Aspid: Caterham-esque Sportscar with up to 400Hp Coming to London Show

The never ending saga of small firms popping up from nowhere continues with the Aspid that will make its world debut at the British International Motor Show in late July. The Aspid (Spanish name for the snake that killed Cleopatra) has been developed by the automotive engineering consultancy IFR Automotive that was founded by automotive engineer Ignacio Fernández Rodriquez who has worked in the past for Prodrive and the Mitsubishi World Rally Championship team.

IFR Automotive supports that the Aspid is the only car in the world to meet both FIA safety requirements and European homologation standards. Initial prototypes feature a 2.0-litre engine; either naturally aspirated to deliver 270Hp or supercharged to 400Hp with power delivered in both cases to the rear wheels via a 6-speed manual gearbox and limited-slip differential. -Continued

The lightweight aluminium and carbon structure of the car, which has a mass of just 700kg (1,550lb) and the resulting 570Hp-per-tonne (1.75kg/Hp) power-to-weight ratio give awe-inspiring performance figures with the Aspid accelerating from zero to 62mph (100km/h) in just 2.8 seconds and 100mph (160km/h) in a mouth dropping 5.9 seconds. Maximum speed is restricted to 155mph (250km/

The Aspid braking performance is equally impressive with IFR Automotive supporting that the sportscar can come to a complete halt from 100mph (160km/h) in a mere 3.0 seconds. When cornering, the car has been said to generate an intense 1.6g of lateral acceleration.

IFR Automotive says that journalists will have the opportunity to drive the first production models later this year, with the first cars being delivered to customers in summer 2009. Prices are set to start at £75,000 (€95,000) with fully loaded models expected to cost twice as much. (Pic edited by Carscoop)

2009 Caterham R500: Gone (from 0 to 60) in under 3 seconds

There are cars and then there are big boy toy cars – the new Caterham R500 falls without doubt in the second category. The latest model from the British sportscar manufacturer takes the Lotus Seven philosophy to a new level combining more power with even less weight. To be precise, Caterham’s engineers shaved an extra 9 kg or 20 lbs off the already featherweight RS400, bringing the total weight down to just 506 kg or 1,115 lbs.

Powering the RS500 is a heavily modified all-alloy 2.0 litre Ford Duratec engine. The normally aspirated, four-cylinder unit delivers an amazing (for a non turbo engine) 263 Hp and 177 lb-ft of torque. Power is transmitted to the rear wheels by either a standard 6-speed gearbox or the optional Caterham Motorsport engineered sequential transmission. The flagship Caterham is capable of sprinting itself from standstill to 60 mph (96 km/h) in 2.88 seconds.

Apart from the modified powertrain, the 2009 R500 now comes with keyless ignition start, a redesigned digital dash featuring flush fitted switchgear, ACES sequential gear change lights and a new Stack display with scrolling textshift lights along with an optional launch control. On sale immediately in the UK, the factory built R500 starts at £36,995 or $72,900. –Click through for pics and details

Caterham Superlight R500 Technical Specification

Engine 2.0-litre Caterham Powertrain (CPT) Ford Duratec
Max Power 263bhp @ 8500rpm
Max Torque 177 lbsft @ 7200rpm
0-60mph (claimed) 2.88 seconds
Top Speed 150mph
Wheelbase 2225mm
Overall length 3100mm
Overall width 1575mm
Height 800mm
Ground clearance 80mm
Kerb Weight 506kg (516kg sequential gearbox)

Standard Equipment

• 2.0-litre Caterham Motorsport Ford Duratec
• 6 Speed Caterham Gearbox
• Limited Slip Differential
• Superlight Suspension (wide track front and de Dion rear with Watts linkages)
• Carbon dash, nose cone, rear and front cycle wings
• ACES change-up lights
• Ventilated front brake discs with 4 pot calipers
• 13” Anthracite eight-spoke alloy wheels with Avon CR500 tyres
• Carbon interchangeable wind deflector
• 4 point Road Harnesses
• Quick-release Momo Steering Wheel with integrated indicator switches
• Carbon Kevlar seats

Optional Performance Upgrades

• Sequential Gearbox - £2950
• Launch Control - £350
• Carbon Induction Airbox - £450
• Suspension package consisting Eibach Springs and dampers derived from the C400 race series - £1250

Caterham 7 RST-V8 with 500+ HP Supercharged 2.4L V8

As if 400 HP weren’t enough for the cart-like Seven roadster, Caterham has introduced an even more extreme version of the car developed in conjunction with niche engineering house, “RS Performance”. Dubbed as the Seven RST-V8, the ultimate Caterham packs a supercharged 2.4-liter 40-valveV8 engine that delivers more than 500 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 300 lbs-ft or torque at 8,500 rpm. -Continued

As if that wasn’t enough, weight reduction runs throughout the car, from the carbon fibre interior finished with Kevlar seats down to the hosing used on the cooling systems. According to Caterham, the RST-V8 weighs in a mere 520 kg or 1,168 lbs.

