CATERHAM READY FOR EURO EXPANSION

CATERHAM READY FOR EURO EXPANSION
New pan-European type approval provides springboard for sales

Caterham Cars is aiming to significantly expand in Continental export markets, after achieving pan-European homologation for the first time.


Caterham at Ford's Dunton Tech CentreWith the support of Ford, which supplies the Seven’s range of powerplants, Caterham can now boast European Community Small Series Type Approval (ECSSTA), the company says, allowing it to target previously untapped markets including Eastern Europe.
Previously, the British niche sports car manufacturer had acquired relevant homologation certification on a national basis – a time-consuming and costly exercise.

“This is a huge achievement for a manufacturer of our size,” said Ansar Ali, managing director of Caterham Cars. “It provides us with a new sense of freedom to build on, and expand, our already strong export market. We would like to thank Ford for all their support in the last few months of the homologation project.”


Caterham can now reach more marketsCaterham's European customers now have access to the most comprehensive range of Sevens ever with the ECSSTA certification applying not only to the new 1998cc Ford Duratec-powered Roadsport 175 and Superlight R300, but also to the 120bhp version of the Ford Sigma 1.6-litre unit and the 2.3-litre 200bhp Duratec.
Much of the homologation work was conducted at Ford of Europe's state-of-the-art Dunton Technical Centre in Essex, where the rapid prototyping system and test track were all put to good use.

In 2008, Caterham exported more than 50 per cent of its production to markets including France, Germany, Italy,

Japan and USA.

Eddie King.

Great to see the Seven lives on and gets even better, I wonder what Colin would think