The two-seater Caterham...
The two-seater Caterham rival is on display at this week’s Autosport Show at the NEC in Birmingham. It’s finished in optional Gleaming White for its first public outing in Britain. But if you want to buy one, you face joining the back of a lengthy queue.
And the exclusive images...
And the exclusive images in this week"s mag show that the blue oval"s machine is much more voluptuous round the back than key rivals such as the Vauxhall Astra TwinTop and Renault Mégane CC.
Despite the black tape, the car"s bold profile and high rear deck are clearly visible, along with the wraparound rear light clusters and the dramatic body crease, which extends as far as the protruding wheelarches.
The CC"s well endowed rear is completed by chrome trim for the bootlid, while a sporty lower bumper has been added at the front. As well as being a head-turner, the CC should be practical, too. The high bootlid promises plenty of luggage space, even with the folding roof stowed away.
There will also be room for four passengers in the cabin, although the back seats are likely to be useful only for small adults or children. Up front, the CC will use the same dashboard design as the rest of the Focus line-up, but with an emphasis on even higher quality materials to reflect its range-topping position. Engines will also be taken from the Ford"s hatchback range and are expected to comprise 1.6 and 2.0-litre petrol and diesel units linked to manual and automatic gearboxes.
Sales will kick off later this year with prices starting at around ÷£17,000, while a hot ST version of the newcomer could be added at a later date.