Caterham unveiled a new variant of the iconic Seven, designed for track days. The Seven 420 CUP features modifications inspired by the Seven racecar including a set of manually-adjustable Bilstein dampers but remains street-legal which means that you can drive it to and from your favorite track.
The company describes the new model as “the best track-day Seven we’ve ever built”, adding that it bridges the gap between the 420R and the hardcore Seven Championship racecar.
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Visually, the 420 CUP is distinguished by the redesigned nose with dual intakes, the optional Race Roll Cage with the racing-style mirrors, the carbon-fiber part replacing the windscreen, the centralized petrol filler and a new pair of LED taillights. It also features a race-inspired livery with translucent satin decals and custom graphics.
Inside, the 420 CUP emblem can be found on the Alcantara-upholstered headrests of the optional carbon-fiber seats, on the new racing dials, and on the transmission tunnel which is also covered in Alcantara. The dashboard looks similar to the 620R and is finished in satin carbon. Caterham is offering more options for the seats, the roll cage, and the chassis (standard and large).
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Under the bonnet lies a Ford-sourced naturally-aspirated 2.0-liter Duratec four-cylinder engine producing 207 hp (157 kW / 210 PS) and 203 Nm (150 lb-ft), figures identical to the standard Seven 420. However, power is sent to the rear wheels through a new SADEV six-speed sequential gearbox optimized for quick shifting. Thus, the 420 CUP can accelerate from 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) in 3.6 seconds, which is 0.2 seconds faster than the 420, although it won’t match the 2.79-second figure of the flagship 620R. The top speed is 136 mph (219 km/h).
Besides the gearbox, the most important change in the 420 CUP is the 10-stage, fully adjustable dampers developed by Bilstein and Caterham. The cool thing about them is that you can select between ten stages of stiffness by hand, without the need for tools.
Furthermore, the 420 CUP comes standard with Avon ZZR or ZZS tires, but those who are more serious about lap times can get the optional ZZR Extreme. Although the latter are not road legal, Caterham brags that they bring supercar-beating lap times, with a 1’45” at Oulton Park in the UK.
The Caterham Seven 420 CUP will be exclusively available in the UK and in the US since it doesn’t comply with the strict emission regulations in the EU. Pricing will start from £54,990 ($68,731) in the UK for a finished car (it is not available as a kit), while customers in the US will have to ask their local retailer for more information. The Seven 420 CUP will make its public debut at the Goodwood FOS, with production starting in early 2023.