In terms of acceleration figures, the Brits claim that the ultimate Seven goes from nought to 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 3.0 sec. In case you’re interested, prices for the RST-V8 start in the UK at £115,000 or $226,300 / €152,700.

Caterham 7 RST-V8 with 500+ HP Supercharged 2.4L V8

As if 400 HP weren’t enough for the cart-like Seven roadster, Caterham has introduced an even more extreme version of the car developed in conjunction with niche engineering house, “RS Performance”. Dubbed as the Seven RST-V8, the ultimate Caterham packs a supercharged 2.4-liter 40-valveV8 engine that delivers more than 500 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 300 lbs-ft or torque at 8,500 rpm. -Continued

As if that wasn’t enough, weight reduction runs throughout the car, from the carbon fibre interior finished with Kevlar seats down to the hosing used on the cooling systems. According to Caterham, the RST-V8 weighs in a mere 520 kg or 1,168 lbs.

In terms of acceleration figures, the Brits claim that the ultimate Seven goes from nought to 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 3.0 sec. In case you’re interested, prices for the RST-V8 start in the UK at £115,000 or $226,300 / €152,700.

Caterham 7 RST-V8 with 500+ HP Supercharged 2.4L V8

As if 400 HP weren’t enough for the cart-like Seven roadster, Caterham has introduced an even more extreme version of the car developed in conjunction with niche engineering house, “RS Performance”. Dubbed as the Seven RST-V8, the ultimate Caterham packs a supercharged 2.4-liter 40-valveV8 engine that delivers more than 500 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 300 lbs-ft or torque at 8,500 rpm. -Continued

As if that wasn’t enough, weight reduction runs throughout the car, from the carbon fibre interior finished with Kevlar seats down to the hosing used on the cooling systems. According to Caterham, the RST-V8 weighs in a mere 520 kg or 1,168 lbs.

In terms of acceleration figures, the Brits claim that the ultimate Seven goes from nought to 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 3.0 sec. In case you’re interested, prices for the RST-V8 start in the UK at £115,000 or $226,300 / €152,700.

Caterham 7 RST-V8 with 500+ HP Supercharged 2.4L V8

As if 400 HP weren’t enough for the cart-like Seven roadster, Caterham has introduced an even more extreme version of the car developed in conjunction with niche engineering house, “RS Performance”. Dubbed as the Seven RST-V8, the ultimate Caterham packs a supercharged 2.4-liter 40-valveV8 engine that delivers more than 500 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 300 lbs-ft or torque at 8,500 rpm. -Continued

As if that wasn’t enough, weight reduction runs throughout the car, from the carbon fibre interior finished with Kevlar seats down to the hosing used on the cooling systems. According to Caterham, the RST-V8 weighs in a mere 520 kg or 1,168 lbs.

In terms of acceleration figures, the Brits claim that the ultimate Seven goes from nought to 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 3.0 sec. In case you’re interested, prices for the RST-V8 start in the UK at £115,000 or $226,300 / €152,700.

Caterham 7 RST-V8 with 500+ HP Supercharged 2.4L V8

As if 400 HP weren’t enough for the cart-like Seven roadster, Caterham has introduced an even more extreme version of the car developed in conjunction with niche engineering house, “RS Performance”. Dubbed as the Seven RST-V8, the ultimate Caterham packs a supercharged 2.4-liter 40-valveV8 engine that delivers more than 500 bhp at 10,000 rpm and 300 lbs-ft or torque at 8,500 rpm. -Continued

As if that wasn’t enough, weight reduction runs throughout the car, from the carbon fibre interior finished with Kevlar seats down to the hosing used on the cooling systems. According to Caterham, the RST-V8 weighs in a mere 520 kg or 1,168 lbs.

In terms of acceleration figures, the Brits claim that the ultimate Seven goes from nought to 60 mph (96 km/h) in less than 3.0 sec. In case you’re interested, prices for the RST-V8 start in the UK at £115,000 or $226,300 / €152,700.

Caterham Releases Limited Edition 2008 Calendar

It’s that time of year when car manufacturers release calendars, Christmas tree ornaments, candles and various other non-automotive products to get us into the Christmas (spending) spirit. Caterham on its behalf has announced the release of a limited edition 2008 calendar featuring images of road-going Sevens, like the R400, CSR and Roadsport 125 and wheel-to-wheel racing shots from the various action-packed Caterham race series. Priced at £14.99 ($31 or €21), just 1,000 of these calendars have been printed and are only available to buy through Caterham’s website – www.caterham.co.uk. -More pics after the jump