Caterham->ke1252 has teamed up CAE consultant Simpact and bicycle tube-makers Renolds Technology to build a new lightweight frame for the Caterham Seven.->ke3209 It almost seems like a backward step in technology,->ke1701 but this new frame is actually made using the same butted tube technology used to build bicycles – a process that was patented by Renolds Technology back in 1897. According to the trio, the new frame design shaves 10 percent of the weight from the Seven’s chassis, and up to 50 percent of mass from some parts without any sacrifice to the chassis’ torsional stiffness or strength.
A prototype Caterham Seven debuted at the Niche Vehicle Network Symposium earlier this month, and from the look of things, the technology is almost ready to shift into production models. Caterham says optioning for this new lightweight frame on future Seven models should cost between £1,000 and £2,000. At current exchange rates, that would mean a premium somewhere between $1,444 and $2,889.
The CTO of Caterham Cars, Simon Lambert, said, "Caterham and Reynolds are two proudly British brands, and there is a real synergy between customers of Caterham and cycling enthusiasts, so it’s even better that the technology that has made this possible has come from the two-wheeled world."
According to Caterham, the technology can even be adopted by other companies that are currently using space frames. For now, the British automaker will continue to develop the prototype that debuted earlier this month, with a view to launch a production model using the new frame technology in “due course.”
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Why it matters
Sure, Caterham still has some testing a development to do on this new frame technology, but should it prove to be as strong as, or stronger the current frame, this could be a revolutionary advancement. Considering the Caterham Seven is already lightweight as it is, dropping another 10 percent off of the overall weight will have significant advantages across the board. Less fuel will be needed, which means there will be a reduction of emissions output from each vehicle equipped with the new lightweight frame.
On top of that, performance figures should increase as well. The sprint to 60 mph could drop, and overall speed should go up a peg or two, and you really can’t complain about that. That said, I’m still skeptical at this point and will have to see proof that this frame is as strong or stronger than the current technology in use before I believe it. Until then, we’ll be watching the development of this new technology, so stay tuned for future updates.
2016 Caterham Seven 620S
Read our full review on the 2016 Caterham Seven 620S here.