The British sports car manufacturer Caterham has presented Project V, a lightweight, fully electric coupé concept car. The aim is for a market launch of the series version in late 2025 or early 2026 at prices under £80 000 (€93 000).

Unlike the electric version of the Caterham Seven, which the company presented as a concept car in May, Project V was designed as an electric vehicle from the outset. The vehicle deviates strongly from the familiar Caterham concept of the Seven with its free-standing wheels and resembles more of a conventional sports coupé.

2+1 seater

Weighing 1 190 kg, the electric coupé is designed as a 2+1 seater (optionally 2+2). It is powered by a 200 kW electric motor on the rear axle, coupled with a 55 kWh battery pack for a target WLTP range of 400 kilometers.

Caterham quotes an acceleration time from 0 to 100 kph of less than 4,5 seconds and a top speed of 230 kph. A larger battery or a second electric motor was not realized for weight reasons.

Caterham does not currently provide any further details on the construction of the battery with cell formats or cell chemistry. However, the battery pack is said to have ‘advanced thermal management’ and can be charged from 20 to 80% in just 15 minutes, provided the DC charger offers at least 150 kW.

The study has a composite chassis made of aluminum and carbon fiber to keep the weight down. The mentioned target weight of under 1,2 tons applies to the 2+1 seater. Caterham doesn’t give details yet on the 2+2 seater and the exact design differences.

Production in mind

The body shape is the creation of new chief designer Anthony Jannarelly. Caterham says his vision was “brought to life” by Italdesign in the press release. One can see that this concept is not an extreme design but has already been created with a production version in mind.

“Project V is not just a concept or design study; we’ve conducted engineering and production feasibility throughout the development process,” says Bob Laishley, CEO of Caterham Cars and COO of the newly formed electric division Caterham EVo.

Light, simple, enjoyable

Anthony Jannarelly adds: “A Caterham Seven’s design is simple and minimalist; it’s designed for its intended function, to be lightweight and fun to drive. With Project V, we’re applying this philosophy to the sports coupé architecture to create a seducing, timeless silhouette. Every feature must justify itself from a weight perspective to maintain lightness and optimize driver engagement.”

“An electric Caterham of any shape and size has to stay true to what sets us apart: being lightweight, simple, and offering an unparalleled driving experience. That’s our DNA,” Laishley confirms.

At the presentation of the electric Seven technology carrier, Caterham had still qualified that production of an EV Seven would only take place “when future generation battery technology allows it”.

“Project V fulfills our ambition to grow the company and explore electrification simultaneously sustainably. Subject to the next development and technical capability phases, Project V could be brought to market toward the end of 2025 or early 2026 with a target price starting from less than £80 000,”  Laishley concludes.

Better accessibility, more flexibility

The Project V show car uses a 2+1 seating layout – 2+2 as optional – optimizes ingress and egress, provides more comfort for the rear seat passenger, and offers greater flexibility in how a prospective owner may use the car.

At the center of the interior is a simple, driver-focused infotainment system featuring smartphone mirroring, and a digital instrument cluster is used to display critical information. Drivers can choose between Normal, Sport, and Sprint driving modes that intelligently adjust the acceleration and steering for different environments.

The concept features double-wishbone front and rear suspension with fully adjustable geometry, electrically assisted power steering, Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires (19-inch front and 20-inch rear), and brake discs all-round.

“Project V isn’t instead of Seven, it’s complimentary to it, and we believe that by retaining the core Caterham values, it will appeal to our existing customer base and attract new fans to the brand,” Laishley concludes.

“By using a more practical coupé body style and exploiting the packaging benefits of an EV, this car works as well for trips to the shops, or the school run, as it does for Sunday morning sprints.”  The Project V show car will debut on Thursday on the Caterham stand at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.