Photography Courtesy Caterham
Is the width taken out of the track? I can't imagine the interior being any smaller.
Think the Caterham Seven couldn’t get any smaller? Think again.
Not long after Caterham announced it was under the new management of Japan-based VT Holdings, the carmaker has introduced a new model of the Seven to its lineup: the 170.
Powered by a turbocharged, 660cc inline-three engine sourced from Suzuki and good for 84 horsepower, the 170 also claims the title of smallest Seven ever built. “With new front and rear wings, it measures just 1470mm in width (that’s a whopping 105mm narrower than anything else), making it also our smallest current Seven.”
Why such a small engine and reduced width? This version of the Seven was designed specifically to be sold in Japan as a kei car.
What, exactly, is a kei car? Essentially, they're microcars that can be no longer than about 11 feet, no wider than 5 feet, and powered by an engine no bigger than 660cc. Power output and top speed of these cars is also restricted.
[We drive the Honda S660: Be careful what you wish for]
The 170 is currently only available in the United Kingdom and Japan, though we wouldn’t be upset if Caterham decided to try selling it stateside.
Is the width taken out of the track? I can't imagine the interior being any smaller.
If cheap enough, I'd be all over that. The smaller the better.
I looked around. ~$30k in the UK, apparently.
That seems to me like a Japan only model - they are the ones into microcars and small engines.
OTOH, I could certainly see something as light as a 7 being powered by an engine like the new GM turbo 3 cylinder L3T they are going to use in the new Trailblazer and Encore.perhaps. Should be around 156 horsepower and 174 pound-feet of torque
Seems like a great idea. How was this not a thing sooner?
I really like this. On my list of projects is building something similar. I even have the Geo Metro 1.0L. I would maybe do Mid engined though.
Driven5 said:Seems like a great idea. How was this not a thing sooner?
Even pathological types like me rarely look at a Seven and have ever thought "You know, this car is just too darn big."
I wonder if there will be some actions taken from the Mahandra Roxor playbook (minus the legal wranglings with Jeep.)
But, the Roxor was sold into the US as a slow vehicle somewhere between a golf cart and a Side by Side Ute. This keeps the highway safety eyes off the product. But, some communities allow golf carts on the road so some Roxors are road driven.
If the Seven was sold into this "golf cart" range some slow versions could be put on the road. Simultaneously, Seven could sell "accessories" that make these into "track only" vehicles. These "accessories" could be turbo kits with speed governors removed. Could also be wider rear axles/tires. It could then be the responsibility of the owner to not mix these uses. The vehicles approved for the road shouldn't have the "accessories" intended for track only. Wink, wink; nudge, nudge.
In reply to Pete. (l33t FS) :
I'm talking less about the 'smaller 7' aspect, and more about the '7 as the basis for a Kei car' aspect. It seems like a practically-perfect match that, in retrospect, should have been completely obvious.
SkinnyG (Forum Supporter) said:Is the width taken out of the track? I can't imagine the interior being any smaller.
Look at that wheel offset.
As noted, they only had to lose 105mm overall compared to a non-SV car. That's just tire/wheel choice and a bit of a fender trim.
Someone at Caterham is brilliant. The original Lotus Seven was available as a kit car primarily as a tax dodge, so it's going back to its roots :)
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