Caparo T1

Infobox Automobile


name =Caparo T1
manufacturer =Caparo Vehicle Technologies
parent_company =
aka =Freestream T1 (formerly)
production =
assembly =
predecessor =
successor =
class =Sports car
body_style =2-door coupé
layout =Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
platform =
engine =convert|3496|cm3|L|1|abbr=on naturally-aspirated V8
transmission =6-speed sequential
wheelbase =convert|2900|mm|in|abbr=on
length =convert|4066|mm|in|abbr=on
width =convert|1990|mm|in|abbr=on
height =convert|1076|mm|in|abbr=on
weight =convert|550|kg|lb|abbr=on
fuel_capacity =convert|55|L|U.S.gal
electric_range =
related =
designer =Ben Scott-Geddes
sp =uk

The Caparo T1 is a British mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seat automobile built by Caparo Vehicle Technologies, founded by design director Ben Scott-Geddes and engineering director Graham Halstead, former engineers involved in the development of the McLaren F1.cite web |url=http://www.newspress.co.uk/DAILY_LINKS/arc_mar_2006/39968free.htm |title=Caparo creates advanced vehicle technology group |accessdate=2007-10-13 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author= |last= |first= |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2006-03-13 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=Newspress |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ] The T1 was inspired by Formula One design, and intended as a relatively affordable street legal race car.cite web |url=http://auto.howstuffworks.com/caparo.htm |title=Howstuffworks "How the Caparo T1 Works" |accessdate=2007-06-10 |first=Ed |last=Grabianowski |publisher=Howstuffworks ] The T1 was scheduled for production in mid-2007 for a price of GB£235,000 (approx. US$480,000 or €328,000, c.2007),cite episode |title=Series 10 Episode 5 |