Tuesday 5th April 2005

Caterham CSR engine unleashed

260bhp Cosworth powerplants rumble off the line

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Hand-built 260bhp 2.3-litre engine

The first examples of the bespoke Cosworth engine destined for the Caterham Seven CSR have rolled off the Cosworth production line. 

The mighty 260bhp unit is being built alongside the Formula One powerplants that propel the Red Bull Racing (ex-Jaguar)team into points scoring finishes in Australia and Malaysia. It also marks the return of Cosworth to the road car market after a ten-year absence. 

The all-alloy 2.3-litre four-cylinder twin cam engine is being hand assembled at the firm's Northampton facility in readiness for the radically new CSR chassis. 

As the heart of the stunning Caterham CSR, which boasts F1-style pushrod operated inboard suspension and a racetrack-honed, double wishbone, fully independent rear, the Cosworth engine will also be available in 200bhp EUIV emissions compliant guise. 

The project marks the first full programme for Cosworth Production Engines - a department specifically set-up to return the brand to high performance road cars, both for OEM and niche manufacturer applications.              

"It has been an intense last 18 months, but we have an engine worthy of continuing the great tradition between Caterham and Cosworth," said Caterham's technical director Jez Coates.

The first CSRs are due for delivery at the end of April.  

[toys]

I don't care if that is a staged photo, I love the thought of Cosworth making road engines again.

I need to drive a CSR260...

[donatien]

Hold on I can count 5 chambers there? Is that contingency or is something amiss?

Edit - or is the block in the foreground a V10

>> Edited by donatien on Tuesday 5th April 16:16

[planetdave]

I think they are playing the 'built alongside the V10' a bit too literally for PR porpoises.

Administrative cock-up scenario.......


Hello - this is red bull. Your engine sux and we're last on the grid.

Caterham owner. Hmmm....this is VERY powerful even for a lightweight. And the noise!

[gtrclive]

Ah but can it shave a second off there present 0-100-0 times ????

[ultimasimon]

Clive would you put that spoon away

[NDT]

Cosworth Technology has been making road car engines quite recently - Audi RS engine, Bentley V8s to name a couple....

[tonyhetherington]

LOL @ PlanetDave

I'm well chuffed to see Cosworth back again in the limelight - fantastic! Think Caterham are about 3 yrs too late though....it will be a huge seller, but 2 years ago when I was trying to do EXACTLY this (i.e. make a CSR in all but name) they put everything in my way to stop me doing it. So I have a chip on my shoulder about that, but never mind...Cosworth are back and so I'm well chuffed

[jackg]

I get mine in June and I am very excited. Does anyone else have confirmed delivery dates?

[dinkel]

donatien said:

Hold on I can count 5 chambers there? Is that contingency or is something amiss? Edit - or is the block in the foreground a V10

"The mighty 260bhp unit is being built alongside the Formula One powerplants"

So that's a V10 in front . . .

[4WD]

They look mighty fine - love that carbon, mmm.

However, they are tantalisingly close to 300 now. Come on caterham, let's be having a nice round 300!

[rubystone]

NDT said:

Cosworth Technology has been making road car engines quite recently - Audi RS engine, Bentley V8s to name a couple....

Aren't there 2 Cosworths? The one owned by Audi and the one owned by Kalkhoven and Forsythe? It's the latter one that builds the Caterham and F1 V10s.

[The DJ 27]

And, while we're on the subject, isn't this "bespoke" engine rather heavily based on the Ford Duratec 2.3? Or is it a true bespoke engine?

[murph7355]

It'd be interesting to see the V10 from other angles. I reckon it'd fit in an SV

[dannylt]

It's a Duratec 2.3 with ported head, steel rods, forged pistons, cams, roller barrel throttle bodies and MBE. So it bears as much resemblance as the 200/230bhp K-Series bear to the standard one.