Caterham Should Build This: The Affordable Mid-Engined V6 We All Want

• Independent designer Melvin Bille presents a sub-$60k mid-engined V6 sports car.

• The two-seater blends Caterham Project V, GMA T.33, and ’60s influences.

• Concept highlights the gap for affordable, analog driver’s cars today.

Caterham Must Produce This: The Low-Price Mid-Engined V6 We All Need

Independent designers tend to dream up cars that meet niches the industry won't. This new concept from Melvin Bille does just that: a small, mid-engined roadster with a V6 powerplant, selling in the $50,000–$60,000 range. And if there's one company that seems perfectly suited to such a notion, it's Caterham.

A New Approach To Low-Price Driving Enjoyment

Bille, a freelance car designer and 3D modeller, wanted to design something new from the expensive, high-tech sports cars that rule the headlines today. What he came up with was a minimalist coupe with clean surfacing, small proportions, and a layout that is all about balance: mid-engined with a V6 at the heart.

In his vision, the vehicle would be a two-seater car that would be as fast as a contemporary Porsche 911 but at a much lower price. The design borrows elements from the Caterham Project V, the GMA T.33, as well as 1960s sports cars.

"My primary objective was to build a sports car that had old-fashioned proportions and an ageless design," says Bille. One of its key features is the stretched windshield, which comes down further than in most contemporary vehicles, providing drivers with an unobstructed, commanding view of the road.

This isn't Bille's first foray into speculation. He was previously in the spotlight for envisioning the Jaguar E-Type as an electric vehicle — a design exercise that also underscored fusing vintage proportions with contemporary thinking

The Market Has a Gap

The Lotus Elise previously set this class, but it has now been usurped by the more upmarket Emira. Alpine's A110 provides a similar philosophy but at closer to $90k and still in scarce supply. Caterham persists with its range of Sevens, while Ariel and BAC build exciting but very specialist track-based cars.

That creates room for something more affordable — a back-to-basics sports car with sufficient performance to thrill but without the six-figure cost.

Why Now May Be the Time

In spite of significant investment in electric sport cars, sales numbers indicate that demand is still limited. On the other hand, analog models like the Toyota GR86, Mazda MX-5, and Porsche 911 GT3 continue to enjoy sizeable followings. Purchasers still appreciate lightweight construction, unadulterated handling balance, and the delight of manual gearboxes.

A mid-engineed V6 for less than $60,000 would be a fascinating alternative in the current market, and it might attract motorists who are looking for something emotional, not digital.

Would Caterham Be Able to Produce Something Like This?

Caterham has established itself on light, driver-oriented cars. Moving into a small mid-engined coupe could appeal to a wider market while remaining faithful to its ethos. With modest power, light weight, and an emphasis on driving purity, such a car could rapidly develop a cult following.

Full gallery containing more renderings of this V6 Sports car can be found below.

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