“The best track-day Seven that we have ever built”
Caterham has been regarded as the last remaining bastion of lightweight sports cars after Lotus made a large and heavy SUV. The Seven 420 Cup is the latest addition to the endangered caterham species. It’s the most track-focused machine that you can drive on public roads. The new Caterham model features fully adjustable Bilstein dampers with no less than 10 stiffness settings, a first for Caterhams with a license plate.
The new 420 Cup sits between the 420R (and the Seven race car), and is powered by a 2.0-liter Duratec motor producing 210 horsepower and 203 Newton meters (149 pound-feet of torque). This engine will be mirrored in the Seven 420, which has a similar power-to-weight ratio at 375 hp/metric ton. The output is sent to the road via a six-speed sequential Sadev transmission, enabling a 0-60 mph (96 km/h), run of 3.6 seconds. It can travel flat out at 136 mph (219 km/h), which doesn’t sound particularly impressive but is what Caterham enthusiasts want.
The new 420 Cup is fitted with Avon ZZR and ZZS tires, but dealer-installed ZZR Extreme rubber can be used for track use. The new 420 Cup is visually distinct thanks to a race-style nose cone, and a revised fuel cap. Caterham installed new LED taillights at the rear. You can also choose the optional race roll cage, which includes a metal boot cover as well as sporty-looking side reflect caps. You can configure it in multiple sizes. It also features a special exterior with translucent satin decals and body graphics.
Red accents have been added to the interior, including the dials of the instrument cluster and the transmission tunnel. This naturally-aspirated sports car is still true to its ethos, with only 560 kilograms (1.234 lb) of weight. This is roughly half the weight of a Mazda MX-5.
The 420 Cup has one problem. Caterham cannot sell the 420 Cup in the United Kingdom, which is no longer a member country of the European Union. The price is from PS54990 on the domestic market, while Americans will need to contact their local retailer for pricing details. The new model will only be available as a factory-built product. You can’t purchase it in kit form or assemble it yourself.
Caterham will display the 420 Cup at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June. Although it is already available for orders, production will not begin until 2023.