Caterham’s Electric Sports Car Is Still Very Much Alive

Remember the Caterham Project V? First revealed in 2023, it was the boutique British sports car maker’s vision for a lightweight electric performance car. At just 2,623 pounds—only a bit heavier than a Miata—and with 268 horsepower from a single rear-mounted motor, the concept certainly sounded promising on paper.

But that reveal was two and a half years ago, and we haven’t heard a peep from Caterham since. Until now. Today, the company announced its first fully functional Project V prototype, set to debut early next year. The working Project V will be unveiled on January 9, 2026, at the Tokyo Auto Salon in Japan, while the original 2023 show car will head to CES in Las Vegas on January 4.

According to Caterham, this new prototype will serve as the primary test bed for the eventual production model. If its specs match what was originally announced, it should feature a 55.0-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack and a single electric motor driving the rear wheels. Caterham initially estimated a 249-mile range and the ability to recharge from 20 to 80 percent in just 15 minutes.

The original concept used a carbon-fiber and aluminum composite chassis that helped keep the weight to a scant 2,623 pounds. Combined with 268 horsepower, Caterham projected 0–60 mph in under 4.5 seconds and a top speed of 143 mph.

Back in 2023, the company said production could start in late 2025 or early 2026. But with the first functional prototype not arriving until January, clearly the timeline has shifted. Caterham now says testing of the prototype will continue “through 2026,” so a production model likely won’t appear before 2027.