Body style: Convertible (spider/spyder, cabrio/cabriolet, drop/open/soft top)
Segment: Roadster & Convertible
Production years: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024
Caterham did another upgrade to its timeless machine and introduced the CSR in 2005, adding more spicy ingredients to the already flavored British roadster.
The three letters from the car's name don't have anything to do with Corporate Social Responsibility. It would rather be Irresponsibility. The little roadster had a lot of connections with racing technology but lacked in the comfort department or daily usage. And yet, it was such an awesome machine that many racing drivers praised its qualities, which were rarely outshined by other similar stripped-down roadsters.
The UK provided some of the most outstanding vehicles in automotive history. Cars such as Rolls-Royce, Bentley, Lotus, and Land Rover are just a few examples. The Lotus 7, for instance, was built as a race car with only an engine at the front and a few body panels to protect the driver's shoes from getting wet. Caterham bought the license to build the Lotus Seven in 1973 from Colin Chaman himself and kept upgrading the original vehicle. The aluminum body panels and the rigid chassis were the main elements of the vehicle. The 2005 CSR version was a reminder of a batch of 20 vehicles built by Caterham in 1974 based on the Lotus Seven Series 4.
For the tight cockpit, Caterham offered a redesigned dash panel fitted with white dials and red needles. The center console hosted the gear stick for the six-speed manual transmission. At the same time, the driver was spoiled with a Momo racing steering wheel and a set of aluminum pedals.
Just like its 1974 predecessor, the 2005 Caterham CSR was fitted with a Cosworth engine, only this time it was turbocharged. Moreover, it sent the power to the rear wheels via a six-speed manual, while the independent suspension in all corners was vastly improved.
ENGINE SPECS - 2.3 5MT (200 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2261 cm3 |
Power: | 149 KW @ 7000 RPM 203 HP @ 7000 RPM 200 BHP @ 7000 RPM |
Torque: | 165 lb-ft @ 5750 RPM 224 Nm @ 5750 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 140 mph (225 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 3.7 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 5-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
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Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
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Tire Size: | 195/45 R15 || 255/40 R15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 130 in (3302 mm) |
Width: | 66.3 in (1684 mm) |
Height: | 44.8 in (1138 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.2/57.6 in (1,504/1,463 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 91.1 in (2314 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 3.9 in (99 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.7 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 1246 lbs (565 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 1929 lbs (875 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 14.2 mpg US (16.6 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 27.7 mpg US (8.5 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 20.5 mpg US (11.5 L/100Km) |
ENGINE SPECS - 2.3 6MT (260 HP) | |
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Cylinders: | L4 |
Displacement: | 2261 cm3 |
Power: | 194 KW @ 7500 RPM 264 HP @ 7500 RPM 260 BHP @ 7500 RPM |
Torque: | 200 lb-ft @ 6200 RPM 271 Nm @ 6200 RPM |
Fuel System: | Multipoint Injection |
Fuel: | Gasoline |
PERFORMANCE SPECS | |
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Top Speed: | 155 mph (249 km/h) |
Acceleration 0-62 Mph (0-100 kph): | 3.1 s |
TRANSMISSION SPECS | |
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Drive Type: | Rear Wheel Drive |
Gearbox: | 6-speed manual |
BRAKES SPECS | |
---|---|
Front: | Ventilated Discs |
Rear: | Ventilated Discs |
TIRES SPECS | |
---|---|
Tire Size: | 195/45 R15 || 255/40 R15 |
DIMENSIONS | |
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Length: | 130 in (3302 mm) |
Width: | 66.3 in (1684 mm) |
Height: | 44.8 in (1138 mm) |
Front/rear Track: | 59.2/57.6 in (1,504/1,463 mm) |
Wheelbase: | 91.1 in (2314 mm) |
Ground Clearance: | 3.9 in (99 mm) |
Aerodynamics (Cd): | 0.7 |
WEIGHT SPECS | |
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Unladen Weight: | 1135 lbs (515 kg) |
Gross Weight Limit: | 1808 lbs (820 kg) |
FUEL ECONOMY (NEDC) | |
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City: | 14.7 mpg US (16 L/100Km) |
Highway: | 28.3 mpg US (8.3 L/100Km) |
Combined: | 23 mpg US (10.2 L/100Km) |