News Source: topspeed.com

In 2013, Caterham  launched the Seven 620R  as the most extreme Seven  in the nameplate’s storied history. More than two years have passed, and the 620R is still the quickest Seven you can drive on public roads, returning supercar-  like sprints and featuring the same iconic bodywork Colin Chapman designed in the 1950s. Starting in 2016, however, the 620R is no longer alone at the top of the Seven lineup. Joining in is the 620S, a more road-oriented version that’s part of Caterham’s recent reorganization of its sports car  stable.

As you may remember, the Brits decided to rename most of its models so that all Sevens are identified by their horsepower outputs, as well as introduce two performance packs, S and R, for each version. With the 620 already being available in the extreme R configuration, Caterham launched a slightly milder version, wearing a "620S" badge. And by milder I mean a roadster that’s a bit more comfortable as a daily driver, but not less powerful, as the 620S uses the same powerplant as its range-topping sibling. The former is significantly slower though due to its less sporty transmission, but you’ll have to keep reading to find out more about that.

The bad news here is that, just like the 620R, the 620S won’t be sold in the United States. Although some models are available on these shores via Superformance, the 620 series won’t cross the pond to North America anytime soon.

Design-wise, the 620S is very similar to the 620R and you need to take a very close look to find what sets them apart. As it was developed as a more road-oriented 620R, the 620S comes with extra comfort features such as a full windscreen and side screens. To further enhance comfort, Caterham  replaced the 620R’s 13-inch wheels with 15-inch Orcus alloys wrapped in more road-suited ZZS tires. Another feature that sets the 620S apart is that the rear-exiting exhaust pipe. On the 620R, the exhaust exits under the right door, toward the rear fender.

Other than that, the 620S comes with the same goodies as the 620R, as well as the same customization options.

Standard features include composite front and rear wings and an Aero filler cap. Much like other Caterhams, the 620S is supplied unpainted as standard, in aluminum finish with colored fiber glass or unpainted carbon-fiber parts depending on options.

Standard paints include only yellow, blue, green, orange, black, and red, but Caterham says it can paint the car in "any color you wish." Finishes include non-metallic, metallic, and pearlescent. The 620S can also be ordered with a painted front grille, painted noseband, a decal pack, and side stripes. Buyers can also have the "Caterham" lettering in either black or white.

Other options include an interchangeable carbon wind deflector, carbon-vinyl half doors, a carbon-vinyl tonneau cover, carbon-fiber front and rear wings, and a Black pack. More importantly, the 620S can be built on the wide-bodied SV chassis, which is longer and wider than the standard S3 chassis, providing a better experience for more generously-proportioned customers, as well as added interior and luggage space, and a larger fuel tank.

Design-wise, the 620S is very similar to the 620R and you need to take a very close look to find what sets them apart. As it was developed as a more road-oriented 620R, the 620S comes with extra comfort features such as a full windscreen and side screens. To further enhance comfort, Caterham  replaced the 620R’s 13-inch wheels with 15-inch Orcus alloys wrapped in more road-suited ZZS tires. Another feature that sets the 620S apart is that the rear-exiting exhaust pipe. On the 620R, the exhaust exits under the right door, toward the rear fender.

Other than that, the 620S comes with the same goodies as the 620R, as well as the same customization options.

Standard features include composite front and rear wings and an Aero filler cap. Much like other Caterhams, the 620S is supplied unpainted as standard, in aluminum finish with colored fiber glass or unpainted carbon-fiber parts depending on options.

Standard paints include only yellow, blue, green, orange, black, and red, but Caterham says it can paint the car in "any color you wish." Finishes include non-metallic, metallic, and pearlescent. The 620S can also be ordered with a painted front grille, painted noseband, a decal pack, and side stripes. Buyers can also have the "Caterham" lettering in either black or white.

Other options include an interchangeable carbon wind deflector, carbon-vinyl half doors, a carbon-vinyl tonneau cover, carbon-fiber front and rear wings, and a Black pack. More importantly, the 620S can be built on the wide-bodied SV chassis, which is longer and wider than the standard S3 chassis, providing a better experience for more generously-proportioned customers, as well as added interior and luggage space, and a larger fuel tank.

Under the hood, the 620S is identical to the 620R, using the same supercharged, 2.0-liter, Ford Duratec engine rated at 310 horsepower and 219 pound-feet of twist. However, because the 620S is 38 kg heavier, the 0 to 60 mph sprint raises from 2.8 to 3.4 seconds, while top speed decreases from 155 to 144 mph. The slightly reduced performance figures are also the result of the 620S using a five-speed manual gearbox instead of the 620R’s race-inspired, sequential transmission. Still, the 620S is a pretty quick machine and more than suitable for a fun-filled weekend at the track, despite the milder gearbox.

Standard features for the roadster include a limited-slip differential, a lightweight flywheel, and a rear anti-roll bar.

Keeping the 620S on its best behavior is a sport suspension and 15-inch, Orcus alloy wheels wrapped in ZZS tires. Stopping power comes from ventilated brake discs with quad-piston calipers. Optionally, customers can add a race suspension package and 13-inch Apollo wheels shod in ZZR rubber. The Caterham 620S retails from £44,995 (about $64,810 at current exchange rates,) a £5,000 ($7,200) drop from the range-topping 620R. The most expensive option is the wide-bodied, SV chassis at £2,500, while the Sport and Race roll cage fetch £850 and £950, respectively. The Race sport suspension costs £730, the full weather equipment £650, and the heated carbon-fiber seats will set you back £1,000. Paints aren’t exactly cheap either, with the pearlescent hues priced at £750 and the metallic shades priced at £500. For the On-The-Road package, which includes 12 months road fund license, IVA inspection, 1st registration fee, number plates, and delivery to Caterham South dealership, you’ll have to pay £800. The Caterham 620R is the perfect vehicle if you need a track toy for fun-filled weekends on the Silverstone or the Nurburgring. However, the range-topping Seven isn’t exactly comfortable as a daily driver. The 620S comes to fix that issue (in part at least) with a more road-oriented gearbox, more comfortable leather seats as standard, and a full windscreen. Granted, the 620S is still a brutal machine even with all the aforementioned upgrades, but it should make driving it in the city on a daily basis a lot more pleasant, without reducing its track capabilities by much.