#18: 2013 Caterham 7 620 R
The Seven 620R is Caterham’s fastest car yet (courtesy of Caterham)
Our tea-drinking friends across the pond continue to dazzle in our list with a modern take on a classic roadster: The Caterham 7 620 R. This niche British carmaker has been around for quite some time, though they describe their new 620R track beast as their fastest car to date. How fast? This carbon fiber-clad, exposed-suspension trackster manages to get from null to 60 in just 2.7 seconds at with 310 horses under the long, skinny hood.
The 620 R manages this craziness with a formula similar to the BAC Mono, boasting that same Ford Duratec motor mated to a supercharger and 6-speed gearbox. The 620 R sticks to an authentic track formula with a limited slip diff, wishbone front and De-Dion rear suspension, and no shortage of carbon fiber panels, wings, and bits and baubles.
The 620 R also manages to grace the scales at just 1,200 pounds, largely thanks to a Spartan interior free of any modern comforts. It’s little surprise once learned the entire car was designed by Caterham’s F1 team. The 620 R is, in fact, barely legal on standard roads – so much so that production is extremely limited. Caterham must also import the vehicle as a rolling chassis and buyers have to foot the bill on the powertrain separately. Each 620 R must then be assembled by a recommended builder carefully selected by your local Caterham dealer.
To be sure, the 620 R is not simply notable for its 0-60 time. Its ability to pull lateral G’s rivaling the Ferrari Enzo with little to no onboard safety buffers like TCS and ABS makes driving the 620 R to its potential a measure in grit and courage. Of course, Caterham throws in a roll bar and emergency battery shutoff if you dare unleash it on track day.
