DC Electronics worked with RS Performance to design and manufacture the electrical system for the new Supercharged Caterham RS Levante V8, which is shaping up to be one of the fastest and most iconic cars in the world.

RS Performance uses only the most cutting edge, innovative technology available and needed a British engineering company that would ensure total commitment to the project in order to deliver on-brief and quickly. This led to the commission of DC Electronics.

DC Electronics was approached with artist’s impressions of how the car would look and was asked to design an electrical system and dashboard layout to compliment the exterior.

David Cunliffe, Director of DC Electronics, explains the brief: “With performance and speed being very much at the heart of the car, it was important to keep weight to a minimum. The car was to combine traditional gauges with state-of-the-art Momentary Touch aluminum switches. Also, with the car needing to be road legal, we had to allow for SVA (Single Vehicle Approval.)”

Armed with the brief, DC Electronics set to work designing and manufacturing the system.

To keep the weight of the car relatively low, allowing it to run from 0 – 60mph in just under three seconds, DC Electronics used the same lightweight materials that they use in their F1 car builds. Keeping with this theme, a quick release steering wheel was also installed for track day use.

In order to incorporate Momentary Touch aluminum switches into the car, a small body computer was designed by DC Electronics to process the signals and turn on the relevant circuits in the right order, at the right time.

David continues: “For this project, Faringdon Instruments made us a special unit which we could link directly into the car’s engine management computer. This allows us to display all critical engine channels and alarms on the steering wheel for when the car is on the track. This can then be swapped back to a traditional wheel when the car is back on the road.”

Finally, the whole system was designed in a modular way, allowing RS Performance to assemble the final product as quickly as possible.

Russell Savory, (Managing Director) of RS Performance comments on working with DC Electronics: “Putting their expertise into play to design and manufacture the ultimate system for the Levante, DC Electronics worked tirelessly to meet often unreasonably tight deadlines. The continual technical support given enabled us to complete a successful project which demanded the highest of standard attainable.”

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