How will Caterham make it work?
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. ‘Importantl
