Team Lotus Buys Sportscar Maker Caterham Cars

[Sabre]

The Torque Report

The name Caterham may not be all that recognizable here in the U.S., but Team Lotus has officially announced the purchase of the sportscar manufacturer. Caterham is known for building lightweight track cars off the Lotus Seven chassis.

In addition to building cars off the Seven chassis, Caterham has also been working on the SP/300R prototype, which is also expected to make it to production, thanks to the new cash infusion from this sale.

Tony Fernandes, Kamarudin Meranun and SM Nasarudin, the men behind the Team Lotus Formula 1 squad, bought out Caterham's owner Corven Ventures.

To celebrate the new ownership, Caterham is going to build a limited run of Team Lotus Special Edition Sevens. Only 50 units will be built with 25 going to the UK and the remaining 25 headed to Caterham's export markets. The package can be applied to any of the Seven variants and includes the Seven being painted in the famous green and yellow colors of Lotus and will come with a raft of bespoke Team Lotus additions.

Damn, I hope this doesn't ruin that company. I've always liked those cars!

[drwrx]

Is this supposed to be ironic?

Lotus buys the manufacturer that makes the very car that Lotus used to make 40+ years ago!

It's like Shelby America buying a Cobra replica company.

[complacent]

i was thinking the same thing. too weird!

[scheherazade]

I guess the 7 has come back home.

I really hope they make a street legal version in the U.S. that's made in the U.S. for U.S. money.

ATM they start at 40K+ (caterham dealer down 29), and you gotta go through the joy of getting your own vin, approval, etc... (happy fun time).

-scheherazade

[Raven]

Is this supposed to be ironic?

Lotus buys the manufacturer that makes the very car that Lotus used to make 40+ years ago!

It's like Shelby America buying a Cobra replica company.

IIRC, Team Lotus and Lotus Cars are two different companies. Team Lotus runs racing operations while Lotus Cars makes things like the Elise and Europa.