Como os decimos la noticia nos ha cogido a todos por sorpresa, ya que tradicionalmente Caterham ha confiado en Ford para sus motores y elementos básicos de chásis. Recientemente Caterham hizo público un acuerdo con Renault para producir una nueva gama coches deportivos, y la expectativa era que los británicos anunciaran que su nuevo modelo de entrada montara un motor turbo 1200 del fabricante francés.
El acuerdo con Suzuki es para aportar al 7 un motor K6A turboalimentado de tres cilindros muy común que puede encontrarse en muchos modelos, desde varios kei (incluído el primero y legendario Suzuki Alto Works) hasta el Jimny, así como en varias marcas japonesas como Mazda, a las que Suzuki suple. Este motor es de una cilindrada reducida: 660 centímetros cúbicos. Caterham ya ha restado importancia a este número disminuido indicando que ellos valoran los coches que construyen por el tamaño de la sonrisa que provocan, así que aunque nos números de aceleración de 0 a100 no vayan a romper récords, los ingleses tienen confianza en poder presentar un coche emocionante de conducir a sus clientes con presupuestos más ajustados. Asímismo la marca ha afirmado que este motor será el más pequeño, limpio y eficiente jamás usado en un coche Caterham, con lo que el nuevo 7 básico podría ser revolucionario.
El acuerdo con Suzuki podría ser el comienzo de proyectos más estrechos ya que este nuevo Caterham también montará una suspensión trasera de eje rígido proporcionada por Suzuki.
Aquí abajo os ponemos la nota de prensa completa para los que os atreváis con el inglés.
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Suzuki power for new entry-level Caterham Seven
- New model gets 660cc turbocharged Suzuki engine
- Designed for maximum weight-saving, efficiency and fun
Caterham Cars' soon-to-be-released, all-new entry-level Seven will be powered by a 660cc, three-cylinder turbocharged engine manufactured by Suzuki Motor Corporation – the smallest and most efficient engine ever installed in a Seven.
The new vehicle uses 21st-Century engineering to pay homage to early incarnations of the iconic Seven by utilising a super-compact and lightweight turbocharged engine to 'add lightness' like no other Seven in recent times.
The ultra-efficient, downsized engine matched with an equally compact Suzuki five-speed gearbox, has been adapted by Caterham Technology & Innovation (CTI) – Caterham Group's engineering division – to complement a re-engineered chassis, which also harks back to the spirit of former Sevens with major revisions to the suspension layout.
As a renowned specialist in compact and efficient vehicle design, Suzuki's expertise in the field meant it was the ideal partner for Caterham in achieving its goal of creating the most efficient, lightest Seven ever.
The powertrain specialists at CTI have fine-tuned the engine to suit the highly dynamic Seven, resulting in a car capable of strong performance while delivering vastly improved fuel economy and reduced vehicle emissions.
Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald, said: "It is not engine size that matters, it is the grin factor that is our barometer and we believe we have got the formula for our new entry-level vehicle just right.
"Suzuki is a leader in producing compact vehicles with extremely efficient engines and that is clearly a shared passion. We needed a particularly light powertrain but it had to be a unit that suited the characteristics inherent to all Sevens – thankfully, after lots of hard work, we have a package that works brilliantly.
"Our intention for this car is to offer the joy of the Seven in distilled form, so the new entry-level car is lighter, cheaper, more economical and more accessible than ever." Priced under £17,000, the new model will be launched in Autumn this year, with first deliveries expected before the end of 2013. He added: "Unfussy and easy to run, it is designed to give a neutral, supple ride yet carrying the sporting edge and turn-of-speed expected from any Seven. For a sportscar at this price point, it delivers on many fronts and we cannot wait to open the order book."
Suzuki said: "It has been a very interesting and unique project for us. We trust that supplying our powertrain to Caterham with a respected reputation for building lightweight, low-volume sportscars will enhance our 'sporty' brand image."
- New model gets 660cc turbocharged Suzuki engine
- Designed for maximum weight-saving, efficiency and fun
Caterham Cars' soon-to-be-released, all-new entry-level Seven will be powered by a 660cc, three-cylinder turbocharged engine manufactured by Suzuki Motor Corporation – the smallest and most efficient engine ever installed in a Seven.
The new vehicle uses 21st-Century engineering to pay homage to early incarnations of the iconic Seven by utilising a super-compact and lightweight turbocharged engine to 'add lightness' like no other Seven in recent times.
The ultra-efficient, downsized engine matched with an equally compact Suzuki five-speed gearbox, has been adapted by Caterham Technology & Innovation (CTI) – Caterham Group's engineering division – to complement a re-engineered chassis, which also harks back to the spirit of former Sevens with major revisions to the suspension layout.
As a renowned specialist in compact and efficient vehicle design, Suzuki's expertise in the field meant it was the ideal partner for Caterham in achieving its goal of creating the most efficient, lightest Seven ever.
The powertrain specialists at CTI have fine-tuned the engine to suit the highly dynamic Seven, resulting in a car capable of strong performance while delivering vastly improved fuel economy and reduced vehicle emissions.
Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald, said: "It is not engine size that matters, it is the grin factor that is our barometer and we believe we have got the formula for our new entry-level vehicle just right.
"Suzuki is a leader in producing compact vehicles with extremely efficient engines and that is clearly a shared passion. We needed a particularly light powertrain but it had to be a unit that suited the characteristics inherent to all Sevens – thankfully, after lots of hard work, we have a package that works brilliantly.
"Our intention for this car is to offer the joy of the Seven in distilled form, so the new entry-level car is lighter, cheaper, more economical and more accessible than ever." Priced under £17,000, the new model will be launched in Autumn this year, with first deliveries expected before the end of 2013. He added: "Unfussy and easy to run, it is designed to give a neutral, supple ride yet carrying the sporting edge and turn-of-speed expected from any Seven. For a sportscar at this price point, it delivers on many fronts and we cannot wait to open the order book."
Suzuki said: "It has been a very interesting and unique project for us. We trust that supplying our powertrain to Caterham with a respected reputation for building lightweight, low-volume sportscars will enhance our 'sporty' brand image."
