Skip advert
Advertisement

New Camal Scoperta is a sexy £125,000 Caterham

Camal has changed almost every visible exterior component on the Caterham 485

Design house Camal Studio has revealed its next project - the Scoperta. While it’s currently still a rendering, Camel says the car is ready to be built - with the underpinnings coming direct from a Caterham.

The cost for this lightweight, two-seat speedster is 150,000 euros not including VAT (about £125,000)  - and it’s unclear whether that price will include the Caterham donor vehicle needed for this extensive conversion.  

Camel says the Scoperta’s design is inspired by Italian cars of the 1950s and 60s. Other than the positioning of the cockpit and the overall proportions, the car’s Caterham foundations are almost unrecognisable. Some distinctive features include larger 19-inch wheels, side-exit exhausts placed nearer the front and characterful LED headlights sitting flush with the bonnet - which looks like a single clamshell piece that extends past the new wing mirrors. 

Advertisement - Article continues below

The Caterham Camal chose to underpin its Scoperta is the 485. The body is made from aluminium and carbon, so the kerb weight shouldn’t be too much higher than the 485’s 560kg. Power comes from a Ford Duratec 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 237bhp and 204Nm of torque available. We expect the performance figures to be in the region of the Caterham’s 4.1-second 0-62mph time and 139mph top speed. 

Caterham doesn’t exactly festoon its interiors with gadgetry and luxurious features, so the Scoperta is pretty basic inside. The overall layout has changed quite a bit, however, with a wraparound shoulder line, a new steering wheel, twin screens on the dash, new seats and, behind the carbon-fibre roll bar, a spare wheel integrated into the body. There’s also a slick, five-speed gated manual as a centrepiece. Camel says it has gone to lengths to ensure the Scoperta is fully road-legal.

The design house was founded in 2008 in Turin by Alessandro Camorali and in recent times it has worked on projects including the BMW Mille Miglia Concept and the divisively-styled Aznom Palladium. 

Time to have some fun! These are the best sports cars to buy...

Skip advert
Advertisement
Senior news reporter

A keen petrol-head, Alastair Crooks has a degree in journalism and worked as a car salesman for a variety of manufacturers before joining Auto Express in Spring 2019 as a Content Editor. Now, as our senior news reporter, his daily duties involve tracking down the latest news and writing reviews.

Find a car with the experts

Skip advert
Advertisement

Recommended

The best ever Japanese kei cars: lightweight, lovable and back in vogue
Best kei cars - header image

The best ever Japanese kei cars: lightweight, lovable and back in vogue

Car weight has become a big issue with the rise of EVs, but Japanese kei cars have had the problem solved for years. These are the best…
Best cars & vans
30 Jan 2025
New Caterham Project V: all-electric sports car to get Yamaha power
Caterham Project V - front static

New Caterham Project V: all-electric sports car to get Yamaha power

Caterham’s bold new future will see an electric coupe join its ranks with a Yamaha-developed powertrain
News
2 Oct 2024
Caterham opens high-tech new Kent factory in big boost for lightweight British sports cars
Multiple Caterhams parked in factory

Caterham opens high-tech new Kent factory in big boost for lightweight British sports cars

A big investment from Caterham’s owners will allow annual production to increase by 50 per cent
News
5 Jun 2024

Most Popular

Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans
Future of Nissan in the UK - header with Phil McNamara

Future of Nissan in the UK: new Gigafactory to power bold EV plans

Nissan is about to go from building the Qashqai hybrid to three fresh EVs in the UK over the next three years – all powered by a new gigafactory
Features
19 Apr 2025
Best SUVs to buy 2025
Best SUVs - header image

Best SUVs to buy 2025

There are plenty of great SUVs to choose from, so we’ve picked out the very best
Best cars & vans
17 Apr 2025
New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring
Baby Nissan Juke exclusive image - rear

New baby Nissan Juke EV on the way to challenge the Dacia Spring

Nissan to fast-track development of new battery-powered city car to take on forthcoming Volkswagen ID.1, and our exclusive images preview how it could…
News
18 Apr 2025