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Lotus Elise 1.6 vs Caterham 7 CSR 260

Over a standing quarter mile on dry asphalt the Caterham 7 CSR 260 is the quicker car, covering it in 11.77 s at 116.0 mph against the Lotus Elise 1.6’s 15.56 s — a margin of 3.80 s. To 60 mph the Caterham 7 CSR 260 takes 3.55 s and the Lotus Elise 1.6 6.99 s.

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

Lotus Elise 1.6 Caterham 7 CSR 260

Watch the run in full — then change the surface, the weather or the distance and run it again.

Down the strip

Standing startLotus Elise 1.6Caterham 7 CSR 260
0–60 mph6.99 s3.55 s
0–100 mph—8.06 s
60 ft2.45 s1.71 s
1/8 mile10.01 s7.53 s
1/4 mile15.56 s11.77 s
Trap speed88.3 mph116.0 mph

Each car is trimmed to its own published figures — 9/9 for the Lotus Elise 1.6, 9/10 for the Caterham 7 CSR 260 — so a heavier car can still be the quicker one if that is what it tests.

On paper

SpecificationLotus Elise 1.6Caterham 7 CSR 260
Year20112005
Power134 bhp256 bhp
Kerb mass897 kg530 kg
Power to weight150 bhp/t483 bhp/t
DrivetrainRear driveRear drive
EngineNaturally aspiratedNaturally aspirated

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 carsSlower in the wetevery car, re-runThe cost of altitudeevery car, re-runThe cost of a passengerevery car, re-run
Lotus 0-60 timesevery modelCaterham 0-60 timesevery model

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Questions

Is the Lotus Elise 1.6 or the Caterham 7 CSR 260 faster?
The Caterham 7 CSR 260. Over a standing quarter mile it runs 11.77 s to the Lotus Elise 1.6's 15.56 s, a margin of 3.80 s, and it reaches 60 mph in 3.55 s against 6.99 s. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
What is the Lotus Elise 1.6 0-60 time?
The Lotus Elise 1.6 reaches 60 mph in 6.99 s, simulated on dry asphalt at 20 °C with a 1 ft rollout. It covers the standing quarter mile in 15.56 s at 88.3 mph.
What is the Caterham 7 CSR 260 0-60 time?
The Caterham 7 CSR 260 reaches 60 mph in 3.55 s, simulated on dry asphalt at 20 °C with a 1 ft rollout. It covers the standing quarter mile in 11.77 s at 116.0 mph.
What trap speed does each car run?
The Lotus Elise 1.6 trips the lights at 88.3 mph and the Caterham 7 CSR 260 at 116.0 mph at the end of the quarter mile. These are theoretical times from a physics simulation, not measured runs.
Are these real measured times?
No. Every time on this page is produced by a physics simulation, not by a stopwatch at a drag strip. Each car is modelled from its published kerb mass, rated power, drivetrain and gearing, then trimmed until it matches its own published acceleration figures — 9 of 9 for the Lotus Elise 1.6 and 9 of 10 for the Caterham 7 CSR 260. Conditions are identical for both cars: dry asphalt, 20 °C, sea level, 1 ft rollout.

Figures regenerated 2026-10-12. Every number on this page is computed by the simulator at build time, so the page and the app can never disagree.