Record year for Caterham

[KnifeySpoony]

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/british/caterham-sold-record-number-cars-2021

 

Having taken delivery of a 420R kit in 2021, I feel decidedly less special now.

 

 

[panamericano]

14 hours ago, KnifeySpoony said:

https://www.topgear.com/car-news/british/caterham-sold-record-number-cars-2021

 

Having taken delivery of a 420R kit in 2021, I feel decidedly less special now.

 

 

You're still special to your mom.  Besides 49 to the USA is less than one per state.  Special!

Edited March 24, 2022 by panamericano

[Deadrock]

Caterham’s record year proves that simple, old-school fun still sells

Intake: It’s not often that a company’s yearly sales record runs in the triple-digits, but Caterham is no ordinary company. The U.K.-based firm, which is known for dutifully carrying on the tradition of Colin Chapman’s iconic Lotus Seven, sold 670 cars last year, beating its previous record of 667. This, all while a pandemic still rages across parts of the globe, interrupting supply chains and hampering economies. Caterham credits series-production models such as the Seven 420 for buoying sales while pandemic conditions throttled the usual run of special-edition cars, such as the Seven SuperSprint, an ultra-minimalist version of the already modest Seven. The Seven features a steel spaceframe with aluminum body panels and is powered by a 2.0-liter Ford Duratec engine in various states of tune here in the U.S. The U.K.’s lightest model uses a a 660-cc turbocharged three-cylinder made by Suzuki. All Sevens feature five-speed manual transmissions, and a limited-slip rear differential is available on many models. The U.K. was responsible for 37.6 percent of sales, while in the U.S., the 49 models sold was more than double the 21 units delivered in 2019.

Last spring, VT Holdings, a Japanese auto group that is also responsible for importing Lotus cars to Japan, purchased Caterham. The firm pledged to “protect and develop the Seven to meet the legislative challenges that lie ahead,” according to a statement from chief executive Kazuho Takahashi, who backed up that promise by introducing the kei-class Seven 170 last September. Part of the regulatory adaptation will be an electric version, due in 2023. While this may upset the purists, Caterham CEO Graham Macdonald tells Autocar that an EV Caterham will “see this brand continue for another 50 years.”

Exhaust: With cars only gaining heft and size these days, the Caterham is an anachronism that’s worth celebrating. The cars can only be sold as kits here in the U.S., but that hasn’t stopped nearly 50 customers from seeking out a driving experience purer than that of any other four-wheeled object on the road. Though plenty of skepticism remains around the electric Caterham, it may become a necessity for the firm to offer anything to customers in major urban areas such as London, which is increasing its Ultra Low Emission zones that mandate electric propulsion. The future may be murky for the little brand, but the present is cause for celebration.

[JohnCh]

We had two threads on this topic, so merged them under the initial post to avoid confusion and a split conversation.

 

-John

[Kitcat]

In the imortal words of Bob Lutz while at Chrsler, when commenting on the small sales of a specialty car maker: “We have more cars fall off trains every month than that”.

 

I wonder how many of the 49 were 420R’s? I’d love to see the break down by models.

[coffee break]

1 hour ago, Kitcat said:

 I’d love to see the break down by models.

Be careful when you the word(s) "breakdown"

Edited March 25, 2022 by coffee break

[Christopher smith]

Yes- do watch words like  "breakdown". But if you have any really old British car ( I have a  59 series 1 Lotus) also do not say "fire it up" or "take it for a spin".

[SENC]

🤣🤣🤣

[IamScotticus]

who can compare 7s to "cars"?

more like airplanes for the road.

 

I agree that the EV option is viable and the 7 is an adaptable platform.   I would only agree with having the batteries in the engine area, not in the rear.  one for safety,  two for the space required.  I suspect a motor and direct drive axle could be fitted in the basket.  

I think my Xflow days are numbered...

[Kitcat]

Or, like a recumbant motorcycle?