Caterham launches Seven 170 as its lightest car ever

The iconic Caterham Seven continues to evolve, as the British manufacturer has introduced its lightest and smallest ever sportscar.

Dubbed the Seven 170, the two-seater weighs a touch more than 440kg thanks to its new Suzuki-derived, turbocharged inline three-cylinder engine, developing 62kW and 116Nm to allow a power-to-weight ratio of just over 127kW per tonne.

With a top speed nudging past 160km/h and a 0-100km/h sprint time of 6.9 seconds, it might be surprising to hear the Seven 170 is the lowest-emission Caterham on sale, making it both Euro 6 and London ULEZ compliant.

Holding on to the original Lotus Seven's mantra of ‘simplify and add lightness’, there's not a lot to the 170. New alloy wheels with 155-section tyres and a live rear axle are about the most exciting bits of kit to be fitted to the ultra-lightweight toy.

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After being acquired by Japanese company VT Holdings earlier this year, the manufacturer's new parent company decided its most iconic sportscar should be better aligned to its local regulations, turning the Seven into a kei car.

On top of the aforementioned 660cc engine, the 170's width has been chopped down to 1470mm, 105mm skinnier than any other Seven and enabling it to comply with kei car regulations.

Available as a road or track car, the 170S trim is designed for road use, featuring a five-speed gearbox, road suspension pack, 14-inch Silver Juno alloy wheels, full windscreen and weather gear including a hood and side screen, black leather seats and a Momo steering wheel, while the track-oriented 170R gains sports suspension, composite seats, a four-point harness, limited-slip differential and carbon-fibre dashboard.

Prices start at £22,990 (AU$43,235) in kit form for the Seven 170, with factory-built vehicles also available at an undisclosed extra cost.