Caterham’s Project V concept has been showcased prior to this weekend’s Goodwood Festival of Speed and previews an all-electric coupe that could hit the market in late 2025 or early 2026.
The car is underpinned by a 55 kWh lithium-ion battery pack and is equipped with a 268 hp electric motor at the rear axle. Caterham says it can recharge from 20-80% in as little as 15 minutes through a 150 kW DC rapid charger and that the motor propels it to 62 mph (100 km/h) in less than 4.5 seconds. It has a top speed of 143 mph (230 km/h) and a targeted WLTP range of 249 miles (400 km).
Project V was designed by Caterham’s new chief designer Anthony Jannarelly, the man behind niche automaker Jannarelly. The Project V has a design unlike any other Caterham to come before it and has elements that combine modern styling with classic sophistication.
Caterham has designed it with a 2+1 seating layout but says a 2+2 layout will be optional. The interior is quite simple by modern standards but does have room for a large central touchscreen, digital binnacles in the center of the dashboard, and a fully-digital instrument cluster. Caterham says that drivers can choose between Normal, Sport and Sprint driving modes to tweak the acceleration and steering of the car.
Read: Caterham EV Seven Concept Weighs Less Than 700 Kg
On paper, the Project V ticks all the right boxes to be a fun and engaging sports car to drive. It features double-wishbone front and rear suspension with fully adjustable geometry, has electrically assisted power steering, is equipped with 19-inch front and 20-inch rear Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires, and has high-performance brakes at all four corners. Further adding to the appeal of the car is that Caterham is targeting a curb weight of just 1,190 kg (2,623 lbs) thanks to the comprehensive use of carbon fiber and aluminum.
“Project V is not just a concept or design study, we’ve conducted engineering and production feasibility throughout the development process,” Caterham chief executive Bob Laishley said. “An electric Caterham of any shape and size has to stay true to what sets us apart from everyone else: being lightweight, simple and offering an unparalleled driving experience; that’s our DNA. 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 both our existing customer base and attract new fans to the brand.”
