Caterham creates next car online

By Ben Whitworth

Motor Industry

05 November 2008 10:08

Caterham has turned to cyberspace to design its next model – the low-volume carmaker is calling on fans around the world to log onto a bespoke website to submit their ideas and designs for every aspect of the new Caterham, before ultimately voting on what makes it to the final vehicle.

The website – www.splitwheel.com - will act as a forum, hosting blogs, articles and what Caterham calls ‘a Wikipedia-style user-edited knowledge base’ to turn user input into a workable vehicle design. A comprehensive voting system that covers all aspects of the car will then be initiated, and once the final specification is agreed a prototype will be produced with initial production slated for 2011.

Caterham is hoping the forum will explore how the company should proceed and take into account environmental pressures by exploring alternative methods of propulsion, such as electric and hybrid drivetrains, while still maintaining the Caterham’s white-knuckle driving dynamics.

And the bloggers will be able to dictate everything from bumper to bumper?
'Every attribute and detail of the new vehicle will be decided by Project Splitwheel members, from the chassis and powerplant to styling, equipment and even the name,' says Splitwheel founder and automotive consultant Piers Drake. 'Importantly, the partnership with Caterham gives the Project access to engineering resources, facilities and expert knowledge to deliver this car from the internet and into the real world.'

Initial registrations for this novel approach by Caterham’s R&D department can be made at www.splitwheel.com.

Scroll down the page to the embedded player to view Caterham's unedited promotional footage for Project Splitwheel

A brave step forward for Caterham, or a cynical use of its fan base to trim its research and development costs? Let us know your thoughts…    

By Ben Whitworth