Superlight, superfast

 It's the recently unveiled Caterham Superlight R400, arguably the closest thing to a road-going racer.

The 'Superlight' tag is no misnomer as the lithe UK-built Caterham tips the scales at a barebones 525kg -- less than an F1 car in race trim. That's largely the reason it can bolt from standstill to 100km/h in a whisker under 4sec.

Of course, part of the credit for its eye-watering performance must go to the Cosworth-developed 2.0-litre that punches well above its weight to deliver a robust 157kW at 7600rpm and 203Nm at a peaky 6300rpm.

"With its near-telepathic steering, muscular power delivery, and epic cornering ability, the R400 is a superlative car for the keen driver," boasts the manufacturer. Those who've driven Caterhams are unlikely to argue.

Riding on bespoke Avon CR500 tyres and 15-inch wheels, the new model also scores a limited-slip differential, carbonfibre front wings, composite bucket race seats, four-point harness and a composite wind deflector in lieu of a windscreen.

In keeping with its track-attack credentials, the Superlight R400 comes standard with dry-sump lubrication (to minimise oil surge under heavy cornering and braking),

Caterham says the new model is particularly significant as it's the company's first offering to feature state-of-the-art chassis construction techniques that boost torsional rigidity by 14 percent.

The increased stiffness is claimed to translate to even greater real-world cornering performance and handling feel than before. The gains are largely the handiwork of new chassis supplier, Caged, which has invested heavily in sophisticated laser cutting and robot welding technology.

The Superlight R400 is the successor to the Rover K-Series engined R400, a car that was a favourite of hard-charging drivers in the UK and also a fixture on racetracks via Caterham's R400 and Eurocup race series.

On sale in the UK from July, the Superlight R400 costs £26,995 ($64,640) in kit form, or £29,495 ($70,595) as a fully built entity. Caterhams aren't officially sold in Australia, but there's always the prospect of a handful of grey imports lobbing in.