Wednesday 5th November 2008

Breaking News: Public To Design New Caterham

Electric or hybrid a possibility for 2011 model

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It was certainly a unique looking car

The next Caterham is to be created online by the public and could have an electric or hybrid powertrain, the carmaker has announced. In a world first, the company is inviting car enthusiasts to help design an all-new sports car and even test drive it.

The venture is in collaboration with Project Splitwheel and people can get involved on the dedicated website, www.splitwheel.com. From here, members from all over the globe are able to submit ideas and concepts for every single aspect of the new Caterham and discuss and debate them with other users, before ultimately voting on what makes it to the final vehicle.

Initial registration for the venture is now open with the Project set to start early in the New Year. Drivers will be asked how they feel about different forms of propulsion, including electric and hybrid, and once the spec is agreed Caterham is looking to add the car to its range by 2011.

As an added incentive to participants, Splitwheel and Caterham will offer plenty of opportunities to get ‘hands-on’, with members test driving and possibly even racing the development car.

The new R300

'We are thrilled to be involved in what we believe to be the world’s first project of this type,' said Ansar Ali, Managing Director of Caterham Cars. 'Creating a worthy stable mate for the iconic Caterham 7 is one of the greatest challenges in the automotive world and one which will be hugely exciting for enthusiasts to get stuck into.'

Project Splitwheel is the brainchild of automotive consultant Piers Drake, 31, from London.'Cars are amongst the most hotly debated topics on the internet and for the first time we are going to channel some of that passion and energy into an exciting high-profile project with a real-world outcome,' said Drake. 'Every petrolhead dreams of running their own sports car company. Project Splitwheel is effectively the world’s first ‘virtual’ car manufacturer and as far as possible we will be asking our members to call the shots, just as if they were running a marque themselves.'

[bencollins]

Where did all the early bird posters moaning about a missing photo go? I miss those guys.

[FMA]

Very very very good idea.

If (a big one at that) this has some kind of success, it could have a considerable impact in some corners of the industry.

[atom-ick]

All signed up here! Love the intro video - it explains it well (and helped me to explain it to my less informed work colleagues!)

How do i tell the wife that she is even more of an internet forum widow?

[Grandmasterbt]

brilliant idea

[MrTappets]

Looks fantastic - i just hope that the usual voting shortcoming of lowest common denominator wins doesn't rear its head. I am guessing that they are keeping the 7 in production too, so surely they wont want something that could rival it, ie not a stripped out track car.

[Splitwheel]

Thanks for your comments guys.

We'd just like to add that although hybrid/electric/diesel power are all possibilities, this is not intended to be an outright 'green' performance car.

First and foremost this has to be a great driver's car. We will be looking at all the options and deciding if 'alternative' power can deliver the thrills that the car requires. If members decide petrol is still the way forward, that's the way we'll go.

It should be a very entertaining debate!

[dinkel]

Splitwheel said:

. . . petrol is still the way forward . . .

For a performance car to deliver all the thrills: saw Leno roll the Tesla roadster?

Proper sound is evident IMO. But then I love classics.

[dublet]

I can see no downsides to this at all.

[humedini]

An excellent idea indeed... reading through it seems like they have the right idea. Educate the people voting first by giving them information on the various options so that the voting becomes more relevant. Keeping my eyes peeled for when the main site launches ...

[Mr Gear]

Splitwheel said:

Thanks for your comments guys.

We'd just like to add that although hybrid/electric/diesel power are all possibilities, this is not intended to be an outright 'green' performance car.

First and foremost this has to be a great driver's car. We will be looking at all the options and deciding if 'alternative' power can deliver the thrills that the car requires. If members decide petrol is still the way forward, that's the way we'll go.

It should be a very entertaining debate!

Luckily alternative fuels are no barrier to it being a good drivers car. Provided of course you can drive it all the way to the Alps and live the dream.

[Splitwheel]

dublet said:

I can see no downsides to this at all.

You might be suprised to hear that we used 'The Homer' in our initial meetings with Caterham's board as a "what we're not going to do" example.

