Performance Review: Caterham 7 Superlight R400 - [2003]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Caterham 7 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Caterham 7 Superlight R400 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2003. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2004 Westfield Sport 2000S and the 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Evo VIII MR FQ 400.This particular Caterham 7 has a 1796cc Naturally Aspirated Petrol powerplant with 4 cylinders in a St formation.

Alternative Petrol St4's includes the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo

The 7 shares its Petrol St4 engine configuration with the likes of the 2019 Ariel Atom 4 2.0 Turbo and the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 7's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe combination then how about the 1982 Fiat X1/9 1.5 8V or the 1965 Aston-Martin DB6 1965.

Power and Weight:

Weighing in at 490 kgs (1080 lbs) this makes the Caterham 7 Superlight R400 in the same weight category as the 2009 Caterham 7 Superlight R500 or the give or take 50kg.

The Caterham 7 shares the same bhp with the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp)

In terms of power the 1796cc 16V St4 engine produces 200 bhp (149 kW) @ 7500 rpm similar to the 2020 Audi A1 Sportback 40 TFSI S tronic S line (197 bhp) or the 2020 Audi TT S Turbo 50 TFSI (225 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 155 lb-ft (210.1 Nm) @ 5750 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper Countryman John Cooper Works 1.5 Turbo (162 lb-ft) or the 2018 Abarth 595 Turismo 1.4 Turbo (170 lb-ft).

Power to Weight:

If one combines the weight with power or torque performance for the Caterham 7 you can get a better idea of it's real world performance.

The 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 6.2 V8 (432.7 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Caterham 7.

The Caterham 7 has a Power to weight ratio of 408.1 bhp per ton and 316.3 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2003 7 competing with the 2017 Dodge Challenger SRT Demon 6.2 V8 (432.7 bhp per ton) or the 2015 Ferrari 488 Spider 3.9 V8 Turbo (432.7 bhp per ton).

Power to Weight(cont.):

If you agree with the late great Carroll Shelby then arguably an even better indicator of potential performance, Torque. Use weight as well and you end up with - Torque per ton, with the Caterham 7 generating around 316.3 lb-ft per ton. If you're curious as to what other cars have as much torque to weight then look no further than the 2023 Aston-Martin DBS 770 Ultimate Volante 5.2 V12 Twin Turbo (341.3 lb-ft per ton) or the 2005 Fisker Tramonto 5.4 V8 Performance Plus (340.8 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 3.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 4.0 secs, this made the Caterham 7 Superlight R400 as fast as the 2022 Volkswagen-VW Golf R Performance 2.0 Turbo (3.90 secs) the 2022 BMW 2 Series M2 3.0 Twin Turbo G87 Steptronic (3.90 secs) the 2022 Porsche 911 Sport Classic 3.7 Turbo 992 (3.90 secs) the or the 2021 Porsche Taycan 4S Cross Turismo (3.90 secs). This Caterham 7 Superlight R400 is also faster than the 3996 Bentley Continental GT 4.0 V8 Turbo Convertible (4.00 secs) the 2022 Lotus Emira First Edition 3.5 V6 Supercharged Auto (4.00 secs) the 2021 Audi e-tron GT Quattro (4.00 secs) the and the 2020 Lotus Evora GT410 3.5 V6 Supercharged (4.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 7 and the 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Classic 22B

When talking about the performance of the Caterham 7 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 11.37 secs @ 120.4 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 1998 Subaru Impreza WRX STI - Classic 22B (11.32 secs), the 2017 Honda Civic Type R 2.0i 16v Turbo - FK8 (11.32 secs), and the 2006 Porsche Cayenne Turbo S (11.33 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2003 version of the Caterham 7 Superlight R400 has a maximum speed of 140mph.

Top Speed of the 2003 7 equals the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged (151 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2003 Caterham 7 Superlight R400 then how about the 2020 Lotus Elise Cup 250 1.8 Supercharged (151 mph), the 2013 Volkswagen-VW Polo R WRC 2.0 Turbo (151 mph), or the 2006 Volkswagen-VW Golf GTi Edition 30 DSG (151 mph).

Related Links:

2003 7 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Caterham

Car Comparison