British-based retro sports car manufacturer Caterham has launched a motorcycle division — Caterham Bikes — at this week’s EICMA international bike show in Milan.
Three prototype machines — the petrol-engined Brutus 750 – top right – (described as an “SUV of motorcycles” with automatic transmission), the Classic E-Bike (an electric bike with retro styling) and the Carbon E-Bike (a premium electric bike “inspired by F1 technology”) – have been unveiled for production in Spring 2014.
The company says Caterham Bikes is a natural extension to the group since the purchase of the Caterham Cars brand in April 2011 by AirAsia entrepeneurs Tony Fernandes and Dato’ Kamarudin Meranun.
This two-wheeled division joins Caterham F1 Team, Caterham Racing (GP2), Caterham Technology and Innovation, Caterham Composites and Caterham Moto Racing Team in the Caterham Group.
It will be headed up by Al-Ishsal Ishak, formerly group head of ancillary income at AirAsia, as chief executive. The management team includes chief designer Alessandro Tartarini (son of Italjet founder Leopoldo Tartarini) and chief engineer Zeno Panarari (who was “tech leader” on the recent Lambretta scooter relaunch project under Tartarini), along with businessman and ex-Moto2 racer Andreas Leuthe (most recently associated with Moto2 chassis constructor Suter) who will run the distribution and sales function.
The Carbon E-Bike
