What is the Caterham Seven?
The Caterham Seven is a lightweight, open two-seat sports car with exposed front wheels. It is the centrepiece of Caterham’s range, built around a simple idea: keep the car light and direct so the driver feels closely connected to the road. Its compact, pared-back layout suits people drawn to an involving drive and happy with limited weather protection and luggage space.
The Seven began as a Lotus, designed by Colin Chapman and first built in 1957. Caterham took over the rights to build and develop it in 1973, carrying the original lightweight philosophy forward while evolving the car over time.
Caterham Seven generations
The listed generation is the Series 3, or S3, which dates from 1974 and continues today. Over that long run, Caterham has kept the Seven’s familiar open, lightweight formula while developing its engines and versions.
Engines and power
In European Union registration figures from 2010 to 2025, the Seven appears with petrol engines from 0.7 to 2.0 litres. Power spans 59 kW (80 PS) to 176 kW (239 PS), giving the range a broad spread while keeping its compact, lightweight character.
The most registered versions include the 0.7-litre petrol model with 59 kW (80 PS), recorded from 2014 to 2018, and 1.6-litre petrol models with 100 kW (136 PS), recorded in 2020 and 2021.
Fuel consumption, CO₂ and markets
Across 53 versions, the Seven recorded 3,342 EU registrations from 2010 to 2025. The lowest listed consumption is 4.8 L/100 km on the WLTP test. European WLTP results use a different procedure from US EPA ratings and Canada’s 5-cycle results, so figures from those markets are not directly comparable.
The European figures describe registrations in the European Economic Area. Caterham’s history and identity remain closely tied to the Seven, its lightweight British sports car.
Questions and answers
What kind of car is the Caterham Seven?
It is a lightweight, open two-seat sports car with exposed front wheels.
Which generation of the Caterham Seven is listed?
The Series 3, or S3, dates from 1974 and continues today.
What engines and power are listed for the Seven in the EU?
The EU figures list petrol engines from 0.7 to 2.0 litres, with power from 59 kW (80 PS) to 176 kW (239 PS).
What is the lowest listed fuel consumption?
The lowest listed figure is 4.8 L/100 km on the WLTP test.