If you're a car nut you have probably spent plenty of time arguing with your mates down the pub about how you'd make the perfect driver's car. Soon you will be able to get involved in designing a new model for Caterham.
Project Splitwheel is a new venture dreamed up by Piers Drake, an automotive consultant from London. The idea is to use a website with blogs, articles, discussion forums and a Wikipedia-style user-edited knowledgebase to discuss all aspects of the design. A voting system will be used for key decisions. Technical input will come from Caterham Cars and other industry consultants when required.
There is no need for members to have any experience of car design or engineering; all that is requested is passion. As well as seeking people's views online some project members will be given the opportunity to test drive prototype vehicles.
Anyone who wants to get involved can sign up at
www.splitwheel.com, the project website. The full site functionality will become available in the New Year and it is possible that the new car will become part of Caterham's range by 2011.
John Lambert - 6 Nov 2008