The Caterham 7 is a super-lightweight kit car produced by Caterham Cars in the UK. Its predecessor was the Lotus 7, a car sold in kit and fully assembled by Lotus Cars, from the late 50s to the early 70s. In 1972, Caterham bought the rights to the 7 off Lotus and now sell it in kit or as a whole car.
The Caterham 7 has been used several times in the show with Richard Hammond and James May most notably being the drivers due to Jeremy Clarkson being unable to fit.
Appearances[]
- A Caterham 7 took part in a drag race in Clarkson: Unleashed on Cars against a Porsche 911 Turbo, Dodge Viper, Lotus Esprit, TVR Cerbera and Aston Martin V8 Vantage driven by Jeremy. The Caterham ended up losing.
- In Series 8, Episode 7, Jeremy, Richard and James had to build a kit car Caterham 7 in Scotland before The Stig drove a ready-built Caterham 7 down from the factory in Surrey. The lads won as The Stig got stopped by the police.
- In Series 12, Episode 6, Richard compares the Caterham 7 R500 Superlight to the Veritas RS.III around the Top Gear Test Track. He praises the Caterham's speed, handling and excitement finding it to be far superior to the Caterham. The Stig later sets a lap of 1:17.9 around the Track.
- In Series 12, Episode 7, Jeremy reveals the Caterham 7 R500 Superlight to be the 2008 Top Gear Car of the Year due to it's inexpensive price yet gunship performance.
- In Series 18, Episode 6, James uses the Caterham 7 R500 Superlight as his ultimate track car against Jeremy in the KTM X-Bow and Richard in the Morgan 3 Wheeler. James praises the Caterham's speed, handling, drivability and excitement but ultimately criticises it's lack of windscreen. Despite this both Jeremy and James deduce it to be the best of the three.
- In Series 21, Episode 4, James compares two Caterham 7's around the Top Gear Test Track, their most powerful car, the 620R and their least powerful car, the 160. He adores the 160 and finds it to be far superior to the 620R despite disputes from Jeremy and Richard. James also debuts, Caterham's concept Aeroseven. At the hands of The Stig around a wet track, the 620R sets a lap time of 1:22.3 while the 160 sets a lap of 1:45.5.
- In A Massive Hunt, May modifies a Caterham 7 310R to tackle Madagascar against Hammond in a modified Ford Focus RS and Clarkson in a modified Bentley Continental GT V8. Despite having a significant disadvantage over the other two, it proves to be only car that completed the journey without fault. The car is now stored at Caterham Cars near Heathrow.
Gallery[]
Jeremy won their DIY Caterham challenge after crossing the start line.
Stig got caught by the police.
The Stig testing R500 on the Top Gear test track
Caterham 160 on the front view prior to test.
Stig takes power lap for Caterham 620R before crossing finish line.