Caterham Seven 485 Final Edition tested

The Caterham Seven 485 is a final edition limited series model, which pays tribute to its naturally aspirated engine before it is phased out. We are talking about the 2.0 4-cylinder Ford Duratec unit, which will not be adapted to the latest anti-pollution regulations. 

This final edition - also available in the CSR trim in 25 units, in addition to the 60 units of the version featured in this road test - is also an opportunity to emphasise the pure driving pleasure that this car is able to offer.

Half the weight, double the fun

Not only is the Caterham Seven light (560 kg), but it is also short, narrow, low, and very compact: length is 3.20 metres, height 1.09 metres, width 1.47 metres.

To give you an idea, you can take an Abarth 500, which is just under 3.70 metres long, or a Mazda MX-5 ND, which is just over 3.90 metres and weighs about 1,000 kg. That is almost twice as much as the Caterham. Heck, even Lotus produces heavier cars. 

For completeness, the Caterham Seven is also available with an enlarged chassis, with the following dimensions: length 3.36 metres, height 1.15 metres, width 1.70 metres.

Caterham 485 Final Edition

Aesthetically, the Caterham 485 can be painted in five special colours and is fitted with the front nose of the Caterham 620 with a carbon-fibre air intake, a material from which other components on the bodywork are also made: the mudguards on the wheels, the indicator supports, the deflectors in place of the windscreen, and the wing mirrors.

The front and rear lights are LED and the wheels are 13-inch or 15-inch with black or volcanic grey finish, with semi-slick Toyo Proxes R888R tyres.

Caterham 485 Final Edition

It's like being in a biplane

In the cockpit of the 485 Final Edition, you feel like you are in a vintage aircraft without a roof, like a biplane. Before your eyes is a carbon-clad dashboard with a numbered nameplate and a dedicated instrument panel, which also features sequential lights to support limiter shifts.

The central tunnel is upholstered in leather, alternating with Alcantara upholstery with contrasting grey stitching and carpeted floor mats. The shell seats have four-point safety belts, the quick-release sports steering wheel is supplied by Momo and the handbrake lever is made of aluminium, with the Caterham logo engraved on the grip. Other accessories are also available, such as heating vents, a 12-volt electric socket, an external system for disconnecting the battery or a roll cage for track day use.

The 4-cylinder 2.0-litre Ford Duratec engine likes to rev up: power of 228 bhp is reached at 8,500 rpm and maximum torque of 205 Nm at 6,300 rpm, for a 0-62 mph acceleration time of 4.1 seconds and 140mph.

Caterham 485 Final Edition

Power is provided by the rear wheels - with a self-locking differential - and the seats are also 'rear': they are mounted practically on the rear axle, which transmits the car's reactions to the driver in a very different manner compared to every other sports car. With the long bonnet in front and the two round headlamps at the front always in the driver's field of vision, they act as a reference in trajectories together with the wheels, which are visible on the sides, making the driving experience unique.

The pedal set is a little narrow, but downshifts are exciting thanks to a very short gear lever, which allows the five gears to be engaged with millimetric movements.

The same goes for the diameter of the steering wheel, which is the size of a span, so that the car can change direction with little movement. The car often curves more with the accelerator than with the steering, which is very direct: less than two turns from one end of the range to the other, without power assistance. You therefore drive with great satisfaction in countersteering, propping yourself up with your knees and elbows in a very tight, intimate cabin.

In addition to the absence of electronic traction and stability controls, you also have to take into account the lack of ABS, so braking is old-fashioned, you have to regulate the pressure on the pedal millimetrically so as not to lock the wheels when braking (the front calipers are fixed four-piston).

Caterham 485 Final Edition

How much does it cost?

The price list for the Caterham Seven 485 starts at €67,495, excluding VAT and local taxes, rising in the case of the example in this road test to €74,500, with almost €7,000 in optional features.

For the Vulcano Red paintwork, it costs more than €1,000, for example, or €1,250 for contrasting parts in Gravity Black, €900 for LED headlamps, more than €1,000 for carbon fibre sports seats, and more than €600 for the lowered floor covering in the passenger compartment.