March 22, 2007 After 12 months of highly secretive development, the Caparo T1, which looks and performs like a Formula One car, will be launched as a running car at the 15th Goodwood Festival of Speed (22-24 June 2007) with a new and more powerful engine than previously mooted. The higher specification is reflected in a launch price for the T1 of UKP180,000 plus taxes. The bespoke lightweight, all aluminium V8 has a higher capacity of 3.5 litres and is now normally aspirated. The engine has a mass of less than 100kgs and can produce power outputs of up to 200bhp-per-litre. As the T1 will maintain its nominal 500kg kerb weight this means the Caparo’s specifications of 500kg for 550 bhp give it the best power-to-weight ratio of any production roadgoing car or motorcycle in the world. As the T1 will participate in the Goodwood hill climb at the annual Festival of Speed, the debut will be worth attending as the car promises an astonishing 0-60mph time of 2.5 seconds.
“This is 100kg lighter than a fully ballasted ready-to-race Formula One car,” said Graham Halstead engineering director Caparo Vehicle Technologies. “It means the T1 can deliver a comparable power-to-weight ratio well in excess of 1,000bhp-per-tonne.”
“Goodwood’s Festival of Speed provides an ideal setting for the T1,” said Sean Butcher commercial director Caparo Vehicle Technologies. “With more than 500 journalists, press photographers, TV channels and radio stations covering the event worldwide, the T1 will certainly be in the media spotlight – which seems appropriate as everyone wants to see how this car performs.”
The Caparo T1 is an uncompromised high performance two-seater designed to give customers an affordable and reliable season on the track without incurring the extraordinary costs of running a real Formula One car.The Caparo V8 has been designed from scratch and is comparable to Formula One and Indy race car specifications. It will be built from parts sourced from within the Caparo group of companies and central to its concept is its ability to use alternative, sustainable fuels; a factor important to Caparo for future applications.
“This new engine allows us many exciting options for the future, both for the car and the company,” said Richard Butler chief executive Caparo Vehicle Products. “It will further help us to implement the vehicle lightweight design philosophies necessary to reduce greenhouse gasses being sought by high volume carmakers.” Ben Scott-Geddes operations director at Caparo Vehicle Technologies and the car’s co-designer added: “The new engine now delivers both the performance and reliability we’re looking for in the T1, the two key factors vital to our customers when running this type of car.” Sean Butcher commercial director at Caparo Vehicle Technologies said: “Given the high engine output, increased power-to-weight ratio, advanced hybrid chassis design and ultra-efficient aerodynamics the T1 offers exceptional value for such an exclusive world class vehicle … and quite extraordinary standards in performance, handling and safety.”
The T1 car is designed and produced by Caparo Vehicle Technologies, a new engineering design company created by the rapidly expanding Caparo group to provide advanced technology, materials engineering and design services to automotive, motorsport and aerospace clients.
