Plenty of modern performance cars claim race-bred DNA, but few deliver the unfiltered, back-to-basics intensity of a Caterham Seven. In an era of swelling curb weights and digital intervention, the Seven remains a stubborn outlier. Its roots trace back to Colin Chapman and the original Lotus Seven from the 1950s, and has evolved through the decades under the watch of Caterham, while always sticking to the same raw formula as the original.CaterhamIn more recent years, Caterham has expanded sales of the Seven to the US market, though after a strong initial start last decade, the company largely went quiet. Now it’s ready to step back into the spotlight by rolling out the Seven Miami Special Edition to coincide with the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix this weekend. Right At Home On Miami's Ocean Drive CaterhamThe Caterham Seven Miami Special Edition is based on the more highly track-optimized Seven R chassis, and instantly stands out thanks to its bespoke paint finish combining a main Aqua color with Vibrant Pink and White decals, including a “Miami” script in the famous stylized form at the rear. A small silhouette of the Miami International Autodrome street circuit also appears here.Other special touches of the Seven Miami Special Edition include the Miami script embroidered on the headrests, and an individual numbered plaque located on the dashboard. An additional plaque is installed in the engine bay, featuring engravings of the names and signatures of the two builders who assembled the chassis at Caterham’s factory in the UK.CaterhamCaterham Sevens are highly modular, meaning a wide variety of engines can be fitted. There have even been some versions in the past packing supercharged V8 engines. However, most Sevens use four-cylinder engines, and the Seven Miami Special Edition follows suit. Its powertrain is a Ford-designed 2.0-liter inline-four, delivering a peak of 210 horsepower at 7,600 rpm.That might not sound like much, but the car lacks a roof and weighs just 1,235 pounds, or a little more than half the weight of a modern Mazda MX-5 Miata. The engine is paired with a five-speed manual transmission and drives the rear wheels only, with Caterham quoting a zero to 60 mph time of 3.8 seconds and a top speed of 136 mph. More Than Just The Seven Caterham Caterham has plans to expand beyond the Seven and is currently working on an electric sports car code-named Project V. This will be a more livable car, featuring a plush interior, modern electronic features, and even a roof, and despite it being battery-powered, it is targeted to weigh around 2,600 pounds. The car is slated to launch in 2027.If you prefer your cars more raw in nature, order books for the Seven Miami Special Edition open next week. Just 12 examples will be built, with 10 earmarked for the US. Pricing hasn’t been announced, but for context, the standard Seven R starts at $51,995 in basic kit form. As with other models from Caterham, the car will likely also be sold as a kit to sidestep US certification hurdles, though dealers are on hand to guide buyers through final assembly and registration.Caterham Seven Miami Special Edition Front 3/4 View