New Caterham R500 Pics

[moosetestbestanden]

A guy on BC has uploaded the CC press photos of the new R500. CC has hit it on the button w/ this car, imo. Link here

[magnusfeuer]

And since that was one of the worst file sharing sites I've ever seen, I stored a copy at our club site. Please notify me if this upload violates any copyright rules so that I can remove it if need be.

Off to the garage...

Link: http://www.californiacaterhamclub.com/images/new+R500.zip
/Magnus F.

[mopho]

Here is a link to the press release and photos

[moosetestbestanden]

Yeah, the worst I've ever seen. The word on BC is that copyright problems probably won't be a problem.

[Elv15]

They are using a 2.0L according to that link. I would love to see the specs for the motor. I also wonder what diff ratio they have fitted?

[moosetestbestanden]

Here ya go!:D:

http://www.caterham.co.uk/assets/html/showroom/superlightr500.html

263 ponies from 2 liters. Truck motors are for people that don't understand high RPM.

6 speed seequential.

What with all elements of upgradeitis pre-satisfied, I'm not sure I'd want one...:D

[Sean]

I also wonder what diff ratio they have fitted?

3.62:1 according to the Caterham web page as listed by Chris above.

[moosetestbestanden]

Yeah, the ratios will probably be a subject of debate on BC. A number of people (over there by and large) prefer the 3:38 and a steeper 1st. My conversations w/ ECR & Alex Wong have convinced me that a 5 speed w/ a really tall 1st is the way to go for track work.

To a certain extent the 6 speed & ratios imply that the engine is an 'on the pipe' (motocross speak) type of motor, i.e. not gobs of torque lower down. But then perhaps they're that way more for general driving around rather than track-mostly usage. I'm a little surprised that 6th isn't overdriven, which would make for somewhat more comfortable motorway driving.

I wonder if, or when, US Caterham will offer this car.

[Rich H]

Yeah, the ratios will probably be a subject of debate on BC. A number of people (over there by and large) prefer the 3:38 and a steeper 1st. My conversations w/ ECR & Alex Wong have convinced me that a 5 speed w/ a really tall 1st is the way to go for track work.

To a certain extent the 6 speed & ratios imply that the engine is an 'on the pipe' (motocross speak) type of motor, i.e. not gobs of torque lower down. But then perhaps they're that way more for general driving around rather than track-mostly usage. I'm a little surprised that 6th isn't overdriven, which would make for somewhat more comfortable motorway driving.

I wonder if, or when, US Caterham will offer this car.

The standard six-speed in this new car has the same ratios as all past R500s, and the rear axle is the same. This car has the fourth R500 engine variation (230 hp, 240 hp, 250 hp, and now 263 hp), but all four have been/are peak 8,500 to 9,000 RPM units. The new car has the most hp, but also weighs the most, so these ratios should probably continue to work fine.

[magnusfeuer]

Hmm.

I have 3.38 in my (LSD) diff which I fitted when I supercharged my Zetec. The reasoning was that the low end torque could get me moving at first gear.

I haven't really started to explore my (2.3) CSR engine yet, but it seems like it has the torque necessary to handle the very tall first gear that my diff plus Caterham 6 speed gives me. Without the billet crank ($2500) which enables 8300 RPM, my engine will have its cut-off at 7800 RPM. Not a very high revving engine in other words.

I'll be back with an in-depth report when I played around some more.

/Magnus F.

[moosetestbestanden]

The standard six-speed in this new car has the same ratios as all past R500s, and the rear axle is the same.

Exactly. The high reving Rovers didn't make gobs of torque but they spin like mad. The 2.0L Duratec should make more, thus a (possible) debate?