Performance Review: Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged - [2013]

Figures & Specs Summary:

Caterham 7 Performance Review.

Introduction:

This edition of the Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged is the 5 speed / Manual version and was first brought out in 2013. This was at around the same time as the introduction of the 2014 Tesla Model S P100D Ludicrous Performance and the 2014 Koenigsegg One 1 5.1 V8 Twin Turbo.This particular Caterham 7 has a 1999cc Supercharged 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 2011 BAC Mono 280bhp. If you're looking for other fast cars which share the 7's Rear Wheel Drive, Coupe 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 545 kgs (1201 lbs) this makes the Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged in the same weight category as the 2012 Ariel Atom Mugen or the give or take 50kg.

The Caterham 7 shares the same bhp with the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp)

In terms of power the 1999cc 16V St4 engine produces 311 bhp (231 kW) @ 7700 rpm similar to the 2023 Porsche Cayenne Coupe E-Hybrid 3.0 V6 Turbo (300 bhp) or the 2023 Toyota Corolla GR Morizo Edition 1.6 Turbo (300 bhp).

The Supercharged St4 throws out 219 lb-ft (296.9 Nm) @ 7350 rpm placing it with cars of similar torque performance figures such as the 2022 Mini Cooper John Cooper Works Cabrio 2.0 Turbo (236 lb-ft) or the 2020 McLaren Sabre 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (206 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 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse (594.9 bhp per ton) has similar Bhp Per Ton stats as the Caterham 7.

The Caterham 7 has a Power to weight ratio of 570.6 bhp per ton and 401.8 lb-ft per ton. Bhp Per Ton figures of the 2013 7 competing with the 2012 Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport Vitesse (594.9 bhp per ton) or the 2017 Pagani Huayra Roadster 6.0 V12 (589.0 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 401.8 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 McLaren 675 LT Spider 4.0 V8 Twin Turbo (425.0 lb-ft per ton) or the 2021 Aston-Martin Valkyrie Coupe 6.5 V12 (424.3 lb-ft per ton).

Acceleration:

With a 0-60mph time of 2.80 secs or a 0-100km/h (0-62mph) of 2.9 secs, this made the Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged as fast as the 2022 Ferrari 296 GTS Assetto 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid (2.80 secs) the 2022 Mercedes AMG One 1.6 V6 Turbo Hybrid (2.80 secs) the 2022 Ferrari 296 GTS 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo Hybrid (2.80 secs) the or the 2021 Lamborghini Aventador LP 780-4 Ultimae Roadster 6.5 V12 (2.80 secs). This Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged is also faster than the 2022 Lotus Eletre R 905 bhp (2.90 secs) the 2021 Maserati MC20 3.0 V6 Twin Turbo (2.90 secs) the 2021 BMW 5 Series M5 CS 4.4 V8 Turbo F90 (2.90 secs) the and the 2021 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray 6.2 V8 C8 (2.90 secs).

Quarter Mile time is a close race between the 7 and the 2017 Audi A4 RS4 Avant 2.9 V6 Turbo

When talking about the performance of the Caterham 7 on the drag strip it can reach a quarter mile in an estimated 10.12 secs @ 135.2 mph. Similar performance down the quarter mile can be found with the the 2017 Audi A4 RS4 Avant 2.9 V6 Turbo (10.07 secs), the 2003 Subaru Impreza WRX STI Type RA Spec C - Blobeye (10.08 secs), and the 2008 Alfa-Romeo 8C Competitzione Spider (10.08 secs).

Top Speed:

Modern performance cars are often artificially restricted to 155mph. The 2013 version of the Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged has a maximum speed of 155mph.

Top Speed of the 2013 7 equals the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph)

If maxing out your car on the AutoBahn is your thing and you're wondering what's faster than the 2013 Caterham 7 620 R 2.0 L Supercharged then how about the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse 5.0 V8 (166 mph), the 2022 Ford Mustang GT 5.0 V8 (166 mph), or the 2021 Ford Mustang Mach 1 5.0 V8 (166 mph).

Related Links:

2013 7 Rivals List.

A Brief History of Caterham

Car Comparison