Concept Cars
Caterham’s Project V Set For Production And Will be Powered By Yahama
When you think of Caterham, you probably think of the Lotus Seven lookalikes that made it famous. They are still around and nowadays you can even get an electric one. That tastes like more because Caterham is coming with another EV. Under the name Project V, it is preparing a real sports coupe with an electric drivetrain. Designed as an electric vehicle from the start, Project V is the creation of a new lead designer, Antonio Gennarelli.
The concept is now being developed into a prototype constructed by Japanese firm Tokyo R&D. It will be powered by a Yamaha electric drive and should be completed by the middle of next year, with series production expected in 2026. Caterham is not going into details about the Yamaha electric motor, but the original Project V concept had 200 kW/272 hp.
The concept also featured a 55kWh lithium-ion battery and the ability to charge from 20-80% in just 15 minutes using a 150kW DC fast charger (WLTP range estimated at around 400km).
The minimalist design philosophy means that Project V is light and simple. Caterham has set the curb weight of the concept vehicle at 1,190 kg (2+1 configuration) which will be achieved using an innovative carbon fibre and aluminium chassis.
The Project V show car had a 2+1 (optional 2+2) seating arrangement, which optimizes ingress and egress, provides more comfort for rear seat passengers and offers more flexibility in how the future owner can use the car. At the centre of the interior is a simple infotainment system focused on the driver, and the digital instrument panel is used to display key information.
