“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.”
Caterham Project V design and interior
When it comes to the car’s design, Jannarelly outlined that “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 coupe architecture to create a seducing and timeless silhouette. Every single feature has to justify itself from a weight perspective to maintain lightness and optimise driver engagement.”
This extends inside as well. The Project V show car features a 2+1 seating layout, although we’ve been told a 2+2 configuration will be optional on the production version. Caterham says the 2+1 set-up means getting in and out is easier, while there’s more space in the rear for the single passenger, making Project V a more usable machine than some other small sports coupes.
The interior is focused on the driver, with a simple instrument readout that includes key info. Smartphone mirroring will also be included, while the V offers three drive modes to choose from: Normal, Sport and Sprint. These settings adjust the steering weight and throttle response/acceleration for different driving environments, says Caterham.
According to Laishley: “Project V isn’t instead of Seven, it’s complementary to it, and we believe that by retaining the core Caterham values, it will both appeal to our existing customer base and attract new fans to the brand.”
The British firm recently revealed its Seven EV concept, a zero-emissions version of its iconic two-seater sports car, carrying it through into the modern era. The brand’s former boss believed there’s room in the range for another model too, and that “by using a more practical coupe bodystyle and by exploiting the packaging benefits of an electric car, this is a car that works as well for trips to the shops, or the school run, as it does for Sunday morning sprints.”
Caterham has suggested that the eventual road-going Project V could cost less than £80,000, which would put it in the same price bracket as the petrol-powered Alpine A110 and Lotus Emira.
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