Caterham reveals new engine
Demise of Rover brings Ford to the fore
Caterham Seven: now Ford-powered
In the UK, you'll be able to buy a Caterham with one of three power outputs: 160bhp, 140bhp and a new entry-level unit whose output will be confirmed later. Caterham has also invested in the development of an 115bhp EU IV compliant unit for the expanding overseas markets. The three power choices complement the existing Cosworth tuned 2.3-litre unit (260bhp and a bespoke EU IV 200bhp) in the CSR, and the 2.0-litre 210bhp plant that will power the new Superlight R400 this summer.
The 1.6-litre British-built Sigma unit will be tuned for Caterham by established powertrain supplier, Power Torque Engineering, and ends a 15-year relationship with the the K-series. Production of the entry-level Ford unit will start in the last quarter of 2006, with deliveries of the EU IV 115bhp powered unit expected at the end of January 2007.
Replacing the K-Series engine with something equally light and compact was not an easy task. "The Ford Sigma was selected on technical merit after an exhaustive study of over 80 engines from 19 different manufacturers. It was far and away the most suitable and worthy choice," said Caterham technical director Jez Coates.
"The infrastructure and support afforded to a globally recognised engine like the Ford Sigma allows us to plan for the future and maintain our proud tradition of protecting and developing the Seven for years to come," said Caterham boss Ansar Ali. "The engine itself has already proved to be a huge success by reinvigorating the single-seater feeder race series, Formula Ford."
The arrival of a new EU IV compliant entry level unit will underpin sales in overseas markets which, in over forty countries worldwide, now account for over 50 per cent of all production. The 1.6-litre EU IV Ford Sigma, assembled at Ford's Bridgend engine plant in South Wales, will join the similarly compliant 200bhp 2.3-litre Cosworth that powers the CSR model.
Colin Chapman's very first Seven back in 1957 drew its power from a Ford side-valve engine -- the adoption of a new engine from a global manufacturer coincides with the model's 50th anniversary next year.
Prices will be confirmed in the autumn.
bootleboy said:
The 2.0l Duratec (sigma)engine used in the R400 (and fords) is based on the recent ally mazda MZR engine.
The 2.0l duratec is not the Sigma. The sigma has been/is only available in 1.25l - 1.7l. The duratec 1.8 and 2.0 are completely different engines, the exhaust and inlet are on opposite sides for a start. Mazda produiced the MZR (or duratec) in 1.4 and 1.6 but ford haven't used this engine.
As for the mazda engine, it was a joint development between ford and mazda. Mazda sell the engine as the MZR and ford as the duratec. But as mazda are now ford it's not really a joint development.
It's great that the sigma is now getting used, its a cracking little engine but lacks any real development in terms of aftermarket tuning.
>> Edited by nightdriver on Tuesday 16th May 12:27
Doesn't say whether it's all ally or not, which would be the burning question for me. One thing in the K's favour is that it's not a heavy car engine. Might have made more sense for them to use the 1.8 Duratec <http://home.att.net/~biker16/mazda_du from a commonality of parts issue, but what do I know.
lukeb said:
A bit about the Sigma on Wikipedia <http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Sig
Doesn't say whether it's all ally or not, which would be the burning question for me. One thing in the K's favour is that it's not a heavy car engine. Might have made more sense for them to use the 1.8 Duratec <http://home.att.net/~biker16/mazda_du from a commonality of parts issue, but what do I know.
The sigma is an all alloy engine. Much lighter than the Duratec and capable of similar power to the 1.8's. The sigma engine has loads of parts available and they are cheaper than the Duratecs.
Fords nomenclature is now so complicated that I lose track of what engine is exactly in what car.
I believe that this engine is sometimes referred to as a Duratec IMHO incorrectly by Ford. When we refer to a Duratec as generally fitted to Caterhams previously we are talking about the 2.0 litre or 2.3 litre Duratec HE.
I am sure Caterham gave this a lot of thought before going for this engine over anything else. Most people don't know that Caterham have actually tried engines from all kinds of things that have never ended up as a production item. Some have become more publically known about like Simon Lake's SV with a Toyota VVTLi engine in it, others long since forgotten about.
Does anyone know much about the weight of this new engine compared to the unit in a Caterham SLR? Also, anyone know if build quality has improved much under the new management?
The differing engine prices comes from a conversation (I can't remember who with) about buying engines for low volume manufacture. I don't think it was for Caterhams if I remember correctly, the person telling the story was relating that it was a somewhat bizarre process.
kevin ritson said:
Caterham are based in Dartford, not Sevenoaks....
Mind you, it used to be "Caterham based Caterham Cars ...."
More like Slade Green...
Is just down the road from my primary school (the good one). Wish I had a school trip there. Where does it mention Sevenoaks or am I being dim?
Fundamentally it's a good engine and was ahead of it's time to some extent.
However the Zetec-SE is a cracking little engine and should do just as good a job and will probably be more reliable. Shame the 1.7 VCT version is no longer made as I'd imagine that would be a cracking engine in a 7.
dino ferrana said:
Fords nomenclature is now so complicated that I lose track of what engine is exactly in what car.
In the world of 4 cylinder petrol engines (European) there are 3 main engine ranges: -
Rocam - 1.3L 8V entry level engine
Sigma - 1.25 - 1.6 16V all alloy DOHC engine (approx 81KG shipped engine weight for a 1.6)
Duratec /I4 - 1.8-2.3 16V all alloy DOHC engine
There are all known as Duratecs - Rocam = Duratec 8v, Sigma = Duratec 16V and I4 = Duratec HE.
For info the V6 2.5 and 3.0 are Duratec VE.
That said it is now out of production and the time has come for a new engine. Caterham have broken world records, won races and made a lot of people very happy with this engine, why slate it so much?
dino ferrana said:
Have owned a K-Series powered Superlight for a number of years now and it is a great engine. True it has some flaws but a lot of the HG failures are to do with dodgy radiators, thermostats or incorrect coolant rather than engine design. It is a very lightweight engine and was way ahead of its time when it was produced.
That said it is now out of production and the time has come for a new engine. Caterham have broken world records, won races and made a lot of people very happy with this engine, why slate it so much?
All I can suggest mate is that you take off the glasses and see what they are really like...
K was a great design, cutting edge stuff in it's day, small, light, cheap, etc. but it was never designed to be a 1.8 (or 1.6 for that matter) and once your into 1.8's with real power, then your basically a *bang* waiting to happen. There are zelots that say you can make 240Bhp totally reliable engines, but I have yet to meet one such engine out in the wilds of race tracks.
Duratech is as light, bigger CC, way less problematic, cheaper, more powerfull, etc etc etc.
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