ANTHONY JANNARELLY

CHIEF DESIGNER

The Caterham Project V is a fully electric sports car that aims to be simple and minimalist, typical of Caterham. The carbon fiber and aluminum composite chassis is a 2+1 specification with a target weight of 1,190 kg. A single motor producing 200 kW (272 PS) is mounted on the rear axle, and combined with a 55 kWh lithium-ion battery, it boasts 0-100 km/h acceleration in under 4.5 seconds, a top speed of 230 km/h, and a WLTP range of 400 km. We spoke to Anthony Giannarelli, chief designer of the Project V, about the thoughts behind the Project V and his own design philosophy.

──The launch of Project V is approaching.

The official launch is expected to be in 2026, with production likely to begin around 2027. It’s taking time to select the package to create a lightweight, fun car. Yamaha’s e-Axle, announced last year, has great potential. The battery is mounted in the center of the vehicle, which is advantageous for handling and center of gravity. Depending on the combination of electric motors and software, the car’s behavior can be fine-tuned to bring out the fun.

–It’s a classical yet very beautiful design. What did you keep in mind?

The Caterham Seven is based on simplicity and minimalism, designed for its primary function: lightweight and fun to drive. For Project V, we applied this philosophy to a sports coupe architecture, creating a seductive and timeless silhouette. However, the underside of the car is very technical. That’s where you see that it’s an electric vehicle. The rest of the car is very classic. With an EV, you can design it with great aerodynamics. For example, you can freely position the wheels. Because you don’t need a large space to house the engine, you have more freedom to create very rounded, beautiful proportions.

–This styling gives a sense of a new era, but at the same time, some long-time Caterham fans are hoping for styling more like an open-wheel formula car.

The Caterham Seven is still in production today. That’s why Caterham needed a new lineup that wouldn’t compete with the Seven. Other car manufacturers also have multiple lineups tailored to different uses. Project V is positioned as a sports car that can be used on an everyday basis, like the Porsche 911, for example. The Seven has limited uses, so we wanted to make the Caterham more enjoyable for everyday use.

──What do you think about the headwinds facing EVs in recent years?

It’s true that EVs aren’t selling very well in Japan or the UK right now, but this is probably because the technology isn’t yet mature enough. EVs are well-suited for urban compact cars and sports cars. For sports cars in particular, EVs have plenty of torque and offer a fun drive. While they’re difficult to use for long-distance travel, they’re fine for use in sports cars where fun is key. Charging for 20 minutes is acceptable during breaks. Maintenance is also inexpensive, so I think they’re also suitable for use on circuits.

──You are under contract to design this project, but are there plans to produce the next prototype?

I work as Caterham’s main designer, but I also have my own design company. It’s too early to think about the next design, but we’re currently working on an evolved version of Project V at the prototype stage. The basic style will remain the same, however. Our first priority is to get this car into production. I like gasoline-engine cars, but I also think there should be an EV option. Modern four-cylinder engine cars are too quiet and less fun, so I don’t think there’s much difference between an electric car and one like it. Personally, I like listening to music while driving, and the spacious interior and practicality are also appealing.

–I understand you own a Caterham Seven in Dubai.

Yes. The first car I bought when I moved to Dubai was a 1996 Seven. It’s rare in Dubai, with only about 10 of them. It doesn’t rain here, so parking isn’t a problem. It’s as fun as a motorbike, and the driving itself is a lot of fun.

──You also designed the Lykan Hypersport for W Motors.

That’s right. Personally, I like lightweight, fun cars like Caterham, so I used that idea to design the Lykan Hypersport, which has a closed cabin that even my wife could ride in comfortably. That led to the current Project V. Before Project V, I also designed the Aera 60, which was based on the Ferrari 360 Modena. This is a completely different concept from Project V.

Project V is being developed with the aim of being lightweight and simple, as is typical of Caterham, even though it is an EV, with a minimum price range of less than 80,000 pounds (approximately 15 million yen).

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Caterham’s EV “Project V” to feature XING Mobility’s liquid-cooled battery pack [Tokyo Auto Salon 2025]

At the Tokyo Auto Salon 2025 currently being held at Makuhari Messe in Chiba, British car manufacturer Caterham Cars announced that it will adopt the IMMERSIO CTP liquid-cooled battery pack developed by Taiwan’s XING Mobility for its fully electric sports car, Project V, which is currently under development.