England-based Caterham has introduced a more comfort-focused variant of the hardcore 620R dubbed 620S.
Power for the 620S comes from a Ford-sourced, 2.0-liter, four-cylinder engine that uses a supercharger to generate 310 horsepower at 7,700 rpm and 219 pound-feet of torque at 7,350 rpm. Those figures are generous, but they become downright jaw-dropping when you consider that the 620S tips the scale at just 1,344 pounds thanks in part to the widespread use of carbon fiber. Bolted to a five-speed manual transmission that spins the rear wheels, the blown four-banger sends the 620S from 0 to 60 mph in a supercar-like 3.4 seconds and on to a top speed of 145 mph.
While the 620R was designed primarily to hit the track, the 620S can be used on road trips because it comes standard with creature comforts such as a heater, a full windshield, side screens, and leather-upholstered seats. Caterham has made the S’ suspension markedly softer, but buyers who clamor for the spine-jarring, race-tuned suspension setup fitted to the R can order it at an extra cost.
The list of options also includes a wider chassis, which frees up extra space in the cabin and allows Caterham to fit a much larger fuel tank. Buyers looking to hit the track can order the 620S with add-ons such as a roll cage, a plumbed-in fire extinguisher, and a quick-release steering wheel. Alternatively, enthusiasts who plan to rack up the miles can stay relatively dry and warm by selecting half doors, a tonneau cover, and heated seats.
The Caterham Seven 620S is on sale now in England with a base price of £44,995, a sum equal to nearly $65,000 at the current conversion rate. The 620S will also be sold in a handful of European nations, but at the time of writing Caterham isn’t planning on selling it in the United States.
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