How much power do you need to make a supercar? Not much if you can keep the weight down, as Caparo has shown with the T1. But here comes Caterham, which has joined forces with engine builder RS Performance to create a hot accelerating supercar – the
Caterham RS Levante. It may be bare bones, and it may not be that fast, but it gets in owing to its stunning acceleration.
RS Performance has been developing engines for cars from motorcycles for over 15 years, and the latest compact V-8 is essentially the barrels and heads of two Yamaha motorcycle engines mounted on a new crankcase with a crankshaft suitable for a V-8. Of course, there is rather more to it than that, but the result is a very compact and light engine that can produce almost 160 bhp per liter naturally aspirated.
Modified Seven to take over 500 bhp
To take this engine, Caterham Seven has adapted its CSR, which is normally powered by a Ford four-cylinder engine developing up to 260 bhp. Meanwhile, RS Performance has modified the car to reduce weight by using carbon fiber, and turning the car into a bare-bones performance car.
Although the Caterham RS Levante looks more or less like any other Caterham, there are front wings to keep the nose down, and exhausts come out each side. Lift the hood, and there sits this little V-8 occupying the whole space. The rear wings are shaped to give a little extra downforce.
Supercharged V-8
Not content with 380 bhp, RS Performance has installed a supercharged version of its 2.4 liter V-8, which retains the 5-valve layout of the Yamaha engines. The result is a stunning output of over 500 bhp at 10,000 rpm, while maximum torque is 300 lb ft (406 Nm) at 8,500rpm. You can see straight away that if you want the RS Levante motor, you will need to keep the revs up in the 7,000 to 10,000 rpm range.
The engine drives through a six-speed sequential box. Unlike the CSR, the RS Levante retains the de Dion rear axle of the lesser Caterham Sevens, in combination with double wishbones at the front.
As the car weighs only 1,200 lb (540 kg), the power-to-weight ratio is in excess of 925 bhp per tonne. Add a driver, and the power-to-weight ratio comes down to 813 bhp per tonne, compared with 880 for the Caparo T1, also with a driver. These two cars have much higher ratios than any supercars, although the Ultima GTR comes close.
Power to weight ratio of over 800 bhp per tonne
In fact, RS Performance quotes a power output of over 500 bhp, indicating about 525 bhp, which would push the power-to-weight ratio up to 850 bhp per tonne with driver. Phenomenal.
To get the power onto the tarmac, there is a traction control and also a launch control to help get away fast and safely, which work in conjunction with a limited slip diff. Owing to the high revs used to get the power, the power is likely to come in smoothly, so traction will be less of a problem than with some turbo engines of this power output.
Small tires and brakes to suit light weight
Alloy wheels, unfashionably small, at 15 inches diameter, are shod with Avon CR500 tires; 195/45-15 at the front and 245/40-15 at the rear transmit the power, and there are fairly small brakes – just 11-inch diameter at the front, and 10.2-inch diameter at the rear.
What about the aerodynamics? Well, little is changed, really, so at over 100 mph the high drag of the car slows acceleration down, and the top speed is limited to 150 mph.
Whether the aerodynamics are up to holding the car on the road remains to be seen, but a 0-60 time of about 2.8 seconds is claimed, which means that there is plenty of excitement available even at quite low speeds. Still, with a price tag of about $230,000, this is either a very hot track car or the answer to really exhilarating motoring for those sunny summer afternoons.