Don't worry, from the very beginning we've structured the Project to avoid exactly this kind of "it has to do everything for everybody" trap.

[Splitwheel]

MrTappets said:

Looks fantastic - i just hope that the usual voting shortcoming of lowest common denominator wins doesn't rear its head. I am guessing that they are keeping the 7 in production too, so surely they wont want something that could rival it, ie not a stripped out track car.

Caterham have made it clear that the 7 will stay in production for as long as people still want to buy them and the regulations allow Caterham to build them. This new car will be sold as an additional model in the range (if it makes it to production.)

It could be a 'stripped out track car' but we will need to demonstrate a clear-cut case for why it could live alongside the Seven. What will it bring to the party?
Given that competitors have been trying to beat it for 50 years (Renault Sport Spider, 340R, 2-11, X-Bow, Atom, Radicals, Donkervoort etc. etc.) and the R500 is still arguably top of the bunch, is there scope for another model in that 'space'?

That's what you're collectively going to have to decide.

[OJ]

Nice idea, not sure how well it will work in execution though. I shall remain interested

[RallyRider]

Interesting idea, although if we can also redesign Caterham itself as the council appear to be making a mess of it all

[humedini]

RallyRider said:

Interesting idea, although if we can also redesign Caterham itself as the council appear to be making a mess of it all

I think that would need to be a reality TV series ... spread over many weeks!

[atom-ick]

RallyRider said:

Interesting idea, although if we can also redesign Caterham itself as the council appear to be making a mess of it all

Classic statement!

I went to Caterham to take my nephew to the showroom the other day - the council are certainly approaching the concept of roadworks in an interesting manner - it was pandemonium!

Maybe you are right - we should redesign Caterham the Town at the same time! It still has a Wimpy for crying out loud!

Having said this, i am far far far more interested in cars than town planning, so i know where my time would be spent!

I am glad to see there are many people that are as excited about this project as i am! Looking forward to getting stuck in!

[CypherP]

I think this is a brilliant idea. Its nice to feel that you can have a part in producing something that ultimately is down to yours truly.

I personally feel that we as a nation get very used to not being heard, and just put up with things that happen because we no longer seem to have any control. At least in this sense, its nice to feel that something that could be produced may be a direct result of something that we have wanted to see for some time.

I hope this project goes well and others take heed of concepts like this, as it wouldn't hurt to involve us 'joe public' more often, seeing as alot of people, even in these forums, have alot of very innovative ideas.

Edited by CypherP on Wednesday 5th November 12:32

[The Pits]

It's a terrible idea but I'll be taking part all the same, I wish the project every success and hope to be proved wrong.

The trouble is the masses are clueless. People give so much advice to manufacturers on here and most of it is rubbish and shows no understanding of cost or legal requirements.

Take lotus for example the motoring journos and the public were banging on about fitting the Esprit with a V8 for years. Lotus develops and fits a very light V8 at great expense and no-one buys it. 'Enthusiasts' talk a good game but tend to be very conservative with their buying. ie there are lots of great cars out there but the ones that sell in the big numbers are the most bland ie Porsche, BMW because they're percieved as reliable and have better residuals.'Driving pleasure' or 'desirability' is far down the list in the real world.

Developing a desirable drivers car can't be done by a committee. It needs to be done by a knowlegeable visionary. All the cars that people love are designed this way. All the cars that people don't mind are made by a focus group. The truly ground breaking cars are rarely liked at first by the masses.

Edited by The Pits on Wednesday 5th November 12:35

[gareth.e]

I like the idea..

However I think it should be slightly restricted in the sense it is guided my Caterham as I'm sure some ideas that get through will be silly while others are based by people without really thinking or knowing anything at all.

[humedini]

gareth.e said:

I like the idea..

However I think it should be slightly restricted in the sense it is guided my Caterham as I'm sure some ideas that get through will be silly while others are based by people without really thinking or knowing anything at all.

I think that is the best thing about them going in with Caterham - they have the knowledge to be able to give people sensible options when it comes to making choices - and the information they will need to make good decisions. Should avoid any foolish suggestions even making it through to the public vote.