Caterham chairman Tony Fernandes has confirmed reports about the brand’s plans for future products like crossovers and small cars. At the Singapore presentation of the Caterham AeroSeven pre-production study (pictured above and below), Fernandes acknowledged plans for the brand’s expansion in new segments.
“Caterham will show itself to be a progressive, open and entrepreneurially powered car brand that will deliver and surprise in equal measure,” the Malaysian entrepreneur said. “It has been a British institution for the last 40 years, and automotive secret in many ways, but in the very near future, the Caterham name will sit proudly on crossovers, city cars as well as a range of sportscars for everyone,” he added.
Fernandes noted that Caterham will launch a range of accessible sports cars “for the lifestyle buyer to the thrill-seeker,” the first of which will be the AeroSeven arriving next year. The executive added that Asia will be a key focus for Caterham, with the product range developed to meet the demands of a market both him and business partner Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun know extremely well.
“The Joint Venture with Renault to produce an all-new sportscar for both the Alpine and Caterham brands demonstrates our clear intent on doing this right, doing it sensibly, but above all, doing it the Caterham way,” Fernandes said about his ambitions for the carmaker.
He didn’t offer specific details about the future models, launch dates or sales targets. “We’re focused on developing the right products; with the right retail experience, in the right markets, at the right time. The sales will then come,” Caterham’s chairman explained.
Caterham Cars has launched three new models this year: the Seven 485, the extreme 620R and the entry-level, Suzuki-powered Seven 165.
By Dan Mihalascu
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