Emissions Laws Have Reduced Caterham’s EU Range To Two Cars

After the introduction of the WLTP emissions testing procedure, Caterham has been forced to reduce its EU-compliant range to just two models
Emissions Laws Have Reduced Caterham’s EU Range To Two Cars

Lightweight sports and track day car maker Caterham has been forced to reduce the range of cars it sells to customers in the EU.

Extensive revisions in the wake of the arrival of the WLTP emissions testing rules were only able to save the 275 and 485 from the chop. Previously the EU range had also included the charming steel-wheeled 165 and the 355.

Emissions Laws Have Reduced Caterham’s EU Range To Two Cars

Export sales comprise 60 per cent of Caterham’s business so the WLTP’s impact could have major repercussions on the tiny but proud brand’s profits.

The UK range, however, is unchanged. As a low-volume car maker Caterham is exempt from the WLTP here. UK-based buyers will still have the choice of the Sevens 270, 310, 360, 420 and bonkers supercharged 620.

Emissions Laws Have Reduced Caterham’s EU Range To Two Cars

Caterham’s Chief Motorsport & Technical Officer, Simon Lambert, said:

“The biggest hurdles faced by Caterham during this transition period were time and cost. WLTP’s implementation date was set early on, but with no regulations published we were unable to start work until legislation was finally confirmed with little more than a year to go.”

Emissions Laws Have Reduced Caterham’s EU Range To Two Cars

He continued by praising the company for the strides it made to keep the 275 and 485 available to EU buyers. He added:

“For a small manufacturer, we have done an amazing job given the scale of the task. We have met the same stringent regulations applied to mainstream and volume manufacturers in a congested timeframe, when every man and his dog needed access to the specialist testing facilities.

“It is a true testimony to our resilience and flexibility, and above all, a desire to keep the Seven flourishing overseas.”

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Comments

Anonymous

‘The UK range is unchanged… ‘ phew, thank heavens for that. At least the models I can’t afford will still be avaliable to me 😅

04/18/2019 - 09:10 |
100 | 0
German Perfectionist

Wait, Caterham offers more than one model in the first place? I honestly didn’t know that, maybe because they all look exactly the same…

04/18/2019 - 09:37 |
34 | 2

There are two exceptions to that, the 21 and the SP300r

04/18/2019 - 09:59 |
6 | 0

It’s mostly engines. There’s a 80hp one at one side, and then a 310hp on the other. Obviously with that comes bigger tyres, brakes etc

04/18/2019 - 11:21 |
30 | 0
effisjens

Thanks emission regulations for destroying the car industry!

04/18/2019 - 10:07 |
20 | 2
Anonymous

So… If I read correctly, the tiny 660cc 85hp engined Caterham will be axed due to emission regulations ? Is this some black magic logic ?!

04/18/2019 - 10:35 |
28 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

That tiny 3 cylinder engine is 25 years old, and that model was axed two years ago

04/18/2019 - 16:21 |
12 | 0
Anonymous

Laughs at EU at their emissions then starts crying because caterham doesn’t sell those cars here anyway

04/18/2019 - 10:36 |
2 | 0
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

why on EU ?

MAybe laughs at UK, that they go out from EU … lol

04/18/2019 - 14:52 |
0 | 0
Extreme Daniel

How hard can it be for a company, who, almost exclusively, have 4 Cylinder cars, to get their emissions right?

04/18/2019 - 10:54 |
2 | 0

Because the Ford engine in the lower powered cars is from 1995. Its euro 4 compliant at the moment, new cars are now 6c

04/18/2019 - 11:27 |
4 | 0
Anonymous

idiots … and no idea how to do it … just SELL “cars” without engines … and find a company IN EU that will supply them

Problem solved.
NEXT !

04/18/2019 - 14:50 |
4 | 2
Anonymous

In reply to by Anonymous (not verified)

They wouldnt pass emissions regardless of where they’re from

04/18/2019 - 16:19 |
4 | 0
Elliot.J99

This is why the EU is a failing mess

04/18/2019 - 19:04 |
10 | 0

Laughs in Australian

04/19/2019 - 05:55 |
0 | 0

First the bloody article 13 and now this? Why we’re still here..just to suffer(if u got the reference,u get a cookie)

04/19/2019 - 12:40 |
2 | 2
Kyubi22B

Article 13 Car edition

04/19/2019 - 15:40 |
2 | 0
REAL_sluggo

One day, the EU will come after our steering wheels and the loud pedal. WLTP is the Trojan Horse that is the eventual framework for driver-less motors with A.I. as the “driver”.
It is the UN-democratising of individual transportation… Big Brother is around the corner, salivating like Pavlov’s dogs

04/21/2019 - 02:06 |
2 | 0