2008 RS Performance Caterham Seven

(from Caterham Cars and RS Performance Press Release) Caterham announces official performance arm:  powerhouse V8 engine delivers 1,000 plus bhp-per-tonne

For those wanting an expression of British sportscar exclusivity, Caterham Cars has joined forces with RS Performance to offer the ultimate in bespoke Seven coachbuilding.

Caterham has long been the epitome of personalised motoring with almost every version of the 12,000 Sevens on the road differing from one another. The joint venture takes that famous philosophy to an altogether new level.

RS Performance is an exclusive, niche engineering house. Born out of the passion and pedigree of its founder, Russell Savory, it will offer an everything is possible service to Caterham customers wanting cars truly built to order.

Using the motorsport-honed Caterham chassis and benchmark technology as a cosmetic and engineering base, RS Performance, will turn imagination into reality, says Savory.

The heartbeat of every RS-monikered Seven will be the unique RST-V8 engine.

With more than 16 years of development behind it by Russell Savory, the 40-valve, 2.4 litre engine reliably delivers an incredible 400bhp in normally aspirated mode, or over 500bhp as a supercharged varient, whilst weighing only 90kg in full running gear.

The unbridled lightness of the RST-V8 matched to the already featherweight Seven chassis delivers a power-to-weight ratio of over 1000bhp per tonne more than double of a Bugatti Veyron.

This unique partnership will be open to customers looking for the ultimate in exclusivity, and carry a price tag to reflect the tailoring, detail and hand-built craftsmanship that will go into every RS-badged Caterham.

Validation of the engineering houses abilities comes in the form of the supercharged Levante. This is the first Seven to rollout of RS Performances Hertfordshire doors and which only seven more of this type will be available.

With a 12 week waiting time and costing over &£115,000, this supercharged engineering masterpiece boasts a modern interpretation of the Sevens classic looks with a sophisticated electronics package with traction and launch control to help get the phenomenal power to the floor. Weight reduction runs throughout the car, from the carbon fibre interior finished with Kevlar seats down to the hosing used on the cooling systems

The RS Performance badge will sit alongside the established, and soon to be expanded, Ford powered Caterham Seven range.

Caterham and Russell Savory have a long history, and this seemed a natural progression of that relationship and shared engineering philosophy, explained Ansar Ali, Caterham Cars managing director.

For more information visit www.caterham.co.uk, www.rsperformance.co.uk or call 01883 333 700

RS Performance RST-V8 Engine Technical Specification

Configuration  90 V8
Capacity  2.4 litre
Valves  40
Construction  Aluminium main frame with dry sump
Max Power  380 bhp @10,000rpm / 500+bhp @ 10,000rpm (supercharged)
Max Torque  190 lbsft @ 8500rpm / 300 lbsft@ 8500rpm (supercharged)
Gearbox  6-speed
Overall length  45.6mm
Overall width  45.6mm
Height  48mm
Weight  90kg
Service intervals  8000 miles (minor) / 30,000 miles (major service & belt change)

RS Performance Levante Technical Specification

Price  115,000 (dependent on specification)
Chassis  Caterham SV
Engine  2.4-litre, 40-valve RST-V8 supercharged
Max Power  500+bhp @ 10,000rpm
Max Torque  300 lbsft @ 8500rpm
Supercharge boost  0.8 psi
Gearbox  6-speed sequential, paddle shift option
Transmission  LSD
0-60mph (claimed)  Less than 3 seconds
Top Speed  150mph (limited)
Wheelbase  2305mm
Overall length  3530mm
Overall width  1685mm
Height  1140mm
Weight  From 520kgs
Suspension  de Dion rear, Nitron 3-way adjustable shocks all corners
Wheels  Image Billet; front 8 x 15, rear 10 x 15
Tyres  Avon CR500; front 195/45-15, rear 245/40-15
Brakes  Hi Spec; front 280mm vented, rear 260mm.
Exhaust system  BTB 2 x 4-2-1 rear exit
Dashboard  Farringdon and SPA design
Driver aids  Traction Control, Launch Control
Additional  Two day driver training course provided on delivery of vehicle