll-over bar and fire extinguisher, for those who spend more time at the circuit. Customers will also notice that options are listed by price alongside the respective weights, thereby informing the discerning customer of the weight they would save, or add.

Priced at £19,995 in partial built form, or £22,450 fully built, deliveries of the new Caterham Superlight will begin from October 2005 – ten years after the original first appeared.