The Caterham Project V is a 268bhp EV coupe that could cost less than £80k

Here’s some big British news for you – Caterham has unveiled a car with an actual roof. There’s more to the Project V concept than just its coupe shape of course, but for Caterham a tin top is a very big deal. 

Looking a bit like a cross between the Caterham C120 (the sports car that never was thanks to a failed joint-project with Alpine) and the Jannarelly Design-1 (Caterham’s recently appointed chief designer is none other than Anthony Jannarelly), the Project V is a small, lightweight and simple EV. Sounds promising.

At just over 4.2m long, 1.2m tall and a little under 1.9m wide, it’s obviously a fairly hefty departure from the Seven, but thankfully Caterham hasn’t been drawn into the bonkers electric hypercar power war. So, a single, rear-mounted motor sends just 268bhp to the rear wheels and there’s a 55kWh lithium-ion battery that can rapid charge at 150kW. That should mean a 20 to 80 per cent top up in 15 minutes and a range of around 249 miles. 

The all-important weight figure? Thanks to a carbon fibre and aluminium composite chassis, plus composite body panels, Caterham is targeting 1,190kg – almost exactly the same as the combustion-engined Alpine A110. 

As a result, we’re told that 0-62mph should take less than 4.5 seconds and top speed should be around 143mph. 

We say ‘should’ because this thing is very much still a concept. A concept that was built by Italdesign too. However, Caterham has conducted an engineering and manufacturing feasibility study, the results of which say a production model could arrive either in late 2025 or in early 2026. 

If that were the case, it reckons it could put this thing on sale alongside the Seven, with the Project V costing around £80,000.

It’d come with a rather strange seating configuration too. Caterham refers to the layout as a 2+1, with a lonely rear seat passenger sat in the middle of the domed cockpit. Should get a good view out from there, at least. For those that want a more traditional four-seater, a 2+2 layout will apparently be optional. Then again, do you really want the extra weight of another passenger? Parents – it’s time to pick your favourite child. 

Elsewhere inside there’s a simple dash with digital dials, a central infotainment screen and a few physical buttons and knobs. The steering wheel is clear from distractions, and we’re told there are Normal, Sport and Sprint driving modes.

The steering itself is electrically assisted, the suspension is double wishbone and fully adjustable front and rear, and the wheels are 19-inches up front and 20 at the rear.

“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,” says boss Bob Laishley.

“Project V fulfils our ambition to sustainably grow the company and explore electrification simultaneously. Subject to the next phases of development and technical capability, Project V could be brought to market towards the end of 2025 or early 2026 with a target price starting from less than £80,000.”