The 2025 Caterham 21, or Project V, is an all-electric sports car designed with a minimalist ethos. It features a 200kW rear-mounted electric motor, a 55kWh battery pack, and a lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum composite chassis, enabling it to go from 0-62 mph in under 4.5 seconds.
History 2025 Caterham 21
The Caterham 21, launched in 1994, was a limited-production sports car designed to celebrate Caterham’s 21st anniversary. It featured a sleek, enclosed body inspired by the Lotus 11, offering a more practical alternative to the Caterham Seven.
The car was powered by various Rover K-Series engines, ranging from 113 bhp to 190 bhp, and was built on a modified Seven chassis. Despite its impressive handling and performance, the 21 struggled against competitors like the Lotus Elise and MGF, leading to the production of only 49 units before it was discontinued in 1999
Classic Design with Modern Twists
The 2025 Caterham 21 is a striking blend of classic design and modern enhancements. At first glance, it’s clear that Caterham hasn’t strayed far from their iconic roots. The sleek lines and low profile give the 21 its unmistakable sporty look.
The lightweight aluminum bodywork not only enhances its visual appeal but also feature its performance. Classic elements like the round headlights and minimalist grille are retained, maintaining that quintessential Caterham charm. Added aerodynamic enhancements improve downforce and stability, ensuring the car isn’t just good-looking but also highly functional.
Interior: Simple Yet Sophisticated
Inside the 2025 Caterham 21, you’ll find a cabin that combines simplicity with sophistication. Designed with the driver in mind, the interior is snug and focused on delivering an optimal driving experience. High-quality materials abound, with leather-trimmed seats and a compact yet informative digital display.
The minimalist dashboard helps reduce distractions, allowing the driver to concentrate on the road ahead. Despite its compact size, the seats are both comfortable and supportive, ensuring you stay secure even during spirited drives.
The limited interior space is cleverly optimized to offer maximum comfort and control, creating a pure driving environment.
Performance: Pure Driving Thrills
When it comes to performance, the 2025 Caterham 21 truly shines. Under the hood, it features a turbocharged 2.0L 4-cylinder engine that delivers a punchy 300 horsepower. The lightweight design contributes to an impressive power-to-weight ratio, resulting in exhilarating acceleration and agile handling.
The six-speed manual transmission provides precise gear changes, enhancing the overall driving experience. With responsive steering and finely tuned suspension, every corner becomes a thrill, offering the raw, connected feel that Caterham enthusiasts crave. The braking system is equally noteworthy, allowing you to stop as efficiently as you go.
Pricing and Customization
So, how much will this marvel set you back? The 2025 Caterham 21 has a base price of around $50,000. For a sports car of this caliber, it’s relatively affordable.
Given its performance, heritage, and driving experience, the 21 offers compelling value. Additionally, there are various customization options available, so you can tailor the car to your personal tastes. Just be aware that these options can increase the overall cost.
Expected 0-60 Time
The 2025 version, similar to past iterations like the 21 R and GTO, is anticipated to offer brisk acceleration, likely achieving a 0-60 mph time in the low 4-second range. This aligns closely with the 21 R’s 4.6 seconds and the GTO’s sub-4-second capability, showcasing Caterham’s consistent focus on performance enhancements over the years.
Historically, the Caterham 21 series has prioritized a blend of power and weight reduction, leveraging small yet potent engines. For example, the 21 GTO, equipped with a 2.0L inline-4 engine, managed a 0-60 mph sprint in around 3.8 seconds.
This dedication to optimizing power-to-weight ratios is expected to continue with the 2025 model, ensuring it remains a formidable contender in the sports car segment.
Expected Fuel Efficiency
The 2025 Caterham 21 is expected to continue the tradition of lightweight, high-performance sports cars, with several engine options projected to be available.
These include a 1.6-liter engine with outputs ranging from 117 to 133 horsepower and a 1.8-liter engine capable of delivering up to 190 horsepower. Given the car’s design focus on minimalism and efficiency, these engines are expected to offer a commendable balance of power and fuel efficiency.
The expected fuel efficiency for these models is estimated to be around 30-35 miles per gallon (MPG), depending on the specific engine configuration and driving conditions
