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Caterham R500 1.8L K Series

The Caterham R500 1.8L K Series reaches 60 mph in 3.37 s (100 km/h in 3.49 s) and covers a standing quarter mile in 11.63 s, tripping the lights at 117.5 mph. It clears the first 60 ft in 1.69 s and the eighth mile in 7.43 s, reaching 100 mph in 8.25 s.

Simulated, not measured — computed from published kerb mass, rated power, gearing and drivetrain, then fitted to this car’s own published acceleration figures. Dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

Caterham R500 1.8L K Series Caterham Seven 620R

Pick who it runs against, then watch it happen — and change the surface, the weather or the distance and run it again.

Down the strip

Standing start Caterham R500 1.8L K Series
0–60 mph3.37 s
0–100 km/h3.49 s
0–100 mph8.25 s
60 ft1.69 s
1/8 mile7.43 s
1/4 mile11.63 s
Trap speed117.5 mph

About the R500 1.8L K Series

The 1999 Caterham R500 1.8L K Series is a rear-drive naturally aspirated car of 450 kg with 231 bhp, which works out at 513 bhp per tonne. Rear drive and 513 bhp per tonne make the launch the hard part of the run: 60 ft takes 1.69 s. Against the 14,946 cars in the set it is the 525th quickest to 60 mph, inside the fastest five per cent, and the 2nd quickest of the 14 Caterhams here. Its 117.5 mph trap speed sits about where its 0-60 puts it, so it launches and pulls in roughly equal measure. The simulation is trimmed to 5 of 5 published acceleration figures for this car.

On paper

Specification Caterham R500 1.8L K Series
Year1999
Power231 hp (172 kW)
Kerb mass450 kg
Power to weight513 bhp/t
DrivetrainRear drive
Gears6
EngineNaturally aspirated
Top speed145 mph (234 km/h), quoted

Similar cars

CarYear 0–601/4 mileTrapPower
Caterham Seven 620R20133.46 s11.73 s114.7 mph310 bhp
Ariel Atom 3 300 PS20083.30 s11.20 s123.8 mph296 bhp
TVR Tuscan R/T 440R/ T 400R/Typhon 4.2 44020003.39 s11.63 s122.4 mph434 bhp

Picked for a fair race, not just a matching 0-60: pace, power-to-weight and body shape all count, and at most one is from the same maker.

Where these times sit

0-60 under 4 seconds1,060 cars0-100 km/h under 4 seconds881 carsQuarter mile under 12 seconds780 cars0-100 under 9 seconds871 carsTraps over 110 mph1,380 carsSlower in the wetevery car, re-runThe cost of altitudeevery car, re-runThe cost of a passengerevery car, re-run
Caterham 0-60 timesevery modelFastest supercars629 carsFastest cars of the 1990s2,649 cars
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Questions

What is the Caterham R500 1.8L K Series 0-60 time?
The Caterham R500 1.8L K Series reaches 60 mph in 3.37 s, simulated on dry asphalt at 20 °C with a 1 ft rollout. That makes it the 525th quickest of the 14,946 cars in the set.
What is the Caterham R500 1.8L K Series quarter mile time?
11.63 s at 117.5 mph. It reaches the eighth mile in 7.43 s and clears the first 60 ft in 1.69 s. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
How much power does the Caterham R500 1.8L K Series have?
231 bhp and 450 kg, which is 513 bhp per tonne. It is rear-drive, naturally aspirated, with 6 gears and a quoted top speed of 234 km/h. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
What cars are comparable to the Caterham R500 1.8L K Series?
Closest here on pace: Caterham Seven 620R (3.46 s), Ariel Atom 3 300 PS (3.30 s), TVR Tuscan R/T 440R/ T 400R/Typhon 4.2 440 (3.39 s). Each one can be raced against the Caterham R500 1.8L K Series in the panel at the top of this page. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
Are these real measured times?
No. Every figure on this page is produced by a physics simulation, not by a stopwatch at a drag strip. The Caterham R500 1.8L K Series is modelled from its published kerb mass, rated power, drivetrain and gearing, then trimmed until it reproduces 5 of its 5 published acceleration figures. Conditions are the same for every car in the set: dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

Figures regenerated 2026-10-16. Every number on this page is computed by the simulator at build time, so the page and the app can never disagree.