Caterham mulls plans for new electric two-seat coupe

British sportscar maker Caterham is reportedly set on developing an all-new and all-electric lightweight 2-seat coupe soon. Said plan was confirmed by its CEO Bob Laishley in a recent interview with Autocar UK.

In said interview, Laishley said that this new model, poised to be sold alongside the firm’s staple Seven lightweight sportscar, will retain the key characteristics that all Caterham models are known for, as well as confirming both its electric power, and that it will “definitely not be a Seven.”

“Lightness, simplicity, agility and performance. Like the Seven, it will have a steel spaceframe (but a different one) because they’re easy to modify in production if you need to. It will have a six-panel enveloping body in aluminium or carbon: two sills, two doors plus clamshell openings front and rear,” adds Laishley in describing this new model.

Presently, there are no firm production plans just yet, with Laishley saying it remains “just an idea in people’s heads” still. However, the exec did note that the carmaker’s Japanese owners – VT Holdings, who acquired the brand last year from its previous Malaysian owners – are eager to make this new model a reality. Laishley continued further by saying that it would be more attractive and modern than the brand’s traditional sportscar too.

Ideally, Laishley envisions a two-seat EV that weighs less than 700 KG and delivers what he refers to as a ‘20-15-20 Performance’ – at least 20 minutes of spirited track driving, followed by a 15-minute recharge  before resuming for another 20-minute spirited jaunt. “If Caterham can't deliver this with an electric counterpart of the Seven, then it’s not even worth launching,” added Bob Laishley.

If green-lit for production, this supposed new model will underpin a dedicated electric car platform featuring a rear-wheel-drive configuration. Apart from that, as well as its status as a fixed-roof coupe, little else is known at this point.

Lastly, Autocar UK speculates that this planned new electric model from Caterham won’t launch until 2028 at least. In the meantime, the existing Caterham 7 will soldier on with its ICE heart despite the UK’s upcoming ban on ICE-powered vehicle sales that takes effect in 2030.