Performance Review: Caterham 7 Superlight R500 - [2009]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Caterham 7 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Caterham 7 Superlight R500 is the 6 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2009. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2010 Hennessey Venom GT 6.2L V8 and the 2010 Bugatti Veyron 8.0 litre W16 Super Sport.This particular Caterham 7 has a 1999cc 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, - 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 506 kgs (1115 lbs) this makes the Caterham 7 Superlight R500 in the same weight category as the 2013 Caterham 7 485 2.0L or the give or take 50kg.

The Caterham 7 shares the same bhp with the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp)

In terms of power the 1999cc 16V St4 engine produces 263 bhp (196 kW) @ 8500 rpm similar to the 2022 Hyundai i30 N Performance 2.0 Turbo (276 bhp) or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach-E AWD (266 bhp).

The Naturally Aspirated St4 throws out 177 lb-ft (239.9 Nm) @ 7200 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 2020 Abarth 695 70th Anniversario 1.4 Turbo (184 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 2021 McLaren 675 LT Spider 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (543.9 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Caterham 7.

The Caterham 7 has a Power to weight ratio of 519.7 bhp per ton and 349.8 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2009 7 competing with the 2021 McLaren 675 LT Spider 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (543.9 bhp per ton) or the 2015 Ferrari F12 tdf 6.3 V12 (543.4 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 349.8 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 2021 Ferrari 296 GTB Assetto 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid (374.4 lb-ft per ton) or the 2013 KTM X-Bow R 2.0 Turbo (373.4 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 2.90 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 3.0 secs, this made the Caterham 7 Superlight R500 as fast as the 2022 Lotus Eletre R 905 bhp (2.90 secs) the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 6.2 V8 C8 (2.90 secs) the 2021 Maserati MC20 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo (2.90 secs) the or the 2021 BMW 5 Series M5 CS 4.4 V8 Turbo F90 (2.90 secs). This Caterham 7 Superlight R500 is also faster than the 2023 Pagani Utopia 6.0 V12 Twin Turbo (3.00 secs) the 2022 Lamborghini Huracan Tecnica 5.2 V10 (3.00 secs) the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray Z51 6.2 V8 C8 (3.00 secs) the and the 2021 McLaren Artura 3.0 V6 Turbo Hybrid (3.00 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 7 and the 2010 BMW 3 Series M3 E92 GTS

When talking about the performance of the Caterham 7 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 10.47 secs @ 130.6 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2010 BMW 3 Series M3 E92 GTS (10.43 secs), the 2012 Audi TT RS+ 2.5 Turbo (10.46 secs), and the 2012 Audi TT RS plus 2.5 Coupe (10.46 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2009 version of the Caterham 7 Superlight R500 has a maximum speed of 150mph.

Top Speed of the 2009 7 equals the 2013 Porsche Panamera Diesel 3.0 V6 Turbo (161 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2009 Caterham 7 Superlight R500 then how about the 2013 Porsche Panamera Diesel 3.0 V6 Turbo (161 mph), the 2013 Porsche Panamera 3.6 V6 (161 mph), or the 2011 Radical SR3 SL 2.0 Turbo (161 mph).

Related Links:

2009 7 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Caterham

Car Comparison