Cat Horse Bonnet Bulge

[IamScotticus]

Apparently, Cat has not yet found a way to neatly tuck the Horse ICE into the 7... properly.   In my purist opion.  Comments?

Images:

https://caterhamparts.co.uk/

On the Caterham UK forum, there is a member "wgm20" who has posted pictures of his purple people eater purple bonnet all pretty and painted. But I will not risk raising any cackle by linking it here. 

Edited October 25 by IamScotticus

[JohnCh]

1 hour ago, IamScotticus said:

But I will not risk raising any cackle by linking it here. 

 

There are no issues linking to another car forum. This isn't a competiton.

[theDreamer]

It is what it is. One might also say that only “true” 7’s have clamshell front fenders but we know why they don’t.

It is just another step in the evolution of the Caterham Super 7. At least the present ‘bulge” has been  smoothed and shaped to better the air flow. The first one with the mesh screen in front didn’t work as they first thought it would.

I’ve attached two images with their links.

The first is from EVO magazine showing the test car.

https://www.evo.co.uk/caterham/7/208108/caterham-seven-horse-prototype-pictures

The second is a used Academy car presently for sale.

https://www.woodcoteandcopse.co.uk/used-car-details/used-caterham-academy-race-package-caterham-motorsport-13-horse--convertible-bespoke-manual-petrol/id-5899127252571025082/

[Ian7]

Is this new engine from Horse due to a Sigma supply problem, or merely ongoing commercial evolution? thx

[Croc]

45 minutes ago, Ian7 said:

Is this new engine from Horse due to a Sigma supply problem, or merely ongoing commercial evolution? thx

 

Well yes...no more Sigma production.  

 

Edited to add:

Ford moved to a 3 cylinder ecoboost thing which is too tall for a Caterham.  A new engine solutions is needed.

 

Similar for Duratec but they have quite a few years Caterham production of engine stockpiled which gives them time to sort a replacement.  They are evaluating options.  I think the MZR is still produced in places - thats the Mazda version of the Duratec.   

[IamScotticus]

[slowdude]

I'm surprised they didnt switch to the MZR, or partner with a small firm to contract xyz castings. Shame the K20 wasnt looked at, as I belive it is roughly the same height of the duratec?

Conglomerate engines are rarely good (stellantis) - not sure using fluff business case capacity makes sense for a traditional silhouetted vehicle.

 

VT holdings or outgoing CEO probably had ties to Nissan etc, which facilitated the Horse discussion.
 

Sales over time will show, but the vehicle is no longer the same.

[IamScotticus]

it's the same crap most businesses face....sell more than last year to stay afloat.

Cost per unit...

The Horse is no donkey, but certain sacrifices must be made.  The European ICE environment is not a friendly one.

I believe Westfield had the best engagement option but that didn't work out.

Edited yesterday at 04:54 PM by IamScotticus

[Slonie]

On 11/12/2026 at 6:41 PM, slowdude said:

Shame the K20 wasnt looked at, as I belive it is roughly the same height of the duratec?

 

It seems like a dream engine (god knows people aren't swapping it into everything else), but I don't think that's true.

Two of the ones I've seen (one was a Locost and the other is a Caterham) don't make it look easy.

 

(the aforementioned Locost)

 

A forum thread about a K20 in a Caterham S3. Guy ended up with 25mm of ground clearance. That said, they put a dry sump on and gained some of that back. Can't argue with the results but it was a heck of a squeeze.

 

https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&f=101&t=1811005

 

[Croc]

9 hours ago, Slonie said:

A forum thread about a K20 in a Caterham S3. Guy ended up with 25mm of ground clearance. That said, they put a dry sump on and gained some of that back. Can't argue with the results but it was a heck of a squeeze.

 

 

 

 

 

I saw this car at Spa - it was being trucked back to the UK broken - head gasket.  Photos halfway down in the link below. 

 

Between the photo on this thread and when I saw it, it gained new exhaust headers for more space.  Packaging was clearly a complicated work of art by the installer.  There was still not as much ground clearance as a Duratec installation. 

 

 

 

 

[theDreamer]

I have to think that the car shown above (and in Croc’s gallery) had the engine placed lower so that the bonnet would fit without any unsightly bulges or scoops.

In our little Group of Sevens we also have a member with a Honda powered Locost. Like the Locost above his car’s engine sits up above the bonnet. He has since made a scoop to cover it as well as doors.

[Croc]

@fastg has a Honda Locost.  Really nice installation and bags of power and torque.  

[JohnCh]

MK has a bolt-in option for the K24. It makes for a pretty compelling package.

 

 

[slowdude]

22 minutes ago, Croc said:

@fastg has a Honda Locost.  Really nice installation and bags of power and torque.  

Sounds like youre an expert on other's hood bulges.