Caterham and RS Performance joined their forces and created the Caterham RS Seven, the ultimate in bespoke Seven coachbuilding. It will be priced at £115,000 (dependent on specification).

The Caterham RS Seven will be powered by a 40-valve, 2.4 litre V8 engine that delivers an incredible 400bhp in normally aspirated mode, or over 500bhp as a supercharged variant, whilst weighing only 90kg in full running gear.

The unbridled lightness of the RST-V8 matched to the already featherweight Seven chassis delivers a power-to-weight ratio of over 1000bhp per tonne – more than double of a Bugatti Veyron.

Press release after the jump.

2008 Caterham RS Seven

Specifications
  • Make: Array
  • Model: 2008 Caterham RS Seven
  • [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Press release

For those wanting an expression of British sportscar exclusivity, Caterham Cars has joined forces with RS Performance to offer the ultimate in bespoke Seven coachbuilding. Caterham has long been the epitome of personalised motoring with almost every version of the 12,000 Sevens on the road differing from one another. The joint venture takes that famous philosophy to an altogether new level.

RS Performance is an exclusive, niche engineering house. Born out of the passion and pedigree of its founder, Russell Savory, it will offer an ‘everything is possible’ service to Caterham customers wanting cars truly ‘built to order’.

Using the motorsport-honed Caterham chassis and benchmark technology as a cosmetic and engineering base, RS Performance, will “turn imagination into reality,” says Savory.

The heartbeat of every RS-monikered Seven will be the unique RST-V8 engine. With more than 16 years of development behind it by Russell Savory, the 40-valve, 2.4 litre engine reliably delivers an incredible 400bhp in normally aspirated mode, or over 500bhp as a supercharged varient, whilst weighing only 90kg in full running gear.

The unbridled lightness of the RST-V8 matched to the already featherweight Seven chassis delivers a power-to-weight ratio of over 1000bhp per tonne – more than double of a Bugatti Veyron. This unique partnership will be open to customers looking for the ultimate in exclusivity, and carry a price tag to reflect the tailoring, detail and hand-built craftsmanship that will go into every RS-badged Caterham.

Validation of the engineering house’s abilities comes in the form of the supercharged ‘Levante’. This is the first Seven to rollout of RS Performance’s Hertfordshire doors and which only seven more of this type will be available.

With a 12 week waiting time and costing over £115,000, this supercharged engineering masterpiece boasts a modern interpretation of the Seven’s classic looks with a sophisticated electronics package with traction and launch control to help get the phenomenal power to the floor. Weight reduction runs throughout the car, from the carbon fibre interior finished with Kevlar seats down to the hosing used on the cooling systems
The RS Performance badge will sit alongside the established, and soon to be expanded, Ford powered Caterham Seven range.

“Caterham and Russell Savory have a long history, and this seemed a natural progression of that relationship and shared engineering philosophy,” explained Ansar Ali, Caterham Cars managing director.

RS Performance RST-V8 Engine Technical Specification

  • Configuration     90° V8
  • Capacity     2.4 litre
  • Valves     40
  • Construction     Aluminium main frame  with dry sump
  • Max Power     380 bhp @10,000rpm / 500+bhp @ 10,000rpm (supercharged)
  • Max Torque     190 lbsft @ 8500rpm / 300 lbsft@ 8500rpm (supercharged)
  • Gearbox     6-speed
  • Overall length     45.6mm
  • Overall width     45.6mm
  • Height     48mm
  • Weight     90kg
  • Service intervals     8000 miles (minor) / 30,000 miles (major service & belt change)


RS Performance ‘Levante’ Technical Specification

  • Price     £115,000 (dependent on specification)
  • Chassis     Caterham SV
  • Engine     2.4-litre, 40-valve RST-V8 supercharged
  • Max Power     500+bhp @ 10,000rpm
  • Max Torque     300 lbsft @ 8500rpm
  • Supercharge boost     0.8 psi
  • Gearbox     6-speed sequential, paddle shift option
  • Transmission     LSD
  • 0-60mph (claimed)     Less than 3 seconds
  • Top Speed     150mph (limited)
  • Wheelbase     2305mm
  • Overall length     3530mm
  • Overall width     1685mm
  • Height     1140mm
  • Weight     From 520kgs
  • Suspension     de Dion rear, Nitron 3-way adjustable shocks all corners
  • Wheels     Image Billet; front 8 x 15, rear 10 x 15
  • Tyres     Avon CR500; front 195/45-15, rear 245/40-15
  • Brakes     Hi Spec; front 280mm vented, rear 260mm.
  • Exhaust system     BTB 2 x 4-2-1 rear exit
  • Dashboard     Farringdon and SPA design
  • Driver aids     Traction Control, Launch Control
  • Additional     Two day driver training course provided on delivery of vehicle