Caterham confirms ultra-light Seven on the way

Caterham has announced that it has teamed up with bicycle frame manufacturer, Reynolds Technology, to create an ultra-lightweight tubular chassis architecture for its future models.

Combining forces with not only the famous frame-maker but computer-aided engineering company Simpact too, Caterham claims to have made a prototype Seven 270 that has a tubular chassis that is 10 per cent lighter but with the same torsional rigidity as the current model.

Caterham now hopes to offer the ultra-lightweight chassis as an option from 2017 for around $2000.

Most of the weight reduction comes from bicycle-style tubes that are thicker at the ends where they join, than in the middle, where there are less forces involved.

The technique is said to save as much as 50 per cent in material and bring a weight saving of as much as 5.5kg from a frame that already weighs in at a lithe 55kg.

Since the Seven 270 only weighs a total of 540kg, the weight-saving in Caterham terms is considerable and enough to impact on power-to-weight ratios with a knock-on effect of even more performance.

The collaboration with Reynolds, famous in the cycling world for its legendary steel frames that date back to 1897, is thought to only be the beginning of a partnership that will birth a new generation ultra-lightweight Sevens.

That’s because the prototype Seven 270 uses Reynolds’ mild steel tubing -- an alloy made up of iron, manganese and titanium chosen for its strength, durability and low-cost -- but other more exotic alloys available to the frame maker could also be used on the Seven.

If so, even bigger weight savings could be realised. Expect the even lighter-frame Seven option to eventually be available on range-topping Caterham models like the 620R.

Caterham expects demand to be high for the new lighter chassis.

When it goes on sale some time in 2017, it expects as much as a fifth of all Sevens sold worldwide will come with the new lighter chassis.

Speaking about the new collaboration, Caterham’s chief technical boss Simon Lambert said: “Caterham has made its name as a purveyor of lightweight sportscars but we believe more can always be done to reduce weight and, therefore, emissions.

"Caterham and Reynolds are two proudly British brands and there is a real synergy between customers of Caterham and cycling enthusiasts, so it’s even better that the technology that has made this possible has come from the two-wheeled world.”