Caterham Cars has built a variant of its iconic Seven that was seemingly planned in the mid-1960s but never launched – the Caterham Seven 620. The Seven 620 is the brand’s most extreme vehicle and features a 2.0-liter supercharged inline-four with 310 horsepower and 219 lb-ft of torque.The whole car measures just 122 inches from nose to tail, while width is 62 inches. Height is typically low at 42.9 inches and the wheelbase measures 87.6 inches. Optionally available is a slightly larger body that improves interior space a little. All that power is contained in a lightweight body that weighs less than 1,400 pounds. With this body, the Seven measures 131.9 inches long with a height of 43.9 inches and a width of 66.3 inches. Curb weight is an extremely low 1,349 lbs.
The Caterham Seven 620 is based on the 420 model, a car with which it shares an engine. The car uses a supercharged version of the 2.0-liter Ford Duratec engine found in the 420 model. Thanks to the car’s remarkably low weight, 310 hp and 219 lb-ft of torque feels like far more than enough. 0-60 mph is taken care of in just under 2.8 seconds, while top speed is 155 mph. In a car with no roof and very little around you, this feels faster than it is, and thanks to a manual five-speed transmission as standard (or a six-speed sequential if you prefer), the Seven 620 is engaging and fun. Throttle response is best described as eager, and the 620 keeps pulling you back into your seat. For lack of a better term, this is truly a pocket rocket.
Caterham’s philosophy is less about power and more about handling, with every car supremely agile. The front features a redesigned nose with an additional vent and carbon fiber canards to improve front-end grip while the turn signals feature clear lenses for a more modern look. The S Pack version of the car features a full windscreen, side windows with mirrors, and a rear-exit exhaust system, bucking the trend on other Sevens that utilize a side-exit exhaust. This model also features 15-inch wheels, while the hardcore R Pack ditches the windscreen in favor of a carbon aero screen. This model also features 13-inch wheels with meatier tires.
Caterham Cars is a British manufacturer of specialist lightweight sports cars established in Caterham, Surrey, with their headquarters in Crawley, Sussex. Their current model, the Caterham 7 (or Seven), originally launched in 1973, is a direct evolution of the Series 3 Lotus Seven designed by Colin Chapman. Although the Seven has always been popular with enthusiasts outside of the UK marketplace, export of the Seven to other markets has increasingly been limited by homologation, safety and emissions regulations in the modern era. As a result, the chassis/engine combinations, specifications, pricing and kit-form availability vary widely between countries. All of the 2008 model line-up is available as a ‘CKD’ complete kit for build by the owner, with the exception of CSR models.
