- British specialty-car firm Caterham has revealed the Project V sports car, which it says will be on sale by early 2026.
- Unlike other offerings from Caterham, the Project V is shaped like a real sports coupe, complete with a roof and doors.
- Also different from other Caterhams, the Project V will be electric, targeting 250 miles of range from its 55.0-kWh battery.
The British boutique carmaker Caterham has just revealed its next car, referred to as the Project V. As is the fashion these days, the Project V arrives with an electric powertrain. Another change of direction for Caterham is the addition of doors and a roof for the Project V, which is shaped like a modern-day Jaguar C-X75. As things stand now, the Project V arrives only as a concept being shown at this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed, but Caterham has revealed specifications as well as an expected production time frame.
Although it doesn’t hew to traditional Caterham style, according to CEO Bob Laishley, the Project V still stands by the characteristics that set Caterham apart. That means lightweight, simple, and fun to drive. The manufacturer is aiming for a curb weight of 2623 pounds—or roughly 220 pounds lighter than a Subaru BRZ.
Power is set to arrive via a 55.0-kWh lithium-ion battery pack connected to a lone 268-hp motor mounted at the rear axle. Caterham claims a zero-to-62-mph time of less than 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph. As the Project V isn’t really designed as a grand tourer, Caterham is only targeting a range of 249 miles on the European WLTP cycle.
Three drive modes keep to the idea of simple: Normal, Sport, and Sprint are all the driver has to choose from. It’s got a control-arm suspension at front and rear, electrically assisted power steering, brake discs all around, and a staggered set of 19- and 20-inch wheels fitted with Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires.
Unlike Any Other Caterham
Visually it’s unlike any Caterham we’ve ever seen. The Seven is long, and low, with varying degrees of open wheels and arching fenders, but the Project V swaps all that for a much more mainstream take on a sports coupe.
“A Caterham Seven’s design is simple and minimalist, it’s designed for its intended function, to be lightweight and fun to drive,” said Caterham chief designer Anthony Jannarelly. “With Project V, we’re applying this philosophy to the sports coupé architecture to create a seducing and timeless silhouette. Every single feature has to justify itself from a weight perspective to maintain lightness and optimize driver engagement.”
Three Seats
Looking at the Caterham, we can’t help but be reminded of another British concept, the Jaguar C-X75, which shared a strikingly similar front end. The inside of the Project V looks to keep things minimal, with two gauge pods for the driver, a central touchscreen display, and three digital gauges at the center of the dash. Buyers will have the option to order the Project V in a 2+1 layout, with a centrally mounted seat in the rear, or as a more traditional 2+2.
The Project V is targeted to go on sale by the end of 2025 or the beginning of 2026 and carry a starting price at or around $103,000. It’s not clear yet whether there are any plans for it to be officially homologated for U.S. roads or if it will be imported as a kit car like the Seven.
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Associate News Editor
Jack Fitzgerald’s love for cars stems from his as yet unshakable addiction to Formula 1.
After a brief stint as a detailer for a local dealership group in college, he knew he needed a more permanent way to drive all the new cars he couldn’t afford and decided to pursue a career in auto writing. By hounding his college professors at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he was able to travel Wisconsin seeking out stories in the auto world before landing his dream job at Car and Driver. His new goal is to delay the inevitable demise of his 2010 Volkswagen Golf.