Peter Lyon
December 14, 2025
Caterham will unveil its first working prototype of Project V at the Tokyo Auto Salon on January 9, 2026. The Tokyo Auto Salon is Japan’s biggest car customizing show and rates as the world’s No 3 behind SEMA and Germany’s Essen show.
Caterham has produced lightweight, two-seater sports cars since 1973 when Graham Nearn acquired the tooling, designs and exclusive rights to the Seven from Lotus founder Colin Chapman. In homage to Chapman, Caterham says its philosophy today continues to put the driving experience and fun at the heart of everything it does.
Displayed alongside exhibits from development partners Yamaha Motor and XING Mobility, the prototype is being utilised for testing and evaluation as the brand works towards full-scale production.
Following the assembly of the prototype at the TOKYO R&D facility in Japan, the development vehicle is now undertaking both the initial powertrain evaluation of its Yamaha Motor e-axle as well as chassis durability work.
This prototype also enables further testing of the CTP battery system, which features cells that are immersed in a dielectric liquid for optimum cooling through rapid and uniform heat dissipation. This innovative approach offers unmatched thermal stability for exceptional energy density, safety and performance.
Elsewhere, in partnership with XING Mobility, the original Caterham Project V EV sports coupé concept show car will make its US debut at the 2026 Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas on 6th January 2026.
Kazuho Takahashi, CEO of Caterham Cars, said, “This is a significant milestone in the development of Project V, with our prototype making its public debut at the Tokyo Auto Salon. This next step enables us to begin a comprehensive vehicle testing program in collaboration with our technical partners. Our objective remains unchanged: to realise our vision of a pure electric sports car that embodies the unmistakable DNA of a Caterham.”
