When a car is powered by a 300 hp engine and it weighs well under a ton, what do you get? Other than a smile plastered on a warped face, you get the gift that keeps on giving… 500 brake horsepower per ton, all neatly packaged in the new 2012 Caterham-Lola SP/300R. The beautiful product of a joint venture between Caterham Cars and Lola, the SP/300R is designed for a single make race series and as a blistering track toy for those who probably have more than a few garage spaces. Propelled by a supercharged version of Ford’s 2.0 Duratec four-cylinder, this wheeled knife will get to 60 in 2.5 seconds and top out at 170 mph. More after the jump.
Designed by Lola, the body generates huge amounts of downforce and balance. Lola even managed to include the radiator grille styling from the classic and iconic Caterham 7 roadster. No, Lola is not your uncle’s overtanned second wife. They are the British racing and engineering firm responsible for creating Aston Martin’s LMP1 race cars. Not a bad pedigree, eh? The SP/300R has an ultra-rigid aluminium tub at its core, along with a mid-mounted Duratec, double wishbone suspension, an adjustable carbon-fiber rear wing and a rear axle copied from Lola’s Formula 3 racers. And in case your track skills in your head exceed the ones actually executed by your feet and hands, you’ll find a battery of safety measures, including an FIA-approved roll cage, a six-point harness, fire extinguisher and electrical cut-off switches. The SP/300R race series will commence in 2012. Look for it, unless you’re lucky enough to get your own SP/300R. Cupholders not included… ever.
Price: $100,000
