We’re welcoming a motoring icon to the Auto Express fleet in the shape of the new Caterham Seven 270S – and we helped build it. However, take the word ‘new’ with a pinch of salt, as the basic
design has its roots way back in 1957.
As I don’t have any children and can live without many creature comforts, I’ll be running the 270S – and, actually, I can’t really take much credit for the car’s construction. But as our pictures show, I did head down to the factory at a crucial stage, helping bolt in place its heart: the engine and gearbox.
That powerplant is a Ford-sourced 1.6-litre four-cylinder that delivers 135bhp and 165Nm of torque. Now, this might not sound like a lot next to some modern hot hatches, but remember our 270S weighs in at only 540kg – less than half as much as a Ford Fiesta ST – and the performance on offer is impressive. In fact, I’d go as far as to say it’s perfectly pitched for the road.
The 0-60mph sprint takes five seconds flat, but the car’s brick-like shape and upright windscreen mean the Caterham creates plenty of drag, so with short gearing, the top speed stands at a modest 122mph. Performance and driving enjoyment aren’t the sole reasons I’ll be running a Caterham, though – the company says that with the optional road-biased S Pack I’ve gone for, this is the most usable Seven yet. Is it now a good alternative to other lightweight sports cars which are that bit more practical, such as the Lotus Elise? As the Elise’s price has risen over the years, the Seven’s simplicity and affordability seem to appeal more than ever.
Sure, with this model starting at £23,495 if you build it yourself (add £3,000 if you get Caterham to wield the spanners, plus an £800 delivery charge), it’s still a significant sum of money for a fair-weather fun car. But it looks good value next to the £30,900 Lotus.
My machine won’t just be driven on a rare dry day, though. I’ll be braving the elements to test the Seven’s claimed usability, so I’ve gone for the wider SV chassis with lowered floors to make the narrower, standard car a little bit roomier inside. Also, the S Pack brings Sport dampers tuned for the road that give a good trade-off between traditional Seven agility and extra comfort. Also on the menu is a five-speed gearbox (better for cruising), as well as a carpeted interior, floor mats, a full windscreen with doors and leather seats.
It might sound strange to pick out some of these items as highlights these days, but more hardcore Caterhams are pretty pared back, so with the likes of a heater and a 12V socket, I’m sure I’ll be (relatively) comfortable cocooned inside our Seven.
Running it through the depths of winter will highlight just how flexible and fun the car can be – if I emerge on the other side with a smile on my face, it’ll have done its job.
As a result, I’ll be putting it to the test with a few out-of-the-ordinary road trips and, hopefully, some track time – typical Caterham territory, in other words. But I’ll be mixing this with the mundane stuff such as commuting into and out of central London and the weekly supermarket run.
Plus, the Seven will provide a nice contrast to the rest of the metal moving through the Auto Express car park every week, standing no taller than the door handles on most modern crossovers. In Kawasaki motorcycle green, with black stripes and decals, and anthracite 15-inch alloys, it’s not a car that’ll blend into the background – and for me, that’s just what a Caterham should be.
Insurance quote (below) provided by AA (0800 107 0680) for a 42-year-old living in Banbury, Oxon, with three points.
- On fleet since: November 2015
- Price new: £26,495
- Engine: 1.6-litre 4cyl, 135bhp
- CO2/Tax: TBC
- Options: SV chassis (£2,500), limited-slip diff (£995), Sport suspension (£795), 15-inch alloys (£595), half hood (£195), side screen armrests (£95), lowered floors (£395), Black pack (£195), decal pack (£295)
- Insurance: TBC
- Mileage/MPG: N/A
- Any problems?: None so far
Artikel terkait :
Part Nissan X-Trail, part tank: it’s the Rogue Trail Warrior- Best cars for under £3,000
- Best cars for under £5,000
- New Mercedes GLA 2017 review
- Celebrating 10 years of the Nissan Qashqai
- Van safety tips: how to keep your van, its cargo and yourself safe at work
- New Skoda Octavia vRS 2017 review
- New Mercedes-AMG GLA 45 2017 facelift review
- New Skoda Octavia Scout 2017 review
- Mitsubishi Outlander vs Hyundai Santa Fe vs Kia Sorento