Caterham has signed a deal to create a new ultimate performance division and the first model has enough power to threaten a Bugatti Veyron.
The deal is with RS Performance and the first fruit is a 2.4-litre V8 engine that makes 400bhp in normal tune.
Buyers can also opt for a supercharged version of the engine that produces more than 500bhp.
When fitted to a Caterham Seven, the car has a power-to-weight ratio of more than 1,000bhp per tonne, which trumps the Bugatti.
There's a 12-week waiting list for the limited edition Levante and each car will cost from £115,000.
The price includes a sophisticated electronics package to control the engine's power through traction and launch controls.
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I like the fact that these cars are made for handling with a bit of spunky performance, and 100% simplicity. Caterham have totally lost the plot though, what the hell is this supposed to be? The V8 is too heavy over the front, it's too light on the back to get any traction, and it'll handle like a wet fart. I can't imagine ever driving it in the dry, never mind the wet.
I think Caterham know what they're doing. I would guess that the weight distribution of that would be about 50/50. I'd be happy to try it at the Nürburgring. I have a certain amount of experience there; about 70 laps driving & considerably more as a passenger. Here's a couple of pics. I did 15 laps driving the 968, which behaved beautifully, 4 laps passenger in the Carrera GT, which was scary & 3 passenger laps in the GT3 Cup race car, which was totally mind blowing (not particularly fast; bouncing off the rev. limiter at 168MPH, but God, how it handles.