This Month's News BMW has revealed this concept previewing the forthcoming 4-series, or 3-series coupe. Expect the next M3 to be low, wide and aggresive
Maserati has taken the coevrs off the next Quattroporte. The four-door saloon will rival the M5 and Porsche Panamera with a Ferrari sourced V8
Grace space and a mooring post Jaguar designer Ian Cullum pens a beautiful, D-type inspired speedboat Jaguar says we can’t have it!
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Caterham announce 275bhp race-only superlight R600 £44,995 race-only Caterham won’t be road legal
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aterham has announced the most extreme version of its iconic Seven yet – the race-only, 275bhp Superlight R600. The new model features a development of the supercharged 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine found in the company’s flagship SP/300.R, with 275bhp and 200lb ft torque, although no performance figures have been released yet. The R600 will sit at the top of the Seven racing ladder and Caterham expect a full grid of the lightweight rockets by 2014 after racing starts next year. The R600 is a huge step up from 6
the R300 in not just engine performance but also in spec, with sticky Avon slicks, a sequential gearbox and a Titan limited-slip differential; however Caterham say current R300 owners can upgrade to R600 spec. Caterham said there are no firm plans for a road-legal version, but they did tell us they were interested to see how much interest from customers there is for a road-going version. For a road car, it would have “devastating performance” according to Caterham. The current fastest road-legal Seven, the Superlight R500, completes 0-62mph in 2.88 seconds.
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Caterham considering a road version
ins ain’t what they used to be in the world of sports cars, so Jaguar has put a toe in the water with its first speedboat – complete with rear fin inspired by the D-type. The sumptuous Concept Speedboat has been wheeled out to coincide with the launch of the new, more practical Jaguar XF Sportback, or estate as we call it. Penned by Jaguar designer Ian Callum, the Concept Speedboat features many Jaguar design cues – the most prominent being that rear fin. It extends from behind
the cabin across the teak deck to the stern. The prow of the boat lifts gradually to meet the screen, which protects the 2+1 occupants of the red leather interior from sea spray. Jaguar enthusiasts will of course recognise the fuel filler cap that draws heavily from the Series 1 XJ. Jaguar isn’t the only car maker to turn to powerboats to express some design flair, with Mercedes due to put their own coupe-like Silver Arrow motor yacht into production by 2014.
“The carbon-fibre rear fin is inspired by the D-type Jaguar” Unlike Mercedes however, Jaguar does not plan to put its boat into production, so sadly no matter how good you think the Jaguar Concept Speedboat looks towed behind this Jaguar estate, you can’t have one. A shame - imagine how great a group of these racing would look...
Veyron killer?
Simon Lambert, Caterham’s motorsport boss, said: “The R600 represents an increase in aggressiveness, although the linear power delivery of the supercharged engine makes it superbly driveable, much like the R300.” The Superlight R600 will cost from £44,995, and those interested in competing in the 2013 season – or insisting they build one with numberplates – should contact Caterham directly.
“The R600 represents a huge increase in aggressiveness” oversteerinink.wordpress.com
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