Caterham declares 2014 was its best ever for exporting cars in 42 years of production.

British sportscar maker, Caterham Cars, has announced the most successful export year in its 42-year history. In 2014, Caterham sold 345 vehicles to customers outside of the UK, an increase of 6% on its record breaking export figures for 2013.

Export sales have comprised well over 50% of Caterham’s total annual sales for most of the last decade and the trend continues to grow as the brand is introduced to more markets.

A TRUE MISSED OPPORTUNITY

In the last 12 months, Caterham has opened dealerships in six new markets, taking its international presence to a total of 25 export territories across the globe and is looking to expand its rapidly-growing network of international dealers this year.

France, Japan, Germany, Switzerland and the USA remain Caterham’s most successful export markets but the brand is constantly seeking to expand further.

Caterham Cars Chief Executive, Graham Macdonald said “Our recent foray into the world of Formula 1 has introduced Caterham to a raft of new global audiences who had never heard of us before. Now, thanks to that international exposure, the Seven is on sale in markets as far flung as China, Taiwan, Malaysia and Colombia.”

Across the Atlantic, more South American dealerships are expected to open over the next year and Caterham’s visibility in North America continues to grow despite the logistical hurdles presented by the US homologation rules; last year, Caterham appointed its new American distributor, Superformance, which has dealers on both the west and east coasts of the country.

With motorsport at the heart of its heritage, Caterham has also used its on-track prowess as a platform on which to build in new markets. 

Its domestic French motor racing championships remain the strongest programme outside of the UK but new championships in both Taiwan and Colombia have started this year and showcase the legendary Seven in the best possible light in its own habitat.

Caterham celebrated Easter by opening it's new Flagship dealership.

British sportscar maker, Caterham Cars, celebrated Easter Monday with a special launch event to mark the opening of its brand new flagship showroom in Crawley, West Sussex.

Formula One car designer and renowned F1 technician Mike Gascoyne officially opened the new state-of-the-art Fleming Way facility, before sharing his unique career experiences with guests.

The event was attended by over 550 invited Caterham owners and other guests, who were given the opportunity to view Caterham’s complete range of iconic sportscars, including the recently-launched Seven 270, 360 and 420 models, and to experience the thrill of an F1-style tyre change in a live pit stop challenge. Caterham engineers were also on hand to answer questions in an entertaining Q&A.

The new 25,000 sq ft premises in Crawley provide a one-stop-shop for new and existing Caterham owners, including a  40 car showroom, and a hi-tech  6-bay servicing workshop.

Caterham Cars CEO, Graham Macdonald, said: “This is a landmark year for Caterham Cars. With the introduction of three new variants of the Seven, Caterham continues to create a thrilling driving experience for all sportscar enthusiasts, and we’re very happy to see over 150 Caterham owners with their Sevens attending this special event.

“Growing interest in our products has resulted in the largest single expansion in our history. Caterham’s Crawley showroom opens at an exciting time for the brand and I’m delighted to celebrate the occasion as we lay the foundations for further success in 2015.”

Caterham showcased its entire range at the event, from the entry-level Seven 160 to the supercharged 620R, the most powerful production Seven ever built.

The rediculouly fast Caterham 500R has ceased production, a real end of an era.

• Best of a breed of extreme, lightweight British sportscars ceases production

The order book for one of Caterham’s most extreme variants of the legendary Seven sportscar, the Superlight R500, has closed.

Production of the final R500 – number 174 – finished at Dartford on 7^th July and is destined for Caterham’s distributor in Peru, South America.

After accumulating blanket five-star reviews following its launch in 2008, the 2.0-litre, 263bhp firecracker, which is capable of reaching 60mph in just 2.88 seconds, later starred on Top Gear TV’s test track by setting a time of 1:17.9 – nearly half a second faster than the Bugatti Veyron – while also scooping its Car of the Year award in the same year.

Despite the extreme nature of its performance and character, the R500 remains one of Caterham’s most popular models ever, attracting buyers from around the world. Its place in the garages of several celebrity customers confirmed its legendary status.

As well as attracting recognition for its handling and performance, the Superlight R500 was replicated by model maker, Matchbox, and was produced as a remote control car by Marks & Spencer. It was also recreated for several computer games so that younger enthusiasts could experience the two-seater sportscar in the well-known white and orange striped livery, made famous by Top Gear’s The Stig.      

Caterham Group CEO, Graham Macdonald, said: “If Caterham wasn’t already firmly on the map as one of the world’s best-known British sportscar makers, the R500 certainly helped us to cement that position.

“It was a landmark model for us in many respects; its performance on the road and track was matched by the impact it had on our brand. It brought new technologies to the Seven range and was the first production Caterham to adopt a sequential gearbox.

“To some extent, it represented the start of a new era in which Caterham stepped into the 21^st century, but it perfectly encapsulated Colin Chapman’s original ethos and harnessed our determination to provide accessible fun like no other.”

The largest export markets for the R500 were Japan and Italy, followed by France and then Germany. In total, nearly 50 per cent of vehicles found homes overseas.    

Until 2013, when the supercharged Seven 620 R was launched, the R500 remained the fastest and most focussed Seven ever produced. The newer model provides an additional 47bhp as well as a multitude of other technical and aesthetic enhancements over the older model.