Twenty Years in the Making: the Caterham Seven CSR Twenty
Back in April, I drove down to the Caterham factory in Dartford. The reason for my trip was to collect a car that I would use as my daily for the next seven days - the limited edition Caterham Seven CSR Twenty.
This was one of only 20 UK-built CSR Twentys, the first car to come out of Caterham’s new factory in Dartford, and a celebration of 20 years of the CSR chassis, a platform that’s long been the more serious, more refined sibling in the Seven family. And now, I had the keys in my hand, ready for a week with this attention-grabbing car.
I’ve always liked Caterhams. I have been fortunate enough to get behind the wheel of a few during my time at Bridge Classic Cars, and I’ve always had a great time with them. However, this was my first time experiencing a CSR chassis, and it’s safe to say, you can’t get much better of an introduction than this extremely limited car
Without wanting to make the rest of this article redundant, I will say already that I really enjoyed my week with the CSR Twenty. I found it to be everything you want from a Caterham - fast, raw, and engaging, but with a bit more comfort to make you think, “I could actually live with this.”
The specs and numbers are obviously important, but I don’t want to spend too long talking about information readily available (although I will go through them). I’d much rather tell you about my personal experience using the Caterham Seven CSR Twenty as my daily car for seven days. Everything I did with it, how I found it, and whether or not I would spend £80,000 on one (if I had it!).
The Numbers
As I said, a quick run-down of the important numbers:
Under the long, vented nose cone is a 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine producing 210 bhp. On paper, that may not sound like that much, but when you’re moving just 580kg of car, it’s plenty. It’s enough for a 0 - 60 mph time of 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 136 mph.
It doesn’t need turbos or drive modes, it just needs your right foot pressed down and your hands on the steering wheel. Nothing to interfere with a very analogue driving experience.
Paired with a five-speed manual gearbox, the driving experience is every bit as engaging as you’d expect and, as I’m sure I will say more than once in this, equally as fun.
CSR - Three Letters That Changed Everything
The CSR chassis first appeared in 2004 and represented a turning point for Caterham. This was no longer just a track-day toy. With its wider front and rear tracks, inboard front suspension, and fully independent rear suspension, the CSR offered genuine improvements in handling and refinement.
Fast forward 20 years, and the CSR Twenty doesn’t just rest on those laurels. It evolves them.
This car feels planted in a way that earlier Sevens simply didn’t. That’s not to say it’s dull or watered down, it certainly isn’t, but it is more predictable and more composed.
There’s no power steering, no traction control, no ABS, or any driving aids you might expect on a brand new car. However, that, for me at least, is the whole point. It doesn’t need to be tech-heavy; it’s more about the actual experience of driving it that matters.
The Aesthetics
The CSR Twenty has a 620-style nose cone. This gives it a more aggressive, modern look, and the LED lighting and dual-tone Union Jack grille add subtle touches of why this car was made in the first place - to celebrate the CSR chassis.
It has 15-inch Vulcan alloy wheels, which are exclusive to this model, and the car can be finished in either Kinetic Grey or Dynamic Silver.
Add in the various elements of carbon fibre, and you can’t help but appreciate how this stunning car looks.
Interior
When you think of Caterham cars, you don’t necessarily think of comfort and luxury. With the CSR Twenty, though, you can think of them. Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of more comfortable cars out there, but compared to other Sevens, the CSR Twenty is definitely more suited to longer road trips.
You’ve got quilted leather seats with the CSR Twenty logo on full display. These are trimmed with red stitching. The gearstick and handbrake gaiters are finished in Alcantara, and you’ve got a satin carbon dash with bespoke dials too.
The leather Momo steering wheel has no buttons, no fancy dials; it’s a simple steering wheel used for steering and nothing else.
Real-World Driving
While the idea of daily driving a Caterham is crazy for some, the CSR Twenty makes a decent case for it, at least in good weather. I drove it on motorways, on B-roads, through villages, and to and from work every day, and it handled it all with a surprising level of civility.
That said, this is still undeniably a Caterham. You sit practically on the floor, it’s loud (side-mounted exhaust right next to the driver's seat), and there’s not much in the way of insulation from wind or road noise.
During my seven days with the CSR Twenty, it never once felt temperamental. It didn’t complain about cold starts, or driving at speed, or being driven slowly through my village.
I have two little girls, so this car was never going to be practical for me. However, as a fun toy to bomb around in at the weekend, I think it's perfect!
My Week With The CSR Twenty
The Caterham Seven CSR Twenty gave me everything I love about Caterham in a slightly more refined, more usable package, without compromising the raw, race-like fun that defines the brand.
If I had £80,000 to spend on a car that I could take to the track but also take on longer road trips, the Caterham Seven CSR Twenty would likely be my choice.
Specifications
Engine
Ford Duratec 1999cc, 4-cylinder, naturally aspirated
Transmission
5-speed manual gearbox
Chassis dimensions
L: 3,360mm, W: 1,700mm, H: 1,115mm
Max power
210 bhp @ 7600 rpm
Max torque
203 Nm @ 6300 rpm
Weight
620kg
Power-to-weight
340 bhp-per-tonne (specification dependent)
Top speed
136 mph
Brakes
Ventilated Front Discs with Quad Piston Calipers
Steering
Rack and pinion, 1.93 turns lock-to-lock