Street Legal F1, Caparo T1 to be Unveiled in Monaco

[dutchmasterflex]

Remember hearing about this a couple of months ago?
Seems like they're ready to show it off to the public next week!

http://www.jalopnik.com/images/2006/04/caparo_t1.jpg
http://www.jalopnik.com/cars/news/caparo-t1-to-be-unveiled-in-monaco-167364.php

[yg60m]

I am curious to see if they will be able to produce it with such caracteristics :?:

[hamlet]

no, this is a 2 seater...according to the brochure. Performances are stuning and personnaly I like the shape of that car, it looks a bit like an Allien :twisted:

[dutchmasterflex]

I dont think it looks that bad either, it is pretty much an F1 car for the streets, and F1 cars are't beautiful like they used to be.

Just the fact that they are trying to make it street legal is awesome!

[jakaracman]

Let's see if I can finally go to the Top Marques and see it with my own eyes :wink: :P
You going to be there? I'll be there on friday ...

[Zot09]

Cool concept, but even if it does make it into production I doubt that the members from the US will ever see one due to the crash tests and other regulations.

[dutchmasterflex]

Can't wait to see your pics!!

[r2r]

it should be interesting to see if it goes as fast as it looks.

[RF1]

Engine
2.4 liter V8

Weight
1102 lbs

Aspiration
supercharger

HP
500 hp @ 10,500 rpm

HP/Weight
2.2 lbs per hp

HP/Liter
208.3 hp per liter

0-100 mph
5 seconds

0-60 mph
2.5 seconds

Top Speed
over 200 mph

http://www.seriouswheels.com/2006/2006-Caparo-T1-Prototype-RA-Top-1920x1440.htm

[jakaracman]

Just got back, but no good pics (was woirking, sorry). T1 look nice, a lot of fine details. Weights 465 kilos and at 150 mph has more than 500 kilos of downforce ...
And it's a two seater just by name ...
Liked Apollo, (didn't drive it, though, had to leave before empty slot was up., but I'll drive it sometime this year at factory track), looks good on road (white), nice sound.
I hope Dani has much more detailed report, I'm wasted (9 hours of traffic jams, just got home)

[corpse_grinder0]

damn those are some good specs, I dont think it looks bad at all. I wouldnt mind having one in my garage.

[Svensson]

Autovisie went to the show and made some pics, the car looks awesome!

http://img87.imageshack.us/img87/8383/mz3dx974g3fwvh5da.jpg (http://img190.imageshack.us/img190/8127/4jdx9q3wtpx2uua57cj.jpg)

And a few more on their website:
:arrow: http://www.autovisie.nl/redactioneel/nieuws/archief/caparo_t1_onthuld/index.xml

[gobs3z]

Sweet merciful crap..., i want it!!!

[yg60m]

HUm, first step is made, I wait a riding prototype now :wink:

[Vansquish]

All I can say is: Schwinnnggg!!! Damn, that is one of the most elegant, clean, aggressive but sleek designs I have ever seen. Who says form has to follow function?

[bmwmpower]

thats right, so right, light car, alot of power, aerodynamic, and it looks hyperdynamic,
cornering G must be from another world

[gucom]

ahhh this car is gonna be soooo cool...i hope evo will get to test 1 once it's finished...imagine the 'ring laptime you can do in that :D :D

[Svensson]

More pics! 8)

http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/6266/caparot1face5cm9xn.th.jpg (http://img66.imageshack.us/my.php?image=caparot1face5cm9xn.jpg) http://img66.imageshack.us/img66/6264/caparot14uo0eh.th.jpg (http://img66.imageshack.us/my.php?image=caparot14uo0eh.jpg) http://img102.imageshack.us/img102/1815/zzzimg1508copie4up4ky.th.jpg (http://img102.imageshack.us/my.php?image=zzzimg1508copie4up4ky.jpg)

[Bernardo]

AWFUCKINGESOME !!!!

[yg60m]

Indeed, it looks good and promise a lot, I just hope they will achieve to put it in production with the claimed figures or close to ...

[jakaracman]

HUm, first step is made, I wait a riding prototype now :wink:
Actually, they say they already have running cars, the one displayed is supposed to be 1st preproduction car, not a prototype ...

