Tuesday 13th January

Behold the first Caterham Project V prototype

The electric Caterham creeps closer, now with production-spec details 

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While this might seem familiar as the Caterham Project V Concept seen a couple of years ago, look a little closer and you’ll see one or two things have changed. This is the prototype car exhibited at the Tokyo show, notable for featuring ‘specifications closer to a production vehicle, strongly focused on mass production readiness.’ While the notion of a battery-powered Caterham may still seem odd to some, they’re really forging ahead with gusto: other prototypes are already in build or being driven. 

The significant change for this car is the design alterations; the rear has now been tweaked ‘to comply with regulatory requirements in various markets’, which has ultimately made for a less distinctive, less pretty car - although it would hardly be the first time a prototype has turned out less attractive than the preceding concept. Caterham says that overall design, despite the late Lotus Esprit-esque rear treatment, ‘remains faithful to the original concept’, and that’s fair - the Seven-style front grille and overall silhouette are very recognisable from 2023. 

The interior is also said to have changed since then, most notably with a two-plus-two layout rather than the three-seat arrangement first mooted. It doesn’t seem like very much will be able to fit behind those front seats, but then there’s only a Yamaha e-axle to think about behind the driver (and not a whole engine), so perhaps it’ll be roomier than expected. Up front, the dash features a ‘flat-panel instrument cluster reminiscent of the Seven, now incorporating a circular digital display.’  Sadly, there are no official pictures of that for the moment, so it would have to be hoped it doesn’t copy the Seven too far - because that’s looked old hat for decades, even by stripped-out sports car standards. Apparently we’re going to get a ‘classical ambience with modern functionality.’

This prototype is underpinned by a tubular spaceframe like a Seven; light and stiff are useful benefits for any sports car, whatever the power source. The battery is low for a good centre of gravity, and the response of the Yamaha axle - which packages together motor, inverter and gearbox - should bring ‘that quintessential Caterham fun-to-drive character.’ It sounds like a tough ask, recreating the raw thrills of a car that’s so famously championed combustion with battery power, but who better to make an EV feel like a Caterham than Caterham themselves? Project V testing is set to continue apace through 2026 - don’t be surprised if there’s significant progress sooner rather than later…

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• Caterham readies ‘working’ Project V for Tokyo
  
• New Seven 310 Encore bids farewell to Sigma

[bobj42]

That Caterham green colour always looks a lot better in the flesh than in does in photos, although I think the photographs are poor quality anyway in this case.

[Carbonfibr3]

Thanks but no thanks.

I’ll stick to my CSR.

[InformationSuperHighway]

Love it, all power to them for creating these things.

[Caterhamfan]

I quite like it, and I'm getting a bit of an Elan +2-vibe from the rear end

[matnrach3]

Likely go the same way as the Caterham 21. Designed when electric was the way to go in the short term. Now not true it will die off quite soon

[nismo48]

InformationSuperHighway said:

Love it, all power to them for creating these things.

+1

[gotoPzero]

I think it looks good, probably has (just) enough power but price... I get the feeling its going to be expensive?
It would be of interest to me at sub £50k. I can already hear the sales guys at Caterham laughing down the phone at me.

[Maxym]

Nothing wrong with the rear of that. Looks lovely from all angles.

[theicemario]

Looks great. A breath of fresh air in a sea of mega-power behemoths.

The colour scheme is lovely too.

Fingers crossed it is a sales success.

[I 8 a 4RE]

That brand new design looks 25 years old.

And why have such flared arches when you have such a big wheel gap?

[Augustus Windsock]

Stopped reading at ‘battery powered’….

[blearyeyedboy]

If there is a great hope for the electric sportscar, this is surely as good as it gets.

I am hopeful but anxious, for Caterham and for all of our hobby.

[Chubbyross]

I look forward to seeing some good photos of it and in a decent colour.

[V88Dicky]

More than a passing resemblance to the Jaguar CX-75, to my eyes at least…

[Motormouth88]

Love Caterham but not this…looks like a hash up Maserati coupe

[dxg]

Just noticed the staggered offset wheels. I wonder what the tyre sizes are.

[Viperstamp]

A significant part of what makes a great sports car is the noise and feel from a characterful engine. So why on earth would anyone buy an electric sports car that doesn't posses either, particularly when there are so many brilliant ICE alternatives out there, either new or lightly used?

[kambites]

I really rather like that. If they produce a cabriolet (or targa) version I could definitely see it as a replacement for my Elise in a decade or two once depreciation has done its thing. It's certainly the first EV to remotely interest me beyond basic transport.

Edited by kambites on Tuesday 13th January 19:57

[S600BSB]

That’s rather lovely.

[Sion111R]

Wonderful. I think it’s an exquisite design.