Caterham details new Seven 160 and 165

The Caterham Seven 160 and 165 are the next track weapons to come from Caterham Cars. And even though they won’t come to the United States, we figured you’d like to know about what we’re missing out on. Hey, you may travel to England one day and need a rental car, and not be able to find one, so you might pick up a cheapish new car to tour the countryside, leaving it behind when you come home. It could happen.

The entry-level Caterham uses a 660cc three-cylinder Suzuki engine for power -- we wondered where those guys went -- and will cost 14,995 British pounds, or $24,309 in American buckaroos.

Output of the Seven is rated at 80 hp, while top speed is pegged at 100 mph. That might not seem like much, but curb weight is only 1,080 pounds. The U.K. variant is named the Seven 160; the rest of Europe will get the Seven 165 (same car). The 0-60 sprint takes 6.5 seconds. Caterham says the new car “redefines the budget sports car segment while introducing new levels of efficiency and value for money to the Caterham range.”

The new Seven has a live rear axle, which the company says works well with the low curb weight and small engine. It also provides more intuitive handling and a “balanced yet playful chassis.”

Production of the Caterham Seven 160 and 165 begins in January; deliveries will start next spring.

By Jake Lingeman