[dutchmasterflex]

:shock: That thing looks awesome!!! I want to hear it, I want to see it!

I wonder if it will be legal in the US.

[Evo]

That car is insane. same goes for the price you pay for it. 150,000 Euro. I mean yes it will outrun any car in that price range but I really dought it's user friendliness. But I would have one in a second and in orange. :mrgreen:

[yg60m]

HUm, first step is made, I wait a riding prototype now :wink:
Actually, they say they already have running cars, the one displayed is supposed to be 1st preproduction car, not a prototype ...

fingers crossed :wink:

[yg60m]

Cool !! I am waiting for this mate :wink:

[stmoritzer]

direct link doesn't work anymore :bah:
was tricky to find, but here are all pics form the page Svensson posted

http://img46.imagevenue.com/loc59/th_81716_4jdx9q3wtpx2uua5.jpg (http://img46.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc59&image=81716_4jdx9q3wtpx2uua5.jpg)http://img135.imagevenue.com/loc168/th_81723_4jdx9q3wtpx2w91o.jpg (http://img135.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc168&image=81723_4jdx9q3wtpx2w91o.jpg)http://img44.imagevenue.com/loc279/th_81702_4jdx9q3wtpx2uua1.jpg (http://img44.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc279&image=81702_4jdx9q3wtpx2uua1.jpg)http://img140.imagevenue.com/loc84/th_81692_4jdx9q3wtpx2uu30.jpg (http://img140.imagevenue.com/img.php?loc=loc84&image=81692_4jdx9q3wtpx2uu30.jpg)

Damn, this car is hot :drool:

[nthfinity]

I Love it!!!!

its a very impressive piece of kit; definately beautiful... like a mix between the Allard JX2 (or was it XJ2?) and an F1 car :drool: they've done some great body sculpting contours!

[Vansquish]

I Love it!!!!

its a very impressive piece of kit; definately beautiful... like a mix between the Allard JX2 (or was it XJ2?) and an F1 car :drool: they've done some great body sculpting contours!

LOL...neither, it was the Allard J2X hehe...ah well...one of those permutations would've gotten you there. I can sort of see what you're saying about it too, though I like the T1 a lot better than any Allard I've ever seen hehe.

[davide]

I'm sorry but it looks hidious.... look at that!!

That's not a good looking car!

[Svensson]

Wow, really amazing pics Dani! :shock:
Great job!!

[dutchmasterflex]

Are those your pics Dani?

[McLaren4eVa]

If it's designed by ex macca designers i want one plus it'll blow anything, i just dont think 0-100 is quick enough at 5 seconds i mean you could do that in an ultima whichis very cheap in comparison to this.

[taygunho]

Thanks for pics dani. Car looks fantastic. Specs are good but still waiting for road going version not a prototype. If they would build this car this car will be kick other super cars ass.

[dutchmasterflex]

Great pics dani ;) even with the shitty lighting conditions..

This car is like the McLaren F1 with the practicality removed but replaced with speed!

CAN'T wait to see this car in action..

[leblanc2.0]

CAPARO T1 COMPLETES TRIALS

It works! Now for customer cars...

http://www.pistonheads.com/pics/news/15201/caparo_t1_trials-L.jpg
Caparo has completed the build of the first of two T1 prototypes. The car’s creators – design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead – climbed into the high performance two-seater last week to start the engine and complete the first trial run.

“It’s been a fantastic achievement to get this far so quickly,” said Scott-Geddes. “I’m very proud for everyone involved who has helped us so much on a project like this. It takes a very special team to deliver this kind of result in a short time.”

“I guess it’ll be one of those moments we’ll remember forever,” said Halstead. “We’ve both been involved in new car developments before, but this project is more personal and the technical achievement is a tribute to the team’s hard work. The car’s first test has gone extremely well; better than anticipated.”

