Caterham is saying goodbye to the Ford Sigma engine with the release of the Caterham Seven 310 Encore.
For over five decades, 1.6-litre Ford engines have powered Caterham cars, and now, the Caterham Seven 310 Encore is the swan song of the 1.6-litre Ford Sigma engine, with just 25 units available across the UK, US, and UAE.
Priced from £39,995, the Encore is all about celebrating Caterham’s long-standing relationship with the Ford Sigma. The Sigma engine was first introduced in Caterham models back in 2007 and delivers 152bhp at 7,000rpm, giving the 310 Encore a 0-60mph time of 4.9 seconds and a top speed of 127mph. With a power-to-weight ratio of 281bhp/tonne, it’s certainly a car that sounds a lot of fun!
The Sigma-powered 310R championship has inspired some enhancements for the Encore. There’s a lightened flywheel, sports suspension with a widened front track, adjustable spring platforms, and a rear anti-roll bar. The braking system has 254mm vented front discs paired with red quad-piston callipers and a race-spec master cylinder. On the track, the Encore has already done a 1min 18sec lap around Donington Park’s National Circuit.
Visually, the Encore has six colour options, each one inspired by a classic pop or rock track. Options include Blue Monday, Goodbye Yellow Brick Road, Green Light, Orange Crush, Back in Black, and White Noise. There is also a 620 aero nose cone, CUP grille, carbon fibre front wings, and blacked-out details including the windscreen surround and exhaust heat shield. It all sits on 13-inch black Apollo alloys wrapped in TOYO R888R rubber.
Inside, there’s a mix of track-focused and bespoke finishes. Black leather seats with grey stitching, a carbon fibre dashboard, Encore-specific dials, and a removable MOMO steering wheel. A numbered plaque also shows which of the 25 being made you have.
Encore’s starting price of £39,995 is only £505 more than the standard Seven 360R.
What a way to celebrate such a successful partnership!
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