The car brand in question is British Caterham, whose cars are based on the Lotus 7 from 1957.
The brand’s smallest is called the Caterham 170R, and weighs an unimaginable 440 kilos.
The car is built to be classified under the Kei regulations in Japan, which provide benefits and tax breaks for compact and low-engine cars.
The engine is small, but that doesn’t matter in such a light car – Photo: William Koitrand
The engine is therefore a small turbo three from Suzuki with only 660 cc – or 0.66 liter – cylinder volume. The output of only 85 horsepower may seem modest, but is quite sufficient thanks to the low weight.
The car does 0 to 100 km/h in 6.9 seconds, and has a top speed of 160 km/h.
The Caterham 170R is a stripped down wagon
The performance certainly does not turn the car into a speed monster, but the effect is absolutely sufficient to have fun.
Thanks to the low weight, you can also get away with small brakes, tires and suspension components, and fuel consumption stays at a reasonable level.
The interior is stripped down to say the least – Photo: William Koitrand
The car has been able to be so light as it is primarily intended for track driving, and therefore lacks most in terms of comfort and safety equipment.
There aren’t even doors or a windshield, while the interior heater is an option.
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Can touch the asphalt when driving
When you approach the car, you realize that it is not only light but also very small, and if you are slightly above normal size, it is far from guaranteed that you will fit in the small cockpit.
I myself had to take off my shoes to be able to handle the pedals, but this hassle is quickly forgotten when you start driving.
You sit so low that you can touch the asphalt with your hand and look out over the long engine hood.
You sit so low that you can touch the asphalt – Photo: William Koitrand
Far ahead you can see the front wheels on the outside swinging and bobbing up and down over the bumps. The feeling of speed is enormous, not least thanks to the lack of a windscreen.
The car is also available in a slightly heavier comfort version called 170S, where you get luxurious details such as windscreen, doors and a folding roof.
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An unusual sports car
With its compact dimensions, the car feels good on narrow country roads, the incredible directness of all controls is striking.
The gear lever only needs to be moved a few centimeters between gears, and the steering is so nimble that it hardly feels like you’re turning the steering wheel when cornering.
The car takes up limited space on the road – Photo: William Koitrand
You feel exactly what is happening under the wheels, and the car always does exactly what the driver asks. The small turbo engine is responsive, lively and playful, and the turbo system chirps entertainingly when you let off the gas.
This is, for the sake of the unusual, a new sports car that you can have fun with on public roads without having to drive way too fast.
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The Caterham 170R is a feather-light toy
Basically, the Caterham 170R is a toy meant only to be used on racetracks and twisty roads on sunny summer days.
It can therefore not compete with today’s multi-talented sports cars, which are just as competent in everyday life as they are on a racing track.
The Caterham 170R can best be described as a feather-light toy – Photo: William Koitrand
However, modern sports cars have become increasingly heavier, thirstier and high-performance, which means more resources go into making them, and you have to drive them at anti-social speeds to be fun.
These qualities do not resonate well with our increasingly conscious society.
Instead, in the Caterham 170R we have a feather-light car that consumes minimal resources and is fantastically entertaining to drive at all speeds.
The concept may be nearly 70 years old, but is perhaps more relevant now than ever.
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Caterham 170R (2022)
Engine: 0.66-liter, 3rd, 85 horsepower, 116 newton meters
Transmission: 5-speed manual gearbox, rear wheel drive
Acceleration 0–100 km/h: 6.9 seconds
Top speed: 160 km/h
Weight: 440 kg
Dimensions (length/width/height): 3180/1470/1090 mm
Price: SEK 502,300