July 13, 2023Green

While all EVs get fat, Caterham decides to put its new Project V on a diet

Most smaller EVs are clocking in with multiple tons of weight, whereas this new EV sports car barely breaks one ton

Somehow, no one noticed this week that a lightweight EV sports car was unveiled. In the world of titanically overweight, battery-powered cars, this should come as a shock to many of you that a company was able to release something resembling a lightweight sports car.

I know what you’re thinking, it’s not Lotus, they decided to release an SUV this week—the total opposite of what Lotus is supposed to be doing! Instead, it was the company that took the best parts of Lotus and made it more Lotus-ish. The company? Caterham. Their new Project V is slated to be a mere 2623 pounds (1190kg) with a full throttle usable 268bhp.

I know that isn’t a lot of power, but when we’ve all agreed that approximately 300hp is the prime number for a fully useable throttle—power down anywhere, anytime, and you won’t spin into a Pine tree—and you’ll begin to see the genius behind these numbers.

The sporty numbers come in at 4.5 seconds to 62mph and a top speed of 143mph. But where this thing shines is that it will still do 250 miles on a charge (15 minute battery charge time 20-80% SOC), which isn’t a full round trip to many places, so remember no lightweight sports car ever had a massive fuel tank anyways!

If none of that impresses you so far, look at the thing! It is absolutely gorgeous. Even in the silvery-green paint the hero car is sporting, it shines like something we, as enthusiasts, really need right now when it comes to EVs.

The chief designer, Anthony Jannarelly, is quoted as saying, “A Caterham Seven’s design is simple and minimalist, it’s designed for its intended function, to be lightweight and fun to drive. With Project V, we’re applying this philosophy to the sports coupe architecture to create a seducing and time less silhouette. Every single feature has to justify itself from a weight perspective to maintain lightness and optimize driver engagement”.

Of course, it won’t be cheap. Estimated to be approximately $105,000 USD (80,000 GBP), with options unknown at this point, we’re not likely to see many on the road, so feast your eyes on the best pictures we’ve got, that is until we see one in the flesh.

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Cheers!

M.T. Blake

www.mtblake.net / IG @_mtblake

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May 2, 2024

OMODA & JAECOO launch three new electrified models at the 2024 Beijing Auto Show

Chinese carmaker OMODA & JAECOO celebrated its participation at the recently concluded 2024 Beijing Auto Show with the launch of three new models. OMODA launched its first pure electric model, the OMODA E5 whereas JAECOO unveiled new energy hybrid models, the J7 and J8 plug-in hybrid electric vehicles. Additionally, the car brand announced the launch of the O-UNIVERSE “GREEN OJ” public welfare platform that reflects the brand’s commitment towards ecological environmental protection. The brand also boasts a portfolio of existing partnerships with a multitude of organizations, including IUCN, Indonesia’s Pandawara and New Zealand’s Keep New Zealand Beautiful to sustain the long-term growth of its global welfare footprint. On the brand growth front, OMODA & JAECOO has penetrated the global market at a rapid pace, entering key markets around the world and expanding its presence to more than 40 high-potential markets globally, including the UAE and Saudi Arabia, in less than a year.

April 26, 2024

MG’s EXE181 Concept electric hypercar pays tribute to a record-breaking car

Global auto expos and concept car unveils go hand in hand and British-born MG continues this tradition at the ongoing 2024 Beijing Auto Show by unveiling an all-electric hypercar concept called the MG EXE181 Concept. If you recall the name from before, Sir Sterling Moss set a land speed record in 1957 with a car called the EX181, which stands to this day. An extra E was added, probably to signify the electric powertrain’s presence, and the design inspiration borrowed from the record-breaking car further helped the concept achieve a drag coefficient of 0.181, explaining the nomenclature behind the concept’s name. MG engineered this car to attain a top speed of 415 km/h and the interior with a streamlined steering wheel and Head-Up Display setup further emphasizes the priority on speed. Tom Lee, Managing Director of MG Motor Middle East, said: “The unveiling of the EXE181 concept is yet another clear demonstration of the eye-catching progress that the MG brand is making both globally and regionally. This concept car embodies MG’s core values of innovation and design excellence, showcasing our commitment to pushing boundaries and shaping the future of automotive technology.”