This is how Caterham's electric sports car will look like
What's the story
Caterham, the renowned British sports car manufacturer, has announced the upcoming debut of its first fully functional prototype. The vehicle, known as Project V, will be unveiled at the Tokyo Auto Salon in Japan on January 9, 2026. The original 2023 show car will also make an appearance at CES in Las Vegas on January 4.
Vehicle details
Caterham's vision for a lightweight electric car
First revealed in 2023, Project V was Caterham's concept for a lightweight electric performance car. The prototype weighs just 1,190kg and is powered by a single rear-mounted motor that produces 268hp. The company had initially planned to start production in late 2025 or early 2026, but the timeline has shifted, likely due to the delayed arrival of this functional prototype.
Testing phase
A test bed for future production model
Caterham has confirmed that the new prototype will be the main test bed for its future production model. If it stays true to its original specs, the vehicle should come with a 55.0kWh lithium-ion battery pack and a single rear-wheel drive electric motor. The company had originally promised a range of up to 401km and fast charging capabilities from 20-80% in just 15 minutes.
Performance specs
Project V's performance and production timeline
The original concept of Project V featured a carbon-fiber and aluminum composite chassis. Coupled with its 268hp output, Caterham had estimated it could go from 0-97km/h in under 4.5 seconds and reach a top speed of 230km/h. Now, that the first functional prototype is set for January reveal, production is unlikely before late-2026 or even early-2027.