Commercial director Sean Butcher said: "This is a great achievement for Caparo Vehicle Technologies and my fellow directors, Graham Halstead and Ben Scott-Geddes and all the engineers on the team. I believe this defines a moment in supercar performance not only from a technical ability, but also sends a very strong message that lightweight materials and power-to-weight performance is clearly where mainstream vehicle engineering needs to progress. The initial results of this test will create excitement with our clients and generate further orders and interest from other international customers."
Test programme

Having successfully started the ‘XP1’ under its own power, the first T1 prototype will now start a rigorous test programme before production cars can be built and delivered to customers early next spring. The shake-down will include engine mapping and other specific tests as well as long-term durability and high speed trials. A second prototype – the XP2 – is expected to be completed before Christmas and will similarly be tested for durability and performance. The experienced professional race driver Chris Goodwin will help to evaluate both vehicles for their all-important handling characteristics and dynamic performance on the track.

On hearing about the preliminary run, Caparo group chief executive Angad Paul, immediately authorised the procurement of long lead items required for the first production cars, which are destined for customers next year.

“I’m delighted the first prototype is up and running and at the progress we’re making, especially given that we only started the business earlier this year,” said Paul. “It shows what you can achieve with a small team underpinned by high levels of expertise. And it’s the same experienced team that’s also delivering lightweight vehicle design solutions and a carbon composite production capability to aerospace and automotive manufacturers.”
New premises

Paul, who took the decision to invest in the high technology company, has also approved additional manufacturing investments for the new factory located on the M3 corridor. Despite occupying brand new premises at Farnham when the company was formed earlier this year, it has already been forced to move into larger premises at Basingstoke to accommodate more design staff and more production facilities to help produce lightweight structural parts for the aerospace and automotive industries. A new autoclave for carbon composites production was delivered in September.

Meanwhile, the new Caparo T1 is being assembled at the same facility, with the company on target to build approximately 24 cars a year, with the first car scheduled for March 2007. Thereafter the highly exclusive T1 will be built at a rate of just two cars a month possibly redefining the aerospace and automotive industry definition of ‘ultra low volume production’.
Expansion plans

“The Caparo T1 represents but one-tenth of the business plan.” said Richard Butler chief executive of Caparo Vehicle Products and director of Caparo Vehicle Technologies, which sits alongside seven sister companies within the Caparo Vehicle Products group.

“The Caparo T1 is a real demonstration of our lightweight vehicle design and materials production capability. But it’s also more than a concept inasmuch as there’s a real – albeit exclusive – market for the car and real customers who not only demand the highest possible performance from a track car, but also need it to be driveable on the road and street legal.

“Our long term objective is to help the aerospace and automotive industries to reduce the weight of their vehicles and hence carbon emissions with affordable and practical composite solutions. In essence, we’re applying highly technical lessons learnt from the motorsport industry.”

Paul said: “As well as supplying composite materials alongside the aluminium and steel we’ve always supplied, we can now assist in the design of individual components and complete vehicle systems. And while two-thirds of the group’s overall manufacturing capability for steel and aluminium is based in the UK, for low cost production of modern composite parts we can turn increasingly to new production facilities in India, underpinned by our high level engineering design capability established in the UK.”

Caparo founder and chairman Lord Paul said: “The Caparo T1 is a high profile flagship project for the entire Caparo group and I’m immensely proud of what has been achieved in such a short space of time.”
http://www.pistonheads.com/

[chest3r]

This should be a very good car. But in this last pics it looks smaller than the orange one seen before :roll:

Can't wait to see a decent review of it :)

[dutchmasterflex]

Where's the "roof"?

I can't ever see that being street legal in the US..

[Mattk]

^Even if it was street legal, would you even want to drive it on the street? It looks only suitable for the track.

[dutchmasterflex]

^Even if it was street legal, would you even want to drive it on the street? It looks only suitable for the track.

Of course I'd drive it on the street! And hopefully straight to the track..

[TopGearNL]

This car is a F1 designed for the street :mrgreen:

[Mattk]

I wouldn't buy it. I want a car comfortable enough for chicks to want to sit in.

[acmarttin]

Not really an "update" but Yahoo just put a little vid about this car on their website. Enjoy.

http://video.yahoo.com/video/play?vid=c860df3ccf66c83fb61bb2ffd934330b.1100102&cache=1&fr=cur_fp

[novass]

Nice little vid. I was hoping to see some moving shots and hear it though. I know the guy on the vid mentioned thats its gonna be road legal in the UK, but what about the US? I hope it is.

