Caterham 270S

[11Budlite]

Does anyone have experience driving the 1.6 Sigma powered Caterham 270S. It only has 135hp, but on the Caterham website they have it listed as 0-60 in 5 sec with a 122 mph top speed.

https://www.caterhamcars.com/en/models/the-iconic-range/seven-270

 

That seems pretty quick for 135hp but I've heard it's an all-aluminum engine so maybe the weight is lighter than some of the other options. Probably wouldn't be a great track car, but it seems like it has the potential to be a good all-rounder.

 

Opinions anyone?

[Sabbot]

My previous 1700cc Supersprint-powered S3 put out about 135bhp and could be peddled quite quickly on track or street. Admittedly no where near as quick as R500s etc. but no slouch either. The lighter engine of the 270S will lkely help the 0-60mph blat but the brick-like aerodynamics really start to make an impact above 100mph. Mine was geared to hit the rev limiter at 115mph, and with a following wind could get there so 122 is possible.

[Croc]

Hi Bruce,

 

I have driven the 270 on the street and had the 310 on the track. Difference between 270 and 310 is about 10hp if you round up.

 

The 270 is a great little backroads car. Plenty of hp for that purpose. Think of it as a crossflow (125-135hp) or basic zetec (140hp) type of performance level. The Sigma sounds pretty good too. I could not tell the difference between the 270, 310 or my maroon zetec in relative hp - all felt the same. I liked the Sigma engine over the base Zetec though - seems to rev happier and sounds better.

 

I dont have any video of the 270 on track but I had a 310R at Donington, Silverstone and Brands Hatch last year. It was boring at Silverstone - too wide and too many straights. Loved it at a tighter circuit like Brands and was very well suited at Donington. Donginton video below.

 

 

Silverstone below - seems vmax there was 111mph. Ignore the moving map on that video - had me 150 feet ahead of my true location. Speed is accurate.

 

 

 

You would never see 122mph in real life - thats a theoretical max. All Caterham published top speeds are based on redline and standard gearing and diff. Using a big open track like Silverstone (or Spa-Francorchamps or NJMP) as a base then real life relative circuit max using GPS speed (not dash board speedo speed) would be roughly:

 

270 108mph

310 111mph

Base Zetec 113mph

R300 118mph

420R 121mph

CSR 130mph

 

Caterham speedos read roughly 10% higher than GPS speed at the high end. Obviously the bigger the hp then the quicker you approach vmax.

 

If you need more power then Premier Power in the UK offer upgrade kits for the Caterham Sigma.

 

 

cheers

mike

[Kitcat]

My 135 hp X-Flow was advertised as about 6" 0-60 mph. There is a pretty big real world difference between the 135 hp X-flow and the 140 hp base Zetec. Mostly because the 135 hp seems to have been a product of the Caterham advertising arm's creative imagination more than actual tested output.

 

Typical 1700cc X-Flows test at around 95 hp on the chassis dyno, and the base Zetecs typically hover around 120 hp, give or take 3-4 hp depending on the car, dyno, temperature etc. Assuming that the 135 hp Signa is a more honest # than the X-Flow's, then its real world hp is likely much closer to a base Zetec. And that would explain the 1 second faster 0-60 mph figure given for it.

 

Like Croc, I am skeptical of the 122 mph top speed (maybe if you find a big hill, have a tail wind, replace the windshield with a Brooklands set up, etc)?

 

Back on the X-flow: they can make more power if they have a hotter cam or are built to spin faster etc. Also, they make a great snap, crackle and pop sound. And they supply enough power to be able to drive flat out and have a ball without getting into too much trouble. But, thanks to their carb set up, their gas mileage is much worse than that of the ECU managed fuel injected engines that replaced them.

[11Budlite]

Stewart, Mike, and Mike. Thanks for the really in-depth replies....enjoyed the videos too!

 

I saw the 2014 BRG Caterham roller on Ebay a while back and have been doing some investigating since it was setup for the 1.6 Sigma. I did talk to Jon N. and Ross R. about that car. Not too concerned about top speed but if it's close to a 5 sec 0-60 time that would be sufficient for me. Trying to get my garage in order and it will probably mean selling my '64 MGB and an old BMW motorcycle. I'm looking to get a Seven that I can drive on the road and possibly on the track as well, and hopefully have it for this year.

 

I do have another Seven RHD roller that's set up for the track that will take some work before it's driveable. Unfortunately I recently moved to a new house that requires some work/upgrades and it's taking away from time spent working on the Seven. I will post some photos and info about the RHD track-build when I get a chance. I'll be looking for opinions on that one too.

 

Thanks again guys!

[escondidoron]

By way of reference, I have an old '62 Lotus Seven with a pre-Xflow 1340 Cosworth. It weighs in at 960lbs (verified) with a full tank of gas. All 5 gallons of it. It makes 85Hp at the crank on the dyno (75 at the wheels, chassis dyno). That works out to about 11.3 lbs/Hp. The car max's out at about 100-105mph with the windshield installed. Removing the windshield raises the top speed by 5-7 mph. I have no idea about the 0-60 time, but it is certainly slower than 6 seconds. And, as mentioned previously, the fuel economy is poor with only about 100 mies usable range. I do know that in real world spirited driving on our SoCal mountain roads it doesn't take a back seat to pretty much anything including supercharged Exige 260s, let alone the usual cast of M3s, GTRs, 911s, F-cars, McLarens, etc. Bottom line: Drag racing and freeway on-ramp acceleration tests aside, pretty much any model Caterham is quicker out in real world driving than the vast majority of all cars.

 

[escondidoron]

Here's the old Seven out in the real world:

Wynola Road Video

[Croc]

Ron - Great video. Perfect Sunday drive. But you scared the deer away!

[panamericano]

Ron.

 

Thaks for the video. Real World in sport cars is the best.

 

-Mark

[11Budlite]

Good stuff Ron, thanks.

[Lancefitzgiben]

11Budlite, what's your home track like? If it's somewhat tight and technical I don't suspect that you'd have any issues - biggest issue is that a serious track car will be set up a good deal different than a useable street car.

 

Even with my 485 and its 236 (call it 180 or so here at 7k ft above sea level) I hit a wall at 100mph, anything under that however and I have way more power than I need. Often more than I can use.

 

For road use there's something to be said for a caterham with a bit less power and a lot less tire.

[11Budlite]

Sorry, I just saw this. The closest tracks to me would be Lime Rock Park and Thompson in CT. Both of these are small road courses a little over 1.5 miles long IIRC. If I get the 270, or more probably the 310, it'll be more street oriented. I do have a RHD rolling chassis made by Vintage Racing Services in Stratford that I'm hoping to setup as a track car, possibly as a vintage race car. Still trying to decide what's the best way to go. Thanks for your input!

11Budlite, what's your home track like? If it's somewhat tight and technical I don't suspect that you'd have any issues - biggest issue is that a serious track car will be set up a good deal different than a useable street car.

 

Even with my 485 and its 236 (call it 180 or so here at 7k ft above sea level) I hit a wall at 100mph, anything under that however and I have way more power than I need. Often more than I can use.

 

For road use there's something to be said for a caterham with a bit less power and a lot less tire.

[Kitcat]

Keep in mind that a street oriented Caterham is still just a slightly civilized race car. And in my experience, a street Cat is easier to drive on the track than a full tilt race prepped Cat (I have tracked both). The street version is a bit softer and more forgiving but still telepathic and with sticky tires, the equal, or better, of everything you are likely to see at a track day, esp on the tight courses that you mention.