Any news on the new Caterham model?

[Rev28K]

It was meant to be launched about ½ an hour ago at the NEC Autosport show and I can’t see it anywhere.
Caterham’s home web site had a countdown to the launch (which has reached zero) and nothing else.

The rumours are that it’ll be more practical, maybe mid-engined.

Whacky rumours are continuation of the S1 Elise (which may make sense if Lotus goes more upmarket) which will hopefully become more hardcore and lighter (the original models with the (carbon?) matrix brakes were about 150kg lighter).

If anyone can remember the Caterham 21 you’d know that this is something that they don’t do often. So I am dead keen to see what they come up with (something like a Donkervort hardtop option?).

If anyone has got some news or info on this new range can they please post it up here.

[Rev28K]

Found it:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/motoring/...track-car.html

http://www.pistonheads.com/news/defa...?storyId=23019

Rather than the motor industry's knees up in Detroit, Caterham chose Autosport International in Birmingham as the venue to announce to the world details of its first all-new car since 1994.
Called the SP/300R, the latest machine to emerge from Caterham's Dartford factory is a two-seater sports prototype racer designed in collaboration with Cambridgeshire-based Lola Cars for both the track day market and a single-make race series.
The sub-600kg car will be powered by a supercharged 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine developing in the region of 300bhp and able to power the SP/300R from 0-60mph in an estimated 2.5 seconds.
The gearbox will be a semi-automatic Hewland unit and drivers will also be able to take advantage of built-in data logging and a "push to pass" power boost on their way to the SP/300R's top speed, which is reported to be "around 170mph".
As technical design consultant, Lola is responsible for the car's design, which features an aluminium tub with a longitudinally mid-mounted engine coupled to a stress-bearing rear transaxle, while downforce is taken care of by a flat underbody, front splitter and large rear wing.
The car's sectioned panels can also be removed single-handed to assist with oil checks and set-up changes, a feature Caterham says is unique for this class of car.
Suspension is by front and rear double wishbones with pushrod dampers, adjustable ride height and bespoke tyres, and Caterham's engineers are said to be finalising ride and handling characteristics that are "firmly transferred" from the legendary Seven sports car.
Just as with the Seven, Caterham will set up a one-make race series for SP/300Rs, set to begin in 2012. It will debut in the UK with the possibility to expand to overseas markets in the future.
The order books for the SP/300R open today, with only 25 examples of the £60,000 machine scheduled to be built per year. Although a track only car at present, Caterham says it is looking into the feasibility of a road-legal version.
"Motorsport is not only part of the history of Caterham, it's been the lifeblood running through the character of our vehicles – race cars for the road," said Ansar Ali, managing director of Caterham Cars.

Caterham SP/300.R Technical Specification
Engine Supercharged Ford Duratec 2.0L
Max Power 305PS@7500rpm
Push-to-Pass Power 335PS @7800pm
Max Torque 290Nm@7500rpm
0-60mph (claimed) 2.8s
Top Speed 290kph
Wheelbase 2600mm
Overall length 4200mm
Overall width 1700mm
Height 1015mm
Downforce 450kg @ 250kph
Weight 545kg


Some of the guys in the Piston Heads forum were on the money with their predictions:
http://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/t...la&nmt=Totally New Caterham Model Announced at Autosport
http://mobile.pistonheads.com/gassin...329&mid=183329