Caterham is unveiling Challenge V, a brand new all-electric sports activities automobile, on July 12 on the Goodwood Pageant of Velocity. Just like the Seven, the corporate’s roadster primarily based on the unique Lotus Seven, Challenge V is a light-weight, rear-wheel drive sports activities automobile. 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, Challenge 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 can additionally recharge from 20 to 80 p.c in quarter-hour utilizing a 150 kW DC speedy charger. 

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Adhering to Caterham’s minimalist design philosophy, the Challenge V sports activities automobile 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 completely 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 velocity of 143 mph.

The Challenge V present automobile makes use of a novel 2+1 seating format with an non-compulsory 2+2 configuration. Caterham says this format optimizes consolation for the rear seat passenger and supplies larger flexibility of use. Upfront, the dashboard is refreshingly minimal, with two spherical digital gauges in entrance of the steering wheel. A sequence of rocker switches mounted low on the middle console permit the motive force to alter between Regular, Sport, and Dash modes which alter the acceleration, suspension, and steering. The infotainment system is easy and intuitive, that includes smartphone mirroring.   

In line with Bob Laishley, CEO of Caterham Vehicles Ltd, Challenge V is greater than a design examine or idea. The event group carried out engineering and manufacturing feasibility research all through the event course of. “Challenge V fulfills our ambition to sustainably develop the corporate and discover electrification concurrently,” he mentioned. “Topic to the subsequent phases of growth and technical functionality, Challenge V may very well be dropped at market in the direction of the top of 2025 or early 2026.”

As for the present Seven, Laishley added that the Challenge V couple is not a substitute however a praise to it. “We consider that by retaining the core Caterham values, it should enchantment to each our current buyer base and appeal to new followers to the model,” mentioned Laishley. “By utilizing a extra sensible coupé physique type and by exploiting the packaging advantages of an EV, this can be a automobile that works as properly for journeys to the retailers, or the varsity run, because it does for Sunday morning sprints.”

Challenge V will be part of automobiles just like the Pininfarina Battista Edizione Nino Farina, MG4 EX4 idea, and plenty of different EVs on the 2023 Goodwood Pageant of Velocity.