The electric Caterham Project V announced in 2023 is alive and well. Development work is ongoing, the brand is working jointly with a team of international partners that includes Yamaha, and the first drivable prototype built to test the drivetrain is scheduled to make its debut in Tokyo, Japan, in about a month.
Caterham’s latest pictures show the same coupe that was presented over two years ago. We don’t know if that means the styling hasn’t changed since, or if the company wants to keep the car hidden until it’s unveiled.
What’s under the body is arguably more important. The prototype that will break cover in the Japanese capital will be used to put the electric powertrain through its paces in real-world conditions. Caterham notably needs to start gathering data about the battery pack, which relies on dielectric liquid to cool the cells. Caterham claims that this solution delivers “exceptional energy density, safety, and performance.
Updated specifications should be released when the Project V prototype is shown to the public. In 2023, the company claimed a zero-to-62-mph time of under 4.5 seconds, a top speed of 143 mph, and up to 249 miles of driving range from a 55-kilowatt-hour lithium-ion battery pack. Weight hasn’t been released, and that could make or break the model. Caterham is known for making ultra-light cars, and electric technology usually adds a tremendous amount of weight. At least the Project V is a coupe, not a big SUV.
The electric Caterham Project V will make its global debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon on January 9, 2026. There’s no word yet on when it will reach production or whether or not we’ll see it in the United States. What’s certain is that this is a future model: Caterham clarified that it’s targeting full-scale production
