Caterham gets EVO Mag's "Lifetime Achievement Award"

[Alaskossie]

Just picked up EVO Magazine #125 (“Car of the Year 2008”). The Caterham R500 was in the mix with nine other “affordable” performance cars (Mini JCW, Renaultsport Megane R26.R, Subaru Impreza 2.5 WRX, BMW M3 saloon, etc.). The R500 finished third in the subjective evaluation, behind the Megane and the Mini JCW. The editors opined that,

 

“If Caterham was a new company and the R500 had emerged this year as a completely new car (like the KTM X-Bow) then it would have won easily. But essentially it is the latest, fastest brilliant incarnation in a long line of brilliant incarnations. As a result everyone was in agreement that it should be singled out for a special lifetime achievement award.”

 

With this backhanded compliment (or an excuse to discount longevity and consistency?), Road Test Editor Henry Catchpole bestowed on the Caterham R500 EVO’s new “Lifetime Achievement Award”:

 

“The Caterham Seven. We love it. Its uncompromising focus makes it hard to place in a test like this, but if you ask anyone at EVO to name one car that encapsulates the thrill of driving, then without hesitation they will say a Seven. If you want to learn about driving, really driving, then slot yourself into a Series 3. It doesn’t matter which: from a 125 Roadsport all the way to a R500, the principles of perfect tactile interaction are the same. It sets benchmarks that no other car can live up to.

 

We feared that it might finally, after 50 years, be shown up in 2008 with the arrival of the carbon-tubbed KTM. Not a bit of it. The R500 shone brighter than ever, emerging, crown gleaming, as the undisputed king. As long as the Caterham Seven exists, so will the thrill of driving.”

 

I guess the folks at EVO liked the Seven......

 

 

[Davemk1]

Just picked up EVO Magazine #125 (“Car of the Year 2008”). The Caterham R500 was in the mix with nine other “affordable” performance cars (Mini JCW, Renaultsport Megane R26.R, Subaru Impreza 2.5 WRX, BMW M3 saloon, etc.). The R500 finished third in the subjective evaluation, behind the Megane and the Mini JCW. The editors opined that,

 

“If Caterham was a new company and the R500 had emerged this year as a completely new car (like the KTM X-Bow) then it would have won easily. But essentially it is the latest, fastest brilliant incarnation in a long line of brilliant incarnations. As a result everyone was in agreement that it should be singled out for a special lifetime achievement award.”

 

With this backhanded compliment (or an excuse to discount longevity and consistency?), Road Test Editor Henry Catchpole bestowed on the Caterham R500 EVO’s new “Lifetime Achievement Award”:

 

“The Caterham Seven. We love it. Its uncompromising focus makes it hard to place in a test like this, but if you ask anyone at EVO to name one car that encapsulates the thrill of driving, then without hesitation they will say a Seven. If you want to learn about driving, really driving, then slot yourself into a Series 3. It doesn’t matter which: from a 125 Roadsport all the way to a R500, the principles of perfect tactile interaction are the same. It sets benchmarks that no other car can live up to.

 

We feared that it might finally, after 50 years, be shown up in 2008 with the arrival of the carbon-tubbed KTM. Not a bit of it. The R500 shone brighter than ever, emerging, crown gleaming, as the undisputed king. As long as the Caterham Seven exists, so will the thrill of driving.”

 

I guess the folks at EVO liked the Seven......

 

Hard for any "real" driver not too. I enjoyed the article too.

 

Dave