[Stoopie]

Hmm I'd like to drive this one, but don't want to own it.. It's too much of a race car :( But nice to see such cars released on the road, would be fun to see one driving :D

[novass]

Sorry - there's no place for the extra-big front bumper, the side indicators and the airbag... mandatory in the US :wink:

That just means that I need a big girl to ride around in the car with me. her big ass can act as the bumper and her boobs can act as airbags. Now that just leaves the side indicators... :wink:

[novass]

^^ there you go! :lol:

[gigdy]

how do you not have room for indicators? I mean if you cant engineer those into a car, id be scared to ride in it.

[Stoopie]

I've got some of those 'click-on' lights for my bike, maybe I'll send them to their mighty laboratories, with a letter: "Go figure."

[Svensson]

Here is the first clip of the Caparo T1 on public roads. Very low quality, but always better than nothing!

:arrow: http://www.pistonheadstv.com/videos/1175.asf

[yg60m]

:D Thanks for the clip mate !

[dutchmasterflex]

daaaaaaamn.. that thing is NEVER going to be street legal in the US.. :(

You can barely make out the exhaust note of an F1 car in the video.. this car is going to be crazy!

[crazidude]

It not being street legal doesn't mean you'll never see one on the roads. There will always be people who import illegal cars and drive them around. I don't the F1 was street legal at the time, because the front bumper was too low or something, but people still buy and drive them around.

[Stoopie]

Cool car IMO, let's see the first sightings ;)

[Svensson]

Awesome news: New engine for the Caparo T1!

The Caparo T1, which will be launched this summer, will get a new 3.5 litre NA engine with a specific output of up to 200bhp-per-litre! That means 700bhp!! The engine weighs less than 100kg so that the T1 can maintain its kerb weight of 500kg. That means a power-to-weight ratio of well over 1,000bhp/ton, which puts the T1 into F1 territory!

http://www.seriouswheels.com/thumbs-2007/2007-Caparo-T1-Prelaunch-Engine-1280x960-th.jpg (http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2007/2007-Caparo-T1-Prelaunch-Engine-1280x960.jpg) http://www.seriouswheels.com/thumbs-2007/2007-Caparo-T1-Prelaunch-Duo-Tilt-1600x1200-th.jpg (http://www.seriouswheels.com/pics-2007/2007-Caparo-T1-Prelaunch-Duo-Tilt-1600x1200.jpg) http://www.seriouswheels.com/thumbs-2007/2007-Caparo-T1-Prelaunch-Side-Angle-Drive-1024x768-th.jpg (http://www.seriouswheels.com/2007/2007-Caparo-T1-Prelaunch-Side-Angle-Drive-1024x768.htm)

Check out the individual throttle bodies with the velocity stacks! Very exotic looking engine! The car looks stunning in white by the way :D

For the full story: http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2007-Caparo-T1-Prelaunch.htm

[HeilSvenska]

Amazing car. It looks very uncompromised. I hope the US homologation looks the other way and let this car in.

[chest3r]

That's a really amazing car !!!

This is a car about impressive numbers, like the Veyron. But unlike the Veyron it's about low weight and not lots of power.

This car should sound like hell.

[dutchmasterflex]

hoooolyy shit... I want one now... but it will never be street legal here in the States. I can already see the front of that car getting smashed up on speed bumps.

That V8 looks like pure mechanical sex.

[Svensson]

^ I know! :D

The best part of it, is that it's NA now.. so you can imagine the glorious induction growl from the engine!

[silentm]

awesome photos. nice high res too :)

now this car is what i'd call exotic. very good looking but still doesn't look like anything driving around.

[HeilSvenska]

http://www.seriouswheels.com/thumbs-2007/2007-Caparo-T1-Prelaunch-Rear-Studio-1920x1440-th.jpg (http://www.seriouswheels.com/2007/2007-Caparo-T1-Prelaunch-Rear-Studio-1920x1440.htm)
This is what really does it for me. That engine cover... so many louvres... It's like looking at an F1 car.

