Big in Japan
With its classic design and Suzuki engine, the revamped Caterham Seven is making 'kei cars' sexy, writes Julian Ryall
The sleek lines are instantly recognisable. The low-slung body - in British racing green, for added emphasis - and suspension struts protruding from the snub nose mark this car out for exactly what it is. The Caterham Seven is still, undoubtedly, a classic.
And while from the exterior this appears to be a premium version of a vehicle that can trace its automotive lineage back to 1973, a new alliance with Suzuki Motor Co has led to a few engineering refinements in the 165 prototype, unveiled to great fanfare at the Frankfurt Motor Show on September 10, that set it apart.
Those changes could propel the Surrey-based company behind the name back into competition for sales with the big boys of the sports car sector.
After all, says the designer of the revamped vehicle, the power-to-weight ratio enabled him to sail past Porsches on the bends at the Fuji Speedway racing track, as he put the prototype through its paces.
"When Caterham first offered me this job, in 2006, I said that we should make a 'kei car' because it would be perfect for the Japanese market," says Justin Gardiner, brand director for Caterham Cars Japan.
"I have been saying that firms like Rover, MG and Lotus should have been doing [this] for 20 years now."