New Sales Model - Caterham in the USA

[BruceBe]

Some of you may have already noticed some new names for products, and associated pricing on the USA Caterham website. I thought it worthwhile to provide an overview of how Caterham are packaging their product for the USA, and how one will go about purchasing a new Caterham in the USA.

 

First, and foremost, Caterham are no longer selling specific vehicle models here in the USA. Instead, they are offering chassis kits and incomplete rolling chassis in the form of "Packs", that suggest a particular final build-out of the car. There are six advertised packs/variants for a chassis kit/rolling-chassis:

1. S Pack 
2. R Pack
3. Super Seven
4. Seven Cup
5. Seven Encore
6. CSR Twenty

The first two should be quite familiar (touring vs. track orientation), while the Super Seven and Seven Cup chassis/kits anticipate a final build character of the UK Super Seven 2000, and UKSeven 420 Cup, respectively (LHD, of course). For example the USA "Super Seven" will have clam-shell wings and bodywork/interior identical to the UK Super Seven 2000, and the "Seven Cup" will have a central fuel filler location and all the other body/running-gear features of the UK Seven 420 Cup. The last two variants reflect the specialized UK models of similar name. Finally, we have a special variant of R/S Pack that is RHD, and anticipates the installation of a 300+ HP 2L Duratec engine.

 

Your USA Caterham dealer will be offering these kits/rollers, and partner with you to specify options/etc., just as in the past. The new price-lists (with options) should be available on the USA Caterham website. They are also available from a USA Caterham dealer.

 

The move to manufacturer suggested retail pricing (MSRP), in US dollars, is another significant change going forward. MSRP pricing is being utilized for the base kit/roller, as well as all options. Of course, buyers have always paid in US dollars, but due to how dealers purchased from Caterham in the past, each dealer implemented slightly varying pricing approaches to accommodate our back-end transactions in Pounds sterling, and the issues associated with long-duration, multi-currency purchases. The current plan is that MSRP pricing also accommodates shipping/duty (and now tariffs). As a result, right now, these additional costs are included in MSRP - another significant change. 

 

Of course, the other component to this model is a suitable powertrain. As mentioned above, your Caterham dealer will work with you to specify and order an incomplete kit or rolling chassis. However, Caterham dealers do not sell/provide powertrains. Speaking for Beachman Racing, as in the past, we will refer a client to an approved powertrain provider for purchase of a powertrain for their Caterham. While it is not our role to price and sell powertrains suitable for the Caterham kits/rollling-chassis, we have been advised of the variants of powertrains that will be available to powertrain installers through a 3rd-party powertrain distributor:

• 155HP Ford Sigma engine and 5sp gearbox  +/- $21,844
• 180HP Ford Duratec engine and 5sp gearbox  +/- $22,994
• 210HP Ford Duratec engine and 5sp gearbox +/- $25,179
• 210HP Ford Duratec engine and 6sp Sadev sequential gearbox +/- $33,804
• 310HP Ford Duratec supercharged engine and 5sp gearbox +/- $31,389 (RHD chassis-only, in a Caterham)
• 310HP Ford Duratec supercharged engine and Sadev sequential gearbox +/- $40,014 (RHD chassis-only, in a Caterham)

The MSRP prices for these powertrains are an educated guess - each powertrain installer will set their own pricing. However, it is a very educated guess.

 

Since the new pricing model has been in-effect for almost a month, I thought it appropriate to appraise this community of the details.

 

Cheers,

-Bruce

 

 

 

 

[slowdude]

Thank you for the write up & the transparency.

 

It speaks to your authenticity as a person to take the time to do this.

 

With your statements above, for example, the cheapest new 7 in the US would come in around $72k usd. Not unreasonable.

 

The MSRP transparency should help. Would be even better if there could be a financing arrangement with Caterham.

 

No need for any support, just a, "we work with this bank" -> cashflow seems to be the largest issue (hence the FX rate hedging you were mentioning).

 

All in all this is a positive change, which I hope grows the brand in the US more.

[JohnCh]

@BruceBe, thanks for sharing this. Very helpful. I suspect the new model will make it easier for some to commit to an order given it removes the moving targets of exchange rates and shipping. Those aspects felt a bit like a lottery when I placed my order in early 2021 (hard to believe it's almost been 5 years). Have the lead times come down now that the new factory is operational?

