Caterham bruiser outgrunts Bugatti Veyron

Anyone even vaguely familiar with British sports cars will immediately associate Caterhams with electrifying power-to-weight ratios.

However, the Pommie sportscar specialist's latest creation, the RS Performance 'Levante' -- conjured up in partnership with RS Performance -- is plain stupefying. For those not in the know, RS Performance is a niche UK-based engineering house named after the initials of its founder, Russell Savory.

The heartbeat of the RS-monikered Seven is the RST-V8 engine -- the 40-valve, 2.4-litre V8 is claimed to reliably deliver 300kW (equivalent to a 6.0-litre HSV Clubsport R8) in normally aspirated mode, or over 373kW (500bhp in the old scale) as a supercharged variant.

The engine's other USP is the fact that it weighs only 90kg, which, allied with the already featherweight Seven chassis, delivers a power-to-weight ratio of over 746kW per tonne -- more than double that of a Bugatti Veyron.

Hardly surprising, then, that its maker claims the Levante can accelerate from standstill to 100km/h in under three seconds. Top speed is limited to 240km/h, but we're guessing it would get close to 300km/h in unrestricted form -- even with its barn-door-like aerodynamics.

In stark contrast to Caterham's olde-worlde traditions, the Levante scores a host of high-tech hardware, including a six-speed sequential gearbox and electronic driver aids such as traction control and launch control -- unheard of in the marque's past offerings.

Space-age materials are used throughout, with a carbon-fibre-laced interior and Kevlar seats contributing to its waiflike mass of 520kg -- lighter than an F1 car in race trim.

Predictably, the Levante doesn't come cheap, with pricing starting from just over $240K (in our money) in the UK. There's a 12-week wait period, but this would presumably be well worth it to obtain arguably the ultimate road-going track weapon on the planet.

The RS Performance-badged Caterham will sit alongside the established, and soon to be expanded, Ford-powered Caterham Seven range.

"Caterham and Russell Savory have a long history, and this seemed a natural progression of that relationship and shared engineering philosophy," said Caterham Cars boss Ansar Ali in a prepared statement.

Caterham RS Performance 'Levante' Fast Facts
Price:    $242,000 ex-UK (dependent on specification)
Chassis:  Caterham SV
Engine: 2.4-litre, 40-valve RST-V8 supercharged
Power: 373+kW at 10,000rpm
Torque 407Nm at 8500rpm
Supercharger boost:  0.8 psi
Gearbox:  6-speed sequential, paddle shift option
0-60mph (0-96km/h): Less than 3 seconds (claimed)
Top Speed: 240km/h (limited)
Wheelbase:  2305mm
Overall length: 3530mm
Overall width:  1685mm
Height:  1140mm
Weight:  From 520kg
Suspension: de Dion rear, Nitron 3-way adjustable shocks all corners
Wheels:  Image Billet; front 8 x 15, rear 10 x 15
Tyres: Avon CR500; front 195/45-15, rear 245/40-15
Brakes:   Hi Spec; front 280mm vented, rear 260mm.
Exhaust system:    BTB 2 x 4-2-1 rear exit
Driver aids: Traction Control, Launch Control

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