Caterham has announced that Yamaha will develop the electric powertrain for its upcoming Project V sports car, with pre-production prototypes expected by mid-2025.
Unveiled as a concept at the 2023 Goodwood Festival of Speed, the Project V is a lightweight all-electric Porsche Boxster/Cayman rival that aims to bring Caterham into a brave new era. Caterham says that the partnership will “accelerate the delivery of Project V to the market”.
Yamaha will supply its latest e-axle technology for the Project V, and will also contribute “technology and expertise in vehicle motion control”. The Japanese manufacturer’s powertrain was chosen for its compact and lightweight design, crucial for Caterham’s sports car ethos.
While specific details remain undisclosed, the original Project V concept featured a single rear-axle motor that developed 268bhp, with a projected 0-62mph time of under 4.5 seconds.
Although Project V will be the first all-electric Caterham, the British company has a long tradition of marrying powertrains from different manufacturers to its iconic Seven chassis.
After acquiring Seven rights from Colin Chapman in 1973, Caterham initially used Ford Crossflow engines, producing between 55bhp and 135bhp. In the 1990s, the company switched to Vauxhall XE Red Top units, significantly boosting power to 150bhp-250bhp.
The 2000s saw Caterham adopt Rover K-series and Ford Zetec engines, later replaced by Ford Duratec four-cylinders and compact Suzuki three-cylinder turbos.
The transition to an all-electric powertrain marks Caterham’s most radical shift in engine technology to date.
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