Driver Magazine - Issue 2 of 3 2025 - Magazine - Page 26
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.
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