Caterham Cars launches engineering business

Caterham Cars has created a separate engineering business, Caterham Technology and Innovation Ltd (CTI). It is one of the first moves since Team Lotus Enterprises took control of the company in April.

Caterham Technology and Innovation will develop a new line of lightweight sports cars inspired by the Caterham Seven and draw on materials and knowledge gained from Team Lotus Formula One and the Caterham Air Asia Team in the GP2 Series. CTI said it will focus on new vehicle architectures, high-performance engines and advanced materials.

Caterham was bought by Team Lotus Enterprises, which is not to be confused with Group Lotus.

Group Lotus is the company many consider to be the "real" Lotus and which owns Lotus Cars and fields its own F1 team under the banner Lotus-Renault GP.

If the existence of the two Lotus companies was not enough to cause confusion, CTI also announced that it hired Tony Shute, who is credited with bringing the Series 1 Elise--made by Lotus Cars--to market. Shute becomes head of road cars for the new business.

"When the opportunity to be involved with creating the next Caterham arose, I couldn't turn it down," said Shute. "The core principles and ambitions of CTI have already enabled us to attract some of the brightest and most respected talents in their field."

By Jake Lingeman