17th May, 2006
Caterham Cars has confirmed that the legendary Seven sports car will be
powered by Ford Sigma engines from the end of 2006. The adoption of a new
engine from a global manufacturer coincides with the model’s 50th anniversary
next year.
Colin Chapman’s very first Seven back in 1957 drew its power from a Ford
sidevalve engine, and whilst the 21st century version of the British two-seater
may be going back to its roots in name, that is certainly not the case in terms
of performance.
The 1.6-litre British-built Sigma unit will be tuned for Caterham by
established powertrain supplier, Power Torque Engineering, and will be the
worthy successor to the K-series engine that has served Caterham so well for
the past fifteen years.
The decision to move across to the lightweight and reliable Ford Sigma,
combined with a new precision laser-cut and robot-welded chassis, signals a
continued commitment by Caterham to evolve the legendary Seven using the very
latest in technology and engineering quality.
UK customers will benefit from three power outputs – a 160bhp, 140bhp and a
new entry-level unit (bhp to be confirmed in due course). Importantly, Caterham
has also invested in the development of an 115bhp EU IV compliant unit for the
expanding overseas markets.
The three power choices available to the home market will compliment the
existing Cosworth tuned 2.3-litre unit (260 bhp and a bespoke EU IV 200bhp) in
the CSR, and the eagerly anticipated 2.0-litre 210 bhp plant that is set to
power the new Superlight R400 this (northern) summer.
"The infrastructure and support afforded to a globally recognised engine like
the Ford Sigma allows us to plan for the future and maintain our proud tradition
of protecting and developing the Seven for years to come," says Ansar Ali,
Caterham’s Managing Director.
"The engine itself has already proved to be a huge success by reinvigorating
the single-seater feeder race series, Formula Ford," added Ali.
Replacing the K-Series engine with something equally light and compact was not
an easy task. "The Ford Sigma was selected on technical merit after an exhaustive
study of over 80 engines from 19 different manufacturers. It was far and away the
most suitable and worthy choice," explains Caterham’s Technical Director, Jez
Coates.
The arrival of a new EU IV compliant entry level unit will underpin the healthy
level of sales in overseas markets which, in over forty countries worldwide, now
account for over 50 percent of all production. The 1.6-litre EU IV Ford Sigma,
assembled at Ford’s Bridgend engine plant in South Wales, will join the similarly
compliant 200 bhp 2.3-litre Cosworth that currently powers the CSR model.
Production of the entry-level engine will commence in the last quarter of 2006,
with deliveries of the EU IV 115bhp powered unit expected at the end of January
2007.
Ford Sigma
1.6-litre
Overview Technical
features:
- High level of running
refinement and low emission levels
- Aluminium alloy cylinder
block and head
- Cross flow cylinder head
- Structural aluminium
oil-pan for increased engine stiffness
- Twin overhead camshafts
each with five bearings
- Sequential multi-port fuel
injection system
- Long life, glass fibre
reinforced camshaft drive belt with automatic tensioner
- Only the EU IV will be
equipped with electronically controlled throttle valve
Other Caterham news: here.
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