[BruceBe]

Right now, lead-time is approximately 12-weeks before an order enters production - the shortest it will ever get. Orders placed now must be “spec complete”, given the shallow build queue.

[JohnCh]

That's a huge improvement!

[BruceBe]

The increased capacity of the new factory, along with incremental process improvements instituted by Bob Laishley during his tenure, and the dynamics of global demand have resulted in as close to "go buy a Caterham" as you'll get.

 

Cheers,

-Bruce

 

[IamScotticus]

Will kits be supplied built to accommodate an intended  propshaft and mount brace for a certain transmission and engine mounts for a certain engine?  Surely these won't be left to the end buyer to fabricate?

 

One of the best reasons to buy a Caterham over others has been that all the fiddling had been done for you.

Edited January 29 by IamScotticus

[Snev]

Wow, that's quite a price hike. Looks like new prices have jumped 20k or more since 2022 depending on options. I'm guessing the options are going to have a similar increase as well, will be interesting to see. Many folks who were probably thinking about getting one will be priced out.

[BruceBe]

15 hours ago, IamScotticus said:

Will kits be supplied built to accommodate an intended  propshaft and mount brace for a certain transmission and engine mounts for a certain engine?  Surely these won't be left to the end buyer to fabricate?

 

One of the best reasons to buy a Caterham over others has been that all the fiddling had been done for you.

The goal is that end-user custom fabrication will not be required. This suggests that at the time of ordering your chassis kit/roller, the intended powertrain HP level and gearbox choice is identified.

[BruceBe]

1 hour ago, Snev said:

Wow, that's quite a price hike. Looks like new prices have jumped 20k or more since 2022 depending on options. I'm guessing the options are going to have a similar increase as well, will be interesting to see. Many folks who were probably thinking about getting one will be priced out.

You'd have to look at the specifics of the configuration to fully quantify it, but yes, prices have gone up since 2022...twice. Prior to this new pricing/sales model, the last factory price increase was October of 2023. I can appreciate your point about cost vs. value. We do now live in a world of $90K+ pickup trucks and $200K Corvettes. Of course, A Caterham can't tow 30,000lbs nor top-out at 233mph with the AC on. But, it can be fearsome around a race circuit with truly minimal running costs, and you won't have trouble picking it out in the movie theater parking lot. With this new MSRP model, and the guidance I provided on powertrain in the original post, quantifying an "all-in" cost is quite straightforward. I can confirm that the option MSRP price lists for all chassis Packs are available through the USA Caterham site. Alternatively, contact one of us (Caterham dealers) and we can provide them.

 

Cheers,

-Bruce

 

[CatManDo]

Well Folks,

 

In 2023 I ordered a 360R with the following options:

 

SV chassis

vented front brakes

track day roll bar

battery switch

wheather package with aeroscreen

carpet

leather seats

quick release momo

painted nose band with stripe

dry sump

 

Not very extravagant and well within my budget and a car I could easily upgrade to 420R spec by just changing cams and a remap. When the dust settled and all paid it came in at $51640 including shipping. Now I did benefit from a very  favorable exchange rate at the time but also took a hit on Covid shipping costs at $8300.

 

I thought I would check what the same car and options would be in the new US price plan.

Based on these options today's price would be $86238, a 67% increase. Even with tariffs this seems a little over the top. If I was looking today I doubt I would consider a 360R at that price.

 

Also, in the new price sheets there was no dry sump option. It also is not listed in the R-pack standard equipment list. Are they not offering a dry sump or is everything dry sump? Need some clarification there. I don't think I would take one with a wet sump.

 

Another question: As I understand the chassis MSRP includes shipping. Does the powertrain pricing include local shipping as well?

 

It sure looks to me that this new pricing plan has some problems to iron out.

[BruceBe]

Good observation on the dry sump for the 180HP engine. I'm told it will be supported - details to follow.

 

On domestic power-train shipping, it will be up to the power-train supplier to determine whether they absorb that cost, or it is extra.

 

Cheers,

-Bruce