The British sports car maker Caterham in the Goodwood Festival of Speed showed a new electric sports car called Project V, which is expected as early as the end of 2025 into the market.
Designed by Caterham’s new chief designer Anthony Jannarelly, the Project V was built from the ground up as an electric car. With a 200-kilowatt electric motor mounted on the rear axle and a 55-kilowatt-hour USOC lithium-ion battery pack, the car boasts an output of 268 horsepower and a range of 249 miles (about 400.73 kilometers), and can be charged from 20% to 80% in 15 minutes using a 150-kilowatt DC fast charger.
The Project V follows in the footsteps of Caterham’s minimalist design philosophy, with a clean, lightweight body weighing in at around 1,190 kilograms. Built on a carbon fiber and aluminum composite chassis with fully adjustable front and rear double-wishbone suspension and electric power steering, Caterham estimates that the roadster can accelerate from 0 to 60 mph in 4.5 seconds, with a top speed of 143 mph (230.14 km/h).
The Project V demonstrator features a unique 2+1 seating layout, with an optional 2+2 layout that Caterham says optimizes rear passenger comfort and provides greater flexibility of use. The dashboard is simple, with two round digital gauges in front of the steering wheel. Below the center console are a series of rocker switches that allow the driver to switch between Normal, Sport and Sprint modes to adjust acceleration, suspension and steering. The entertainment system is also simple and intuitive, supporting smartphone mirroring.
According to Bob Laishley, CEO of Caterham Cars Ltd, Project V is more than just a design study or concept car. The development team conducted engineering and production feasibility studies throughout the development process. “Project V fulfills our ambitions of being a sustainable company and exploring electrification at the same time.” He said, “Depending on the next phase of development and technical capabilities, Project V could be on the market by late 2025 or early 2026.”
As for the existing Seven, Laishley added that the Project V roadster is not intended to replace it, but rather to complement it. “We believe that by retaining Caterham’s core values it will appeal to our existing customer base and attract new fans.” He said, “By using a more practical coupe body and taking advantage of the benefits of electric vehicles, this is a car for shopping, taking the kids to school or zipping around on a Sunday morning.”
The Project V will join a number of electric cars at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, including the Pininfarina Battista Edizione Nino Farina and the MG4 EX4 concept car.
