News recently broke that Caterham is soliciting new investment to carry on with its ambitions plans. However, that's not keeping the sports car builder from moving forward with new projects. Case in point is its latest creation: the limited edition Seven 250R Kamui Special Edition in honor of its F1 driver, Kamui Kobayashi.
As the name implies, the Seven 250R forms of the basis of the special edition with 123 horsepower and 120 pound-feet of torque from its 1.6-liter Ford Sigma four-cylinder engine, six-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential. While power may seem modest, Caterham claims that it can reach 62 miles per hour in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph.
What makes the Kamui Edition special is what Caterham does with the car's already light body. The exterior is finished in high-gloss black paint with matte black stripe decals, and the front fenders use dark-green-lacquered carbon fiber in a shade like the team's F1 livery. Tiny nubs of carbon fiber replace the windshield as well, and the passenger seat is gone in favor of an aluminum tonneau cover. For safety, a roll hoop rises up over the driver's head.
Things are even sparser inside. The driver sits on a bare carbon fiber seat with "Kamui" embroidered on the head support. The dashboard is made from similar green carbon fiber like the fenders and also has the Kamui logo at the center of the gauges.
Caterham will build just 10 of the Kamui Special Edition models, a nod to his driver number, and they will only be sold in Japan at 6,000,000 yen ($58,822) each, plus tax. Hopefully, this special Seven will fare better than the underperforming F1 team. Scroll down for the full announcement.
May 27, 2014 Written by Caterham Cars
Caterham Cars has taken the wraps off a brand new special edition Seven designed by Caterham F1 Team's Japanese driver, Kamui Kobayashi.
Just 10 examples of the Kamui Kobayashi special edition go on sale in Kamui's home country from today, priced at ¥6,000,000 (including local taxes).
Based on the 125bhp Seven 250 R, the distinctive special edition is packed with an array of performance-focused features hand-chosen by the Formula One driver. The Seven 250 R is powered by a 1.6 Ford Sigma engine, achieving 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph. It has six-speed manual transmission with a limited slip differential.
The exterior is finished in high-gloss black paint with matt black sport stripes. Every Kamui Kobayashi edition wears a number 10 badge on its nose â€" Kamui's Formula One driver number. The front wings and rear wing protectors are finished in carbon fibre infused with a unique Caterham green lacquer, the first of the Seven models to offer this finish.
In true racing style, the car is a single-seater and features an aluminium tonneau cover over the passenger seat area; to match, there is also a single-sided rollover hoop fixed to the rear bulkhead, with all new 13-inch diamond cut black wheels. There is also a polished chrome rear exit exhaust system to complete the dynamic styling.
Inside, the performance theme continues with a carbon fibre dashboard detailed with the Caterham green lacquer, which will be personally signed by Kamui. The sports seat is also constructed from carbon fibre, with green contrasting stitching, a Kamui logo in the head rest and a green Takata-branded 4-point harness.
Other interior features include special Kamui gauge inlays, an anodised green gear knob with Kamui wordmark and an anodised green key.
Kamui drove a Caterham Seven for the first time earlier this year at Silverstone circuit, speaking about the special edition, he said: "For me, the Caterham Seven is a pure car; when you drive a Seven it feels like you are driving, not like the car is driving you. In my Caterham F1 car, I have electronics that control everything but to drive the Seven is to truly understand the car and to truly understand the enjoyment of driving.I hope my styling of the Seven adds something special to a car that is already awesome to drive."
David Ridley, Chief Commercial Officer for Caterham Cars commented: "Japan is our second-largest export market and our Japanese Caterham community are huge fans of Kobayashi; I'm delighted to be able to offer our fans in Japan this exclusive model which will, one day, no doubt become a collector's item. Kamui had great fun customising the design and has even test-driven the first prototype to give his seal of approval."
Kamui Special Edition
Introducing the brand new special edition Seven designed by Caterham F1 Team's Japanese driver, Kamui Kobayashi.
Based on the 125bhp Seven 250 R, the distinctive special edition is packed with an array of performance-focused features hand-chosen by the Formula One driver. The Seven 250 R is powered by a 1.6 Ford Sigma engine, achieving 0-62mph in 5.9 seconds and a top speed of 112 mph. It has six-speed manual transmission with a limited slip differential.
The exterior is finished in high-gloss black paint with matt black sport stripes. Every Kamui Kobayashi edition wears a number 10 badge on its nose â€" Kamui's Formula One driver number. The front wings and rear wing protectors are finished in carbon fibre infused with a unique Caterham green lacquer, the first of the Seven models to offer this finish.
In true racing style, the car is a single-seater and features an aluminium tonneau cover over the passenger seat area; to match, there is also a single-sided rollover hoop fixed to the rear bulkhead, with all new 13-inch diamond cut black wheels. There is also a polished chrome rear exit exhaust system to complete the dynamic styling.
Inside, the performance theme continues with a carbon fibre dashboard detailed with the Caterham green lacquer, which will be personally signed by Kamui. The sports seat is also constructed from carbon fibre, with green contrasting stitching, a Kamui logo in the head rest and a green Takata-branded 4-point harness.
Other interior features include special Kamui gauge inlays, an anodised green gear knob with Kamui wordmark and an anodised green key.
Kamui drove a Caterham Seven for the first time earlier this year at Silverstone circuit, speaking about the special edition, he said: "For me, the Caterham Seven is a pure car; when you drive a Seven it feels like you are driving, not like the car is driving you. In my Caterham F1 car, I have electronics that control everything but to drive the Seven is to truly understand the car and to truly understand the enjoyment of driving. I hope my styling of the Seven adds something special to a car that is already awesome to drive."
HIGHLIGHTS
Performance-orientated specification
Limited slip differential & 6 speed manual gearbox
Unique Caterham green lacquered carbon fibre components
Limited to 10 cars to be sold in Japan
1.6 LITRE FORD SIGMA
0-62 MPH 0-100 KPH 5.90 SECONDS
TOP SPEED 112 MPH/180 KPH
125 PS
SPECIFICATIONS
-STANDARD
1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine
6 speed manual gearbox
Limited slip differential
Superlight suspension with De-Dion rear suspension
13" diamond cut Apollo alloy wheels with Avon CR500 tyres
Ventilated front discs & quad piston calipers
Carbon interior panels & dashboard
Carbon fibre aeroscreen
Single hoop roll over bar
Quick-release Momo steering wheel
Bespoke Kamui gauges
Adjustable padded carbon seat with bespoke stitching
Bespoke gearknob & key
Heater
Push button start
Aluminium tonneau cover
Four point Takata race harness
Gunmetal grey chassis
-TECHNICAL SPECIFICATION
Caterham Seven 250 R Kamui Special Edition
Engine: 1.6 Litre Ford Sigma
Max Power (bhp/rpm): 125 @ 6,100 rpm
Max Torque (lbs ft/rpm): 120 @ 5,350 rpm
0-60mph: 5.9 seconds
Top speed: 112 mph
-PAINT OPTIONS
Gloss black paint with a unique matt black decal pack
Posted By
No comments:
Post a Comment