The entry-level model of distinguished family sports car of Britain “Caterham Seven” (Super7) is installed with the light car engine of Suzuki, and was sold on the European and Japanese market. The “Caterham Seven 130” landing in Japan from this spring is matched to the light car standards of Japan (Engine displacement ≤660cc, total width ≤1480 mm etc.), and is registered as a light car.
When the Caterham Seven 130 is launched, it will be the unusual “Imported light car” in Japan, and it is natural for the ardent motor fan. The launch is a surprise because it is said to have an impact with the trade policy of Japan as an ardent motor fan.
Loaded with Suzuki 3 cylinder turbo
Super 7 is the traditional model developed by the late Colin Chapman the founder of Lotus, a distinguished sports car maker of Britain, the manufacturing right was handed over to Caterham Co. in 1973, and this company is currently developing and producing the succession models. This company adopted the 660cc, 3 cylinder, DOHC turbocharged engine and 5-speed manual transmission of Suzuki for the new entry-level model of seven.
As per the official sources, Caterham has adopted four-cylinder engine of Ford but a more highly effective power unit is necessary to clear he exhaust gas and fuel consumption regulation of the developed countries, and hence it selected the three-cylinder turbo of Suzuki from the viewpoint of the downsizing that became a main stream in Europe.
The 3 cylinder turbocharged engine provided by Suzuki was earlier cappuccino, and at present, it is the K6A model installed in Jimny, and Caterham will perform the computer map tuning. It is selling as Seven 160 in its country United Kingdom, and as Seven 165 in Europe. The maximum power is improved from 64 PS of the Japanese specification to 80 PS. The 5 speed manual transmission is said as the diversion of parts of commercial vehicle Suzuki Every.
Price of the Japanese specification Seven 130 is US$34,170 (3,496,500 YEN).
The price of the Japanese specification of Seven 130 is US$34,170 (3,496,500 YEN) as per Caterham Cars Japan. The maximum power is 64 PS and the maximum torque is 10.6kgf/m, the upper limit of the domestic voluntary restraints. The weight of the vehicle is light at 490kg, and boasts the performance of accelerating from 0→100km at 6.9 seconds, and maximum speed is 160 km/hr. It is good news for the Japanese fan to own such a high performance lightweight sports car as “Light” and inexpensive maintenance cost.
The auto magazines in United Kingdom have already tested the Japanese specification of Seven 130, and it has got good reviews like “The Suzuki engine rotates instantly at 8000 rpm, and the car can be freely controlled by the throttle work of the right leg”.
The light car is popular for less running cost like tax and high-speed charge, etc. and it accounts for 40 percent of the new cars sold domestically. However, countries like the United States are criticizing the light car concept of Japan as “Import barrier”. The logic is “The tax and high-speed charge are favorably treated by the Japanese original standard, and the entry of a foreign manufacturer has been shut out”. The United States is requesting the abolition of a light standard by TPP (Trans-Pacific Partnership) negotiation etc. The light vehicle tax is the focus of the government tax reform in fiscal year 2014. The problem of the Japan-U.S. friction is present even in the background of tax increase from the present 7200 Yen/year to 10,800 Yen/year, an increase of 1.5 times, for the new cars purchased after April 2015.
“Can be claimed if the light is not import restricted”
As for the foreign car matching the light standard of Japan, in the year 2000 Mercedes Benz matched the total width and the engine capacity of the 2 passenger compact car “Smart” , and was imported as the light car. However, it is inefficient for the Europe and American manufacturers to develop and produce the mini cars to match the light standards of Japan. The new model imported as the light car by Japan has ended.
The Seven 130 seems to create a stir here. It is because “A foreign manufacturer has proved that, if there is willingness then they can develop the car to match the light standard of Japan, and can claim that there is not import barrier for light”. (Government authorized person). It is sure that Japan has the advantage of the Japan-U.S. trade negotiation commencing with the TPP. Looking forward for the import of UK made light sports car installed with the Suzuki engine.
At present to own the car in Japan,
the application and authorization of parking space,
vehicle inspection once in 2 years,
and vehicle tax once in a year are necessary.
For the light car, the application and authorization of parking space is not necessary
The inspection charge can be controlled cheaply as the tax paid during the vehicle inspection is less, and the vehicle tax is less the 1/3rd of the ordinary vehicles.
The sale of Caterham cars in the Japanese domestic market, which can be registered as the light car this time, is the news that will be ardently welcomed and will have a considerable impact.
I would surely like to have the demonstration run by the Caterham F1 driver Kamui Kobayashi at the center of Tokyo.
