One more time to 8,500 rpm
Caterham is saying goodbye to the powerful Caterham Seven 485. If you want to be one of the last to get into a feather-light Caterham with a naturally aspirated combustion engine, you can go for the Final Edition.
The Caterham Seven 485 was announced in 2013 and first appeared on European roads in 2014, ten years ago. Caterham is using this milestone for a ‘bittersweet’ news: the introduction of the last 485 version ever. The 485 is the most powerful version of Caterham’s well-known rolling cigar, although the number in the type designation does not represent the power in horsepower. That remains at 228 hp, a power that the turbo-free 2.0-liter Ford Duratec block only delivers at 8,500 rpm. Those who can quickly get to grips with the five-speed manual gearbox can go from 0 to 100 in 4.1 seconds. The explanation for this is of course the weight: even as the most recent Final Edition, the CAterham only weighs 560 kg. The slightly larger CSR version with a more advanced chassis is slightly less light, but still weighs 605 kg.
The Final Edition has special stickers, black seats with Alcantara and lettering, a fully upholstered interior and is available in five different colors. Caterham assures potential buyers that they still have the final say on the exact version, so rest assured that no two Final Editions will be completely identical. Caterham makes a total of 85 units, 25 of which are of the CSR variant. Prices start at €67,495, but don’t count yourself rich: that’s without VAT and BPM.
The future
Caterham says the 485 will have to be retired to make way for other models. Regulations regarding emissions undoubtedly also play a role, but the solution is already in place. Caterham is also going electric, with an electric Seven and a larger, Alpine A110-like Project V.
– Thanks for information from Autoweek.nl