Caterham’s Electric Sports Car Is Real Now, and It’s Surprisingly Pure

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Caterham’s long-teased all-electric sports car, known simply as the Project V, has suddenly gone from idea to working prototype. The British marque famous for its spartan, lightweight Seven roadster has revealed a fully functioning version of this EV coupe at the Tokyo Auto Salon 2026, and there’s a lot more under the skin than you might think.

This isn’t just turn-key electrification of a classic brand. Project V represents Caterham’s most serious bid yet to stay relevant in a future where internal combustion engines are literally being legislated off the road. It is as much a survival strategy as it is a sportscar.

At first glance, the Project V looks clean and purposeful with proportions unlike anything Caterham has built before. Instead of a minimalist open-top like the Seven, it is a coupe with a 2+1 seating configuration and optional 2+2 layout, broad hips, and that unmistakable British flair for simplicity. Inside, the cabin rejects modern clutter.

Expect classic gauge pods, physical knobs, and only a handful of screens for essentials like Apple CarPlay and the rear-view camera. There’s no massive touchscreen, no subscription infotainment features, and virtually no automated driving gear beyond mandatory safety systems.

That analogue vibe isn’t nostalgia for its own sake. Caterham designers deliberately avoided a skateboard-style battery floor found in most EVs. The batteries are split front and rear, lowering the center of gravity close to the driver and mimicking the polar weight distribution that makes lightweight sports cars feel alive on back roads.

That set-up also places the driver’s seat extremely low, which enhances the sense of connection to the car that enthusiasts crave.

The Project V’s heart is an electric drive unit supplied by Yamaha Motor, a company better known for motorcycles than cars. But Yamaha has deep automotive ties and brings an integrated “e-axle” package that combines the motor, inverter, and reduction gear into one compact unit. This rear-mounted motor puts out roughly 268 horsepower (around 200 kW) driving the back wheels.

Battery tech might be the most intriguing part. Caterham partnered with XING Mobility, a Taiwanese battery firm using immersion-cooled CTP (cell-to-pack) technology. Instead of air cooling or conventional liquid cooling plates, the cells sit immersed in a dielectric fluid that draws heat away quickly and evenly.

The result is stronger thermal control under hard driving and potentially longer life for the battery pack. The total capacity is about 55 kWh, and rapid charging from 20 to 80 percent can happen in around 15 minutes with the right charger.

But there’s a trade-off. Caterham isn’t chasing breakneck charge rates like rivals boasting 270 kW or more. Top charging speeds will likely be closer to 100 kW using a North American Charging Standard (NACS) plug. That’s because the company chose to prioritize how the battery behaves during spirited driving rather than how fast it tops up at a station.

Despite its modest battery size compared with many EVs, Project V promises engaging dynamics. With a curb weight near 1,190 kg (around 2,623 lbs) in the lightest configuration, it’s lighter than sports cars like the Toyota GR86 or Subaru BRZ. That contributes to pegged performance figures of 0-62 mph in under 4.5 seconds and a top speed of around 143 mph.

WLTP range is put at roughly 249 miles (400 km), though real-world numbers may be a bit lower, especially if you’re using the throttle hard. By the way, Result Japan offers a kit that transforms the GR86 into the classic AE86 Sprinter Trueno, complete with full-functional pop-up headlights.

Caterham’s approach here is almost old-school purity in a new package. There are no fancy torque vectoring systems or multiple electric motors. Just a single motor, rear-wheel drive, and the core elements drivers care about: balance, feel, and control.

Originally pegged for a 2025 debut, the prototype’s appearance in early 2026 signals that the development timeline has shifted. Caterham now expects global sales to kick off in 2027 as the next phase of testing stretches through the year.

Pricing has also evolved since concept days. Early estimates for the U.S. started near $107,000, but current indications suggest this coupe could land closer to $135,000. That puts it squarely in the crosshairs of premium sports cars and even Porsche territory.

Project V shows Caterham is serious about an electric future without losing the brand’s soul. It is a bold move in a segment where many EVs chase tech spectacle. By focusing on driving purity and smart engineering partnerships, Caterham may have created one of the most compelling electric sports cars on its way to production.