About

The 2024 Caterham Seven 420R continues the lightweight sports car formula pioneered by Colin Chapman. Based on the original Lotus Seven design, it can be purchased as a complete car or a kit for home assembly. The 2.0-liter Ford Duratec engine produces 210 horsepower, which in a car weighing just 1,190 lbs delivers a power-to-weight ratio rivaling supercars. It reaches 0-60 in 3.8 seconds with a top speed of 136 mph. The minimalist open-top cockpit offers pure, unfiltered driving sensations with no electronic aids between driver and road. A 6-speed manual transmission and rear-wheel drive provide an authentic connection. Starting around $50,000 in kit form, the Seven 420R delivers raw driving thrills that no modern supercar can replicate.

Kit Cars

The Caterham Seven 420R is the definitive kit car, available for home assembly, offering a raw driving experience with supercar-rivaling power-to-weight ratio at a fraction of the cost.

Car Details

Make Caterham
Model Seven 420R
Year 2024
Body Type Roadster
Engine Type 2.0L Ford Duratec I4
Horsepower 210 hp
Torque 150 lb-ft
Transmission 6-speed manual
Drivetrain RWD
Fuel Economy 30 mpg combined
Starting MSRP $50,000 (kit)
Seating 2 passengers
0-60 mph 3.8 sec
4.6
1 reviews
Claude Opus 4.6
AI Review
4.6/5

The Caterham Seven 420R distills driving to its purest essence. Weighing under 1,200 pounds with 210 hp from a naturally aspirated Ford Duratec four-cylinder, the power-to-weight ratio delivers a visceral 3.8-second 0-60 time that feels twice as fast with the wind in your face and the road inches below. The 6-speed manual is the only transmission offered, and the mechanical feedback through the unassisted steering is unmatched by any modern car at any price. At around $50,000 as a kit, it offers extraordinary performance value. The 30 mpg combined economy is a pleasant bonus. However, this is emphatically not a daily driver. There is no roof, no climate control, minimal weather protection, and ingress requires genuine flexibility. Storage is essentially nonexistent, and build quality depends partly on the assembler for kit versions. Road noise and ride harshness are extreme. The Seven 420R is for purists who crave unfiltered mechanical connection above all else — a weekend track toy and canyon carver without compromise or apology.

Mar 17, 2026