Caterham just expanded its US lineup by jamming two new Sevens between their entry-level 280 and the hardcore 620R. The 360 starts at $44,900 while the 480 can be yours for $52,900. And no, those prices don't include any sort of drivetrain. That sounds right.
This is fantastic news for American track day enthusiasts and those happy chaps out there who are more than willing to sacrifice a bit of comfort for the most basic and fun driving experience the British have ever came up with.
If you're willing to fork out the extra cash for it, both cars can be powered by 2.0 Ford Duratec engines. The 360 reaches sixty in 4.9 seconds (when tuned to 180 horsepower) with a top speed of 130 mph. The 237 horsepower 480 cuts the acceleration time to 3.4 seconds and goes all the way up to 140 mph. It also has adjustable dampers with Eibach Springs.
Sevens are shipped to the USA in part-built form and sold as rolling chassis via Superformance. After you got your engine and the six-speed manual (plus paint, because that happens to be an extra too), Caterham says the average build time for a novice is between 60 – 70 hours after their team already put 20 hours of build work into the car.
Still, new Caterhams! Yes!