[dutchmasterflex]

Perfect execution of Form and Function. Looks beautiful(well sorta, definitely not ugly IMO) and gets the job done.

[yg60m]

I have strong doubts on engine's speccies, I stopped believing in Santa Claus a long time ago ... I remember that the Caterham R500's engine needed to be rebuilt every 5000 miles and it didn't developp 200 bhp/L.

[Svensson]

^ Well, if the operations director from Caparo is to be believed, future T1 owners needn't worry:
“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.”

But that remains to be seen.. At 200 bhp/litre there's no denying that the engine is stressed to its very limit, especially since it's NA, which means it needs at least 10000 rpm and a high compression ratio to achieve that power. I wouldn't be surprised if it'll spin to 11k or even 12k rpm. Let's wait and see...

[TopGearNL]

Interesting stuff about the engine.

Some people might find this thing ugly or stupid, but it is one hell of a nice achievement from an technical point of view!

[novass]

I like it! I think its a very interesting concept and I would love to drive one, doubt I will ever get the chance though.

[gobs3z]

Well if you look at the engine you notice that they aren't using anything that you would consider an OEM part. Those fuel lines and fuel rails are top of line, if you don't cheap out on parts you can make a reliable motor. And if you look at F1 cars from the 50's they were making 100hp per liter if not more. Why can't we do that now and thensome, because we cheap out on parts.

[mayer]

Some new pictures:
http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/secret_new_car.php?sid=699&page=1

[dutchmasterflex]

Thanks for the link.

If this car doesn't outperform everything and anything, it will be a total waste.

[rusrocket]

new vehicle for halo 3

[Erez]

:twisted: thats sick! :twisted:

[yg60m]

New informations and maybe a drive here :

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_drive.php?sid=760&page=1

http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_drive.php?sid=761&page=1

Can't wait to see it tested by Top Gear or 5th Gear :drool:

[dutchmasterflex]

Holy shit:

And there could be higher performance versions to come. 'In its current state of tune, the engine is well within its capability,' says Caparo Vehicle Technologies boss Richard Butler. 'It's very low stressed running at 10,500rpm – it could reach 17,000.' The thinking behind this is to ensure good reliability from the engine, which weighs just 116kg. The engine is a joint development between Caparo and Menard Engineering, rather than a familiar unit bought in.

That should answer your reliability questions Dani :twisted:

250kg LIGHTER than an Elise.


I've already came to the conclusion that I will probably never see this car on the streets.. I will be perfectly happy just to see Tiff Needell power slide this monster.

Hope they do testing on the 'Ring but something tells me they wont. Would be nice to see them smash the production car record.

[Svensson]

Thanks for the awesome info yg60m! It doesn't have 700bhp like rumours were saying, but at 575bhp it still breaks the magic 1000bhp-per-ton. And the engine is built so strong, apparently 10,500rpm is a piece of cake... Incredible! :D

[dutchmasterflex]

I'm pretty sure revving that V8 at 17,000 like they say it can do, will output 700bhp.

[Svensson]

^ Yep, I have no doubt about that! Probably Caparo realised the more durable 575bhp engine is a better option for "normal" customer cars than the full blown 700bhp deal, but as the article said, higher performance versions are definately possible... :twisted:

[dutchmasterflex]

Yeah man, I hope they can keep all of their promises.

Like I said in the Caterham thread posted recently, you need some good aerodynamics to make high-powered light weight functional. These guy's know what their doing ;)

[Svensson]

^ I agree with you that it doesn't sound very logical, but I believe they know very well what they're doing and the whole team has a lot of experience. As for the turbocharged V8, that would probably be a more reliable option, but thank God they didn't do that! N/A is so much more exotic and F1-like! Plus it sounds so much better.

[Svensson]

Aight, then we agree 8)

[chest3r]

This car doesn't need torque, so... turbo is not an option!!

[mayer]

Downloadable videos of the car. Pathetically short, but it's awesome to see the car in action nonetheless.

http://www.pistonheads.tv/clip1264
http://www.pistonheads.tv/clip1265
http://www.pistonheads.tv/clip1266
http://www.pistonheads.tv/clip1267

[yg60m]

:D Wow nice find mate !! Thanks :good:

[Svensson]

Great find mayer! The car sounds lovely :D

[yg60m]

The same video in one part here : http://www.autocar.co.uk/VideosWallpapers/Videos.aspx?AR=225977

[nthfinity]

I just found out that the first Caparo T1 production car will find it's home in Michigan... :shock:

I can't wait to see it vs. the Veyron!

[dutchmasterflex]

Nice!

I assume this means your uber rich colleague is on the list for the first batch?

[nthfinity]

Nice!

I assume this means your uber rich colleague is on the list for the first batch?

a different "colleague" is with a more modest 10ish car collection... he's even got one of these (actually, this one.... the only one)


http://www.lotus7club.co.uk/images/c21gto.jpg

[novass]

Um...what the hell is that?

[nthfinity]

Um...what the hell is that?

It's a 21 GTO

[Svensson]

^ Super cool and very rare car! Highly tuned K-series engine with roller barrel throttles and about 230 bhp. Lightweight too :good:

[Svensson]

By the way, here's a short Caparo T1 impression from autovisie.nl:

:arrow: http://www.autovisie.nl/nieuws/nieuwsoverzicht/archief/2007/06/film_meerijden_met_de_cap/index.xml
:arrow: http://www.autovisie.nl/video/Caparo_T1_Def.flv (to download the flash-file)

According to the reporter the T1 felt insanely quick. He had never experienced so much cornering and braking force as in this car and they were only using around 60% of the car's capability due to the sound regulations at the Goodwood track...

[dutchmasterflex]

Nice!

I assume this means your uber rich colleague is on the list for the first batch?

a different "colleague" is with a more modest 10ish car collection... he's even got one of these (actually, this one.... the only one)


http://www.lotus7club.co.uk/images/c21gto.jpg

:shock:

Awesome. Get any info on production numbers of the Caparo T1? Or when your friend is expecting it's arrival?

[nthfinity]

supposedly its set at 40 Caparo's.... It's hard to say when the car will arrive.

[Svensson]

Another Caparo T1 clip, too bad it's pretty boring.

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/audio_video/times_online_tv/?channel=driving&clipid=1152_timesonline0230

I'm looking forward to the Autocar-feature with Chris Harris :)

[pagani]

supposedly its set at 40 Caparo's.... It's hard to say when the car will arrive.
It's planned for this summer.
And this will be the streetlegal car ulimate car my new favorite car.
:D 8) :twisted: :twisted:

[blue8]

It's featured on the cover of evo's issue 107 and it was also reviewed in WCF.
http://www.worldcarfans.com/rsslink.cfm/article/1070629.002/specialty_ecf/wcf-test-drive-caparo-t1
http://images5.worldcarfans.com/features/1070629.002/1070629.002.1M.jpg

[silentm]

lol i like the positioning of the numberplate :D

[dutchmasterflex]

Sucks how they don't allow those stick license "plates" here in the US. Although there are a few states where you don't need one for the front of your car.


After quickly looking through what WCF wrote about it, it seems like car is a giant, street legal shifter kart with aerodynamics.

Awesome. :twisted:

[nthfinity]

Sucks how they don't allow those stick license "plates" here in the US. Although there are a few states where you don't need one for the front of your car.
Awesome. :twisted:

Such as Michigan :P

Looks like a shotgun ride will be a little cramped... LOL

[dutchmasterflex]

Looks like a shotgun ride will be a little cramped... LOL

Yeah in that photo it looks like the rear seat is shifted to the side a bit to allow them a better view.

I thought it was just like a fighter jet wit the passenger seat directly behind the driver.

[mayer]

Hope this isn't a repost. The Stig drives the T1:

http://honda-portal.com/honda-videos.php?video_id=299

http://www.topgear.com/content/timetoburn/sections/videos/

[Svensson]

Hope this isn't a repost. The Stig drives the T1:

http://honda-portal.com/honda-videos.php?video_id=299

http://www.topgear.com/content/timetoburn/sections/videos/

Yeah it's a Stanley:

:arrow: http://www.motorworld.net/forum/showthread.php?t=52055