Caterham Project V, a brand-new all-electric sports car, has finally been unveiled after what seems like an eternity of teasing. Project V is a rear-wheel-drive, lightweight sports car, similar to the Seven, the company’s roadster based on the original Lotus Seven. It might be here as early as the end of 2025 and, unlike the Seven, this is fully electric.
Project V was always meant to be an electric car. It offers 268hp and an expected range of 400km thanks to a 200-kilowatt motor placed in the back axle and a 55-kWh USOC lithium-ion battery pack. A 150kW DC rapid charger can also recharge it from 20% to 80% in just 15 minutes.
Caterham was a stand-alone corporation until it was acquired by Team Lotus in 2011, resulting in the formation of the Caterham Group. You may remember a group of Malaysians being involved, including a certain Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
Later in 2021, Caterham Cars was acquired by VT Holdings, the Japanese importer of the Caterham Seven since 2009.
Recently, Caterham teased the front end of the Project V, and now we’re getting a glimpse at the back end a week before the complete product makes its debut at the Goodwood Festival of Speed.
Caterham Cars is no longer owned by Malaysians Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Datuk Kamarudin Meranun (who became owners in 2011), having been acquired by VT Holdings of Japan. The automotive group, which has been the importer for the Seven since 2009, assumes custodianship of the legendary British sportscar brand which is almost 50 years old.
VT Holdings currently sells over 120 cars annually and is one of Japan’s largest retailer groups with over 200 showrooms nationwide. It also has investments in the UK, Spain, Thailand and South Africa, and imports two and four-wheeled brands such as Royal Enfield and Lotus for the Japanese market.
Motorsport, and the global track-day communities, have always played a central role in Caterham’s commercial success. The brand now joins a group led by Chief Executive Kazuho Takahashi, who shares the same passions, having raced competitively in JGTC, Super GT and Super Taikyu championships for the past 20 years.
Commenting on the acquisition, Mr. Takahashi said: “VT Holdings is proud to welcome Caterham to the group. We have not only purchased a globally renowned performance car manufacturer but become custodians of a motoring legend. We will protect and develop the Seven to meet the legislative challenges that lie ahead.”
Caterham Cars began as a Lotus 7 dealer during the 1960s and when Lotus discontinued the model, the dealer, Graham Nearn, purchased the rights to continue using the Seven design and made the cars in a small volume. The Seven has remained popular and highly regarded by car enthusiasts.
Caterham Cars today exports to 20 markets globally with exports accounting for 60% of its annual new car sales volume.
Caterham’s latest retro sports car, the Seven SuperSprint, which was on sale during the Goodwood Revival, managed to set a new record for the automaker. In just 7 hours, all 60 SuperSprint vehicles that were up for sale, were all spoken for.
The UK based automaker says that the relative speed at which each car was snapped up was nothing less than extraordinary. The vehicle, which was introduced to mark the original Seven’s 60th anniversary has become the fastest selling car in the company’s history.
David Ridley, Caterham’s Chief Commercial Officer, said, “After last year’s incredible sales result with the Sprint, we were hoping for similar success with the SuperSprint. Having said that, to sell out within seven hours is something we’ve never seen before.”
“Considering that last year we took orders for over 600 Sevens, the SuperSprint’s success is likely to account for around 10% of our annual sales in 2017 and we are on track to beat last year’s sales record,” he later added.
Only 60 units in total will be produced, 30 of them are destined for the UK while the remaining 30 will make their way to other parts of Europe. Based on the its popularity, its safe to say that retro style racers like the Seven are still in high demand.
A modern reincarnation of the legendary racer that first started out life as a Lotus, the modern Caterham Seven still looks similar to the original albeit with minor and more modern upgrades, which include newer brakes and more reliable mechanicals.
Under the hood is a 95bhp Caterham Works Racing-tuned, three cylinder engine that is mated to a 5-speed manual gearbox that sends power to the wheel via a limited slip differential. As for stopping power the car gets front discs and rear drum brakes.
Adding to the appeal are Bilstein shock absorbers and 14″ wheels, unique Brooklands windscreen, quilted and stitched seats trimmed in Innes tan Scottish Muirhead leather, a wooden-rimmed sports steering wheel, and 1960s-style racing livery.
The SuperSprint is available as a single-seater or twin seater versions but both will be identical safe for the aero screens.
The following are some of the highlights of the car:
95bhp Caterham Works Racing tuned three cylinder engine
Caterham Works Racing developed live rear axle with A-frame
Race inspired suspension package with adjustable platforms
Limited slip differential
Extended front cycle wings
Quilted, stitched seat, trimmed in Innes tan Scottish Muirhead leather
Single 4 point race harness
Le Mans style mesh grille and side intake
Caterham executed a similar strategy last year by launching the Sprint and that too, sold extremely well but not as well as the SuperSprint. Take a look at the tribute video below to see what the Caterham brand has brought about since the Seven’s birth 60 years ago.
