British sports car maker unveils motorcycle design prototypes
CATERHAM Group, the company behind the historic Caterham Cars brand, used the EICMA show in Milan to launch a line-up of three prototype motorcycle designs.
The Brutus 750 (described by the company as the ‘SUV of motorcycles’), Classic E-Bike (an electric bike with retro styling) and the Carbon E-Bike (an electric bike inspired by F1 technology) are said to be "a key part of the Group’s strategy of growth through partnerships".
Malaysian entrepreneur Tony Fernandes, Co-Chairman of Caterham Group, said: “Our vision for Caterham Group which includes the Caterham (formerly Lotus) Formula 1 team, and who is also owner of Air Asia and London based English football club Queens Park Rangers, has taken another step forward with the launch of Caterham Bikes.
"Expanding our interests into the two-wheeled market is another natural progression for us and is a good opportunity to showcase the breadth of knowledge, experience and creativity we have at our disposal across the Group, now in the two wheeled world in addition to all of our other automotive, technology and innovation interests".
Production of the three designs is targeted to begin in spring 2014, with the Brutus 750 the first to be built, followed by the two electric bikes later in the year.
The Brutus 750 is said to be capable of being used as a street bike, off-road machine or even a snowmobile (with a conversion that is said to be possible in less than four hours).
The first of the two electric bikes will be the Classic E-Bike, which features retro styling and has an expected range of 40-80km, and does not require the rider to have a license in the EU.
The Carbon E-Bike has modern styling inspired by F1 technology, and a limited edition version featuring exclusive F1 input and materials is currently being worked on.
www.caterhambikes.com
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| With production slated to start for all three models in mid-2014, the ‘Brutus’, based on a 750cc Dili single, is being assembled in Taiwan with the European production of the two E-Bikes planned for the UK. Caterham is describing the ‘Brutus’ as the “SUV of motorcycles” according to Chief Designer Alessandro Tartarini, the son of Italjet founder Leopoldo Tartarini and designer of the well-received ‘Velocifero’. Alessandro is seen here on the right, on their EICMA booth with Caterham Bikes’ General Manager of Sales and Distribution Andrea Leuthe - a former 500cc Grand Prix privateer, motorcycle importer and Italjet export manager. |
