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Love Caterham's (nee Lotus) Seven, but disappointed that the maximum power the factory can provide is a "mere" 260 horsepower? Partnering with RS Performance, Caterham's launched the new RST-V8 - a Seven designed to answer those with such a (death)wish.

Starting with a Caterham SV, the RS Performance replaces the 2.0-liter Ford I-4 with its own 2.4-liter, 40-valve V-8. Sure, that's a small displacement for an eight, but the motor revs to a screaming 10,000 rpm. Power for the RS motor is rated at 380 horsepower - plenty for a car that weighs only 1150 pounds.

Still not enough? Sign up for the RST-V8 Levante, which adds a Roots-type supercharger to the same motor, letting the compact V-8 pump out a whopping 550 hp. Coupled with the Seven SV's already lithe frame, the power-to-weight ratio for the Levante measures somewhere close to 1000 horsepower per ton.

That 1150-pound curb weight is a blessing for acceleration figures (0-60 mph in under 3 seconds for the Levante), but a curse for any attempt at connecting it to the tarmac. To answer that dilemma, Caterham gives the RST-V8 stickier tires, a limited-slip differential and traction- and launch-controls.

Of course, power comes with a price - and for the Levante, the price tag is a whopping £115,000 ($230,000), which includes a two-day course on how to handle the beast. We're sure the naturally-aspirated model will undercut that price point, but where's the fun (or insanity) in 380 horses when you can have 550?

CATERHAM RELEASE

Caterham announces official performance arm:
powerhouse V8 engine delivers 1,000 plus bhp-per-tonne

For those wanting an expression of British sportscar exclusivity, Caterham Cars has joined forces with RS Performance to offer the ultimate in bespoke Seven coachbuilding.

Caterham has long been the epitome of personalised motoring with almost every version of the 12,000 Sevens on the road differing from one another. The joint venture takes that famous philosophy to an altogether new level.

RS Performance is an exclusive, niche engineering house. Born out of the passion and pedigree of its founder, Russell Savory, it will offer an 'everything is possible' service to Caterham customers wanting cars truly 'built to order'.

Using the motorsport-honed Caterham chassis and benchmark technology as a cosmetic and engineering base, RS Performance, will "turn imagination into reality," says Savory.

The heartbeat of every RS-monikered Seven will be the unique RST-V8 engine.

With more than 16 years of development behind it by Russell Savory, the 40-valve, 2.4 litre engine reliably delivers an incredible 400bhp in normally aspirated mode, or over 500bhp as a supercharged varient, whilst weighing only 90kg in full running gear.

The unbridled lightness of the RST-V8 matched to the already featherweight Seven chassis delivers a power-to-weight ratio of over 1000bhp per tonne – more than double of a Bugatti Veyron.

This unique partnership will be open to customers looking for the ultimate in exclusivity, and carry a price tag to reflect the tailoring, detail and hand-built craftsmanship that will go into every RS-badged Caterham.

Validation of the engineering house's abilities comes in the form of the supercharged 'Levante'. This is the first Seven to rollout of RS Performance's Hertfordshire doors and which only seven more of this type will be available.

With a 12 week waiting time and costing over £115,000, this supercharged engineering masterpiece boasts a modern interpretation of the Seven's classic looks with a sophisticated electronics package with traction and launch control to help get the phenomenal power to the floor. Weight reduction runs throughout the car, from the carbon fibre interior finished with Kevlar seats down to the hosing used on the cooling systems

The RS Performance badge will sit alongside the established, and soon to be expanded, Ford powered Caterham Seven range.

"Caterham and Russell Savory have a long history, and this seemed a natural progression of that relationship and shared engineering philosophy," explained Ansar Ali, Caterham Cars managing director.

RS Performance RST-V8 Engine Technical Specification

Configuration
90° V8

Capacity
2.4 litre

Valves
40

Construction
Aluminium main frame with dry sump

Max Power
380 bhp @10,000rpm / 500+bhp @ 10,000rpm (supercharged)

Max Torque
190 lbsft @ 8500rpm / 300 lbsft@ 8500rpm (supercharged)

Gearbox
6-speed

Overall length
45.6mm

Overall width
45.6mm

Height
48mm

Weight
90kg

Service intervals
8000 miles (minor) / 30,000 miles (major service & belt change)

RS Performance 'Levante' Technical Specification

Price
£115,000 (dependent on specification)

Chassis
Caterham SV

Engine
2.4-litre, 40-valve RST-V8 supercharged

Max Power
500+bhp @ 10,000rpm

Max Torque
300 lbsft @ 8500rpm

Supercharge boost
0.8 psi

Gearbox
6-speed sequential, paddle shift option

Transmission
LSD

0-60mph (claimed)
Less than 3 seconds

Top Speed
150mph (limited)

Wheelbase
2305mm

Overall length
3530mm

Overall width
1685mm

Height
1140mm

Weight
From 520kgs

Suspension
de Dion rear, Nitron 3-way adjustable shocks all corners

Wheel
Image Billet; front 8 x 15, rear 10 x 15

Tyres
Avon CR500; front 195/45-15, rear 245/40-15

Brakes
Hi Spec; front 280mm vented, rear 260mm.

Exhaust system
BTB 2 x 4-2-1 rear exit

Dashboard
Farringdon and SPA design

Driver aids
Traction Control, Launch Control

Additional
Two day driver training course provided on delivery of vehicle