Caterham is best known for its stripped-down, bare-bones street cars that keep the legend of Lotus founder Colin Chapman alive. They also have a technology and innovation center, a composites arm, a few motorsports programs, and an F1 team that's perpetually competing for last place. So what's next for the overly ambitious back-markers? Motorcycles, of course.
Caterham Bikes is launching next year, and the first two-wheeler on offer is the Brutus 750, what the new division is calling the "SUV of motorcycles." It's basically a quad cut in half, with a 750cc engine sending grunt to a continuously variable transmission (read: automatic) and powering both 14-inch wheels with oversized, knobby tires. Caterham claims it's "surprisingly nimble to ride," but in the same breath says it's the first motorcycle with an automatic transmission. That should raise the collective eyebrows of every scooter maker, along with Honda, which produced the first automatic motorcycle transmission... in the '70s.
Two other concepts join the Brutus: the Classic E-Bike (above) and Carbon E-Bike (below).
The first definitely has a "classic" vibe to it, but the faux v-twin engine mounted in the triangle -- likely stuffed with the electric motor -- isn't just ridiculous, it's the first time milled aluminum has been used for evil.
Then there's the Carbon E-Bike, which Caterham calls "a premium bike with modern styling inspired by F1 technology." And that's it.
Caterham Bikes doesn't give any specs, powertrain information, or prices for any of its new two-wheelers, but promises that the Brutus will go on sale this spring, with the two others arriving later in the year, and "priced affordably." Have your salt shakers at the ready.
