Caterham is unveiling Undertaking V, a brand new all-electric sports activities automotive, on July 12 on the Goodwood Pageant of Pace. Just like the Seven, the corporate’s roadster primarily based on the unique Lotus Seven, Undertaking V is a light-weight, rear-wheel drive sports activities automotive. Not like the Seven, it is totally electrical and will arrive as early as late 2025.
Designed by Anthony Jannarelly, Caterham’s new Chief Designer, Undertaking V was supposed as an electrical car from the beginning. Energy comes from a 200-kilowatt motor mounted within the rear axle and paired with a 55-kWh USOC lithium-ion battery pack, giving it 268 horsepower and an estimated vary of 249 miles. It’ll additionally recharge from 20 to 80 p.c in quarter-hour utilizing a 150 kW DC fast charger.
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Adhering to Caterham’s minimalist design philosophy, the Undertaking V sports activities automotive is easy and light-weight, weighing roughly 1,190 kilograms or about 2,623 kilos. Constructed round a carbon fiber and aluminum composite chassis, it makes use of a totally adjustable entrance and rear double-wishbone suspension and electrically assisted energy steering. Caterham estimates the coupe will speed up from 0 to 60 mph in lower than 4.5 seconds and attain a prime pace of 143 mph.
The Undertaking V present automotive makes use of a singular 2+1 seating structure with an non-compulsory 2+2 configuration. Caterham says this structure optimizes consolation for the rear seat passenger and offers better flexibility of use. Upfront, the dashboard is refreshingly minimal, with two spherical digital gauges in entrance of the steering wheel. A collection of rocker switches mounted low on the middle console permit the driving force to vary between Regular, Sport, and Dash modes which modify the acceleration, suspension, and steering. The infotainment system is easy and intuitive, that includes smartphone mirroring.
In line with Bob Laishley, CEO of Caterham Automobiles Ltd, Undertaking V is greater than a design research or idea. The event group carried out engineering and manufacturing feasibility research all through the event course of. “Undertaking V fulfills our ambition to sustainably develop the corporate and discover electrification concurrently,” he stated. “Topic to the subsequent phases of improvement and technical functionality, Undertaking V might be delivered to market in the direction of the top of 2025 or early 2026.”
As for the prevailing Seven, Laishley added that the Undertaking V couple is not a alternative however a praise to it. “We imagine that by retaining the core Caterham values, it would attraction to each our present buyer base and entice new followers to the model,” stated Laishley. “By utilizing a extra sensible coupé physique model and by exploiting the packaging advantages of an EV, it is a automotive that works as nicely for journeys to the outlets, or the college run, because it does for Sunday morning sprints.”
Undertaking V will be a part of automobiles just like the Pininfarina Battista Edizione Nino Farina, MG4 EX4 idea, and lots of different EVs on the 2023 Goodwood Pageant of Pace.