The Damsel took this (clickable) photo of a Caterham Seven Superlight R400 (or simply “Caterham R400”), a lightweight, high-performance British sports car. We were pulling out of the parking lot at our local Basha’s and saw this beauty parked on the street in front of St. Anthony’s Church.
It seems that there are only a few hundred of these in the entire United States, so it is extremely rare (a.k.a. Sasquatch sighting) to see one of these in Wickenburg, a town known for it’s Cowboy and retirement cultures and not too many sports cars, let alone this rare beast.
About this car:
The Caterham Seven is a modern evolution of the classic Lotus 7 from the 1950s. It’s an ultra-minimalist, open-top, two-seater roadster designed for pure driving thrills—think raw handling, minimal weight, and maximum engagement. The “R400” (or Superlight R400) is a performance-oriented variant from the mid-to-late 2000s, known for its excellent power-to-weight ratio. The “400” name comes from its ~400 bhp per ton power-to-weight figure, which gives it supercar-like acceleration despite modest horsepower.
Caterhams like the R400 are legendary for telepathic steering, razor-sharp handling, and go-kart-like agility. They’re track weapons that are (barely) road-legal. Expect wind-in-the-face excitement, a loud exhaust note, and a firm ride. They’re not for commuting or comfort—getting in/out is a gymnastic exercise—but they’re addictive on twisty roads or circuits.
More at this SuperGrok link.
