Caterham goes plush with the CSR Twenty
To celebrate twenty years since the launch of the Caterham CSR, the company has devised a special edition described as the “most premium” model in its 51-year history. Capitalising on the model’s road-going focus, it majors on compliance and comfort in a way not usually associated with the bare bones Seven.
Taking the CSR’s inboard front suspension and independent rear – both unique in the Caterham line-up – the Twenty promises composed and confidence-inspiring point-to-point performance no matter what the road surface throws at it.
For the first time, the CSR chassis is combined with the 212PS (155kW) version of the 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine, which is the most popular powerplant in the wider Caterham range. It shares the engine with the current Seven 420.
Installed in the larger CSR, the four-cylinder unit – which revs to 7,600rpm – provides a 0-60mph time of 3.9 seconds and top speed of 136mph. For all the CSR’s compliance, it still promises plenty of Caterham-esque thrills. It drives through a five-speed gearbox while braking is provided by ventilated discs with four-piston calipers up front.
Fit and finish is what makes the CSR Twenty stand out from the Caterham crowd. The dashboard is made from satin carbon, the transmission tunnel is finished with leather and the gaiters for the handbrake are made from Alcantara. They also feature red stitching and CSR Twenty logos.
Outside is a Seven 620-style nosecone (identified by its additional air intake) and LED front and rear lights. A two-tone Union Flag grille is bespoke to the model and the 15-inch Vulcan wheels make an appearance on a UK model for the first time. A black Mohair hood is there to keep the rain off that plush interior.
Bob Laishley, Caterham Cars CEO, said: “This is without doubt the most premium Seven we’ve ever built. The interior of the car is a level up from what we’ve produced before thanks to an array of high-quality materials used throughout.
“When you combine this with the exhilarating and engaging handling of our CSR chassis, this really is a Caterham built for longer distance road trips. It’s a vehicle that truly celebrates 20 years of our CSR chassis and I’m proud to see it being hand built here in our new Dartford factory.”
The CSR Twenty has the distinction of being the first UK market model to be built in Caterham’s new multi-million-pound factory in Dartford, Kent.
Only 20 of these limited-edition models will be built for the UK market in a choice of Kinetic Grey or Dynamic Silver. The CSR Twenty is priced at £79,995. An additional 20 CSR Twentys will be available in the US.
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