Darth Caterham X330 Concept

[Vovchandr]

Came across some old articles circa de 2007

 

 

 

 

Rotrex even has an official site link dedicated to it C30-94

 

https://www.rotrex.com/centrifugal-superchargers/caterham/caterham-x330/

 

 

 

 

British firm Caterham has unveiled a very special, one-off model in honor of the Lotus Seven's 50th anniversary.

 

 

British firm Caterham has unveiled a very special, one-off model in honor of the Lotus Seven's 50th anniversary. Called the X330, this matte black show car is based on Caterham's top-of-the-line CSR Superlight but with a supercharger that raises the power of the 2.3-liter Ford Duratec 4-cylinder from 260 bhp to 330 bhp (hence the name). It also delivers over 221 lb.-ft. of torque from 5500–7500 rpm.

Besides the incredible power increase, the X330's trellis-style chassis uses lighter-gauge steel while much of the bodywork is made of carbon fiber; new lightweight wheels round out the package. Although for now the X330 remains nothing more than a show car and a testbed, Caterham says we should expect to see some of these go-fast, go-lighter items on its future production models.

 

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Caterham has unveiled the X330 Concept that will celebrate its 50th anniversary. The concept is a one-off supercharged model boasting a mind-boggling power-to-weight ratio of 600bhp per tonne. The X330 is based on the range-topping CSR Superlight, but Caterham added a supercharger four-cylinder 2.3 litre Ford Duratec engine that will increases power massively from 260 to 330bhp – as the name suggests.

 

 

That means the X330’s equivalent power-to-weight ratio puts it ahead of the Bugatti Veyron (521bhp per tonne) and the McLaren F1 (559bhp).

 

 

The near 35% power hike is achieved by a Rotrex C30-94 supercharger, which provides a boost characteristic that rises linearly with engine speed. In other words, although the X330’s punch is greater at higher revs and speed, low-speed driveability isn’t compromised thanks to an exceptional torque curve with over 221 lb-ft from 5500 to 7500rpm – 20 lb-ft more than the CSR260.

The X330 is now only on its testing stages, but there are a few chances that Caterham will put it into production. To begin with the X330 will spearhead the British firm’s R&D into bioethanol power in the coming months as it seeks to assess the viability of alternative fuel sources in road and race applications and cement a further 50 years of history for the legendary Seven.

 

In keeping with the Seven ethos of ‘adding lightness’, the extremity of the X330 doesn’t stop at moving parts. Lighter gauge steel is used in the trellis-style chassis and the use of new lightweight wheels together with an abundant use of carbon fibre for the bodywork all adds to the stealth appearance of this perfect 50th birthday present.

 

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[Croc]

 

They never did put this into production as far as I know.  Cost would have been a killer as the CSR chassis was not cheap and to change that for a limited production version would have been prohibitive.  

 

 

[Vovchandr]

This is essentially what the 620R became right?

 

It appears that it was based on SV chassis. 

[Croc]

It was SV only because the CSR came only in an SV size.   But otherwise, you are correct.  This concept became the 620R once they tried to work out how to bring it to market cost-effectively since the CSR had a massive cost premium being an Arch produced chassis.