Currently reading: Caterham drops Sigma-powered 270 and Super Seven models

Mid-rung Caterham models taken off sale for now as Ford's 1.6-litre engine bows out

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Caterham has dropped the 270 model and the retro-styled Super Seven 1600 from its range because Ford's Sigma engine is no longer available.

The 1.6-litre unit had been fitted to modestly powered Sevens since 2006, when the previously popular Rover K-series engine disappeared with the demise of MG Rover.

The Ford unit revved less highly than the K but made a broad spread of power and over the past decade and a half has been offered in various outputs of between 120bhp and 150bhp. It is also the power source for Caterham's entry-level Academy race cars, which will retain the powerplant for 2022. 

Most recently it received throttle bodies and over-sized air filters on the Super Seven 1600 model, which appeared as a benchmark wildcard in Autocar's Britain's Best Affordable Driver's Car contest.

For the immediate future, the range will be smaller. Caterham's new 660cc Suzuki-engined 170 model with 85bhp props up the bottom of the range, priced from £22,990. 

Ford's 2.0-litre Duratec is the only other powerplant, offered in 180bhp, 210bhp or 310bhp forms for the 360, 420 and 620 models respectively, with prices from £31,490 to £50,390. 

The gap between 170 and 360 models left by the Sigma engine's demise will be filled next year when new, sub-150bhp versions of the 2.0-litre Duratec engine are homologated.

Matt Prior

Matt Prior
Title: Editor-at-large

Matt is Autocar’s lead features writer and presenter, is the main face of Autocar’s YouTube channel, presents the My Week In Cars podcast and has written his weekly column, Tester’s Notes, since 2013.

Matt is an automotive engineer who has been writing and talking about cars since 1997. He joined Autocar in 2005 as deputy road test editor, prior to which he was road test editor and world rally editor for Channel 4’s automotive website, 4Car. 

Into all things engineering and automotive from any era, Matt is as comfortable regularly contributing to sibling titles Move Electric and Classic & Sports Car as he is writing for Autocar. He has a racing licence, and some malfunctioning classic cars and motorbikes.