Caterham Teases Project V: A Lightweight Electric Sports Car for the Next Generation

The legend of simplicity goes electric

Caterham — the name that has defined minimalist driving for decades — is now reimagining its future with a fully electric sports coupé called Project V. Known for the featherweight Seven, Caterham has built its legacy around raw performance, agility, and driver connection.
With Project V, the British marque is venturing into the electric era without sacrificing the purity that made it iconic.

⚙️ A New Chapter in Lightweight Engineering

Unlike the open-top Seven, Project V takes the form of a sleek electric 2+1 coupé. It’s designed to deliver everyday usability while keeping Caterham’s defining lightweight character intact.

• Target weight: around 1,190 kg, which is extraordinarily light for an EV.
• Power output: roughly 270 bhp, driving the rear wheels.
• 0–100 km/h: under 4.5 seconds, proving that efficiency and excitement can coexist.
• Top speed: expected near 230 km/h, ideal for spirited road or track use.

Caterham has stated that Project V isn’t about chasing outrageous numbers — it’s about creating a driver’s car that happens to be electric. Every gram saved, every line drawn, and every kilowatt delivered is about balance and response.

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🔋 Innovation Beneath the Surface

At the heart of Project V is an advanced 55 kWh battery pack paired with immersion-cooling technology, developed through a partnership with XING Mobility.

This system submerges each cell in a non-conductive cooling liquid, ensuring uniform temperatures and consistent performance — even under track-level stress. The pack layout also supports near-perfect weight distribution, keeping the handling characteristics tight and predictable.

With an estimated range of about 250 miles (400 km), Caterham proves that a thrilling EV doesn’t need to be burdened by a massive battery.

🎨 Design That Honors the Past While Shaping the Future

The design language of Project V is an elegant evolution of Caterham’s DNA. The proportions are clean, compact, and purposeful. The body’s minimal overhangs, low bonnet, and sculpted profile communicate motion even at a standstill.

Inside, simplicity reigns — no unnecessary clutter, just tactile materials and driver-focused ergonomics. The 2+1 seating configuration offers flexibility without losing its sports-car intimacy.

Project V’s designer, Anthony Jannarelly, known for crafting beautifully purposeful vehicles, says the goal was to “build an EV that still feels like a Caterham.”

🌍 A Strategic Leap for the Brand

Caterham’s leadership knows the EV transition is inevitable, but its approach is refreshingly measured. Instead of producing a heavy grand tourer, it’s carving a niche in the lightweight performance segment — something very few automakers are tackling.

CEO Bob Laishley has hinted that Project V will sit alongside the Seven, not replace it. The company believes both can coexist — one celebrating raw combustion simplicity, the other pioneering pure-electric balance.

Expected to launch around late 2025 or early 2026, Project V will likely be priced under £80,000, placing it among enthusiast-grade performance cars rather than high-luxury EVs.

🔍 Why Project V Matters

1. Reinvention Without Compromise — It proves that a brand built on minimalism can thrive in the electric age without bloating its identity.
2. A New Blueprint for Sports EVs — Lightweight, aerodynamic, and efficient rather than just powerful.
3. Engineering Innovation — Immersion-cooled batteries and precision-balanced chassis design could inspire future performance EVs.
4. A Symbol of Change for Small Automakers — Caterham demonstrates that even boutique manufacturers can innovate meaningfully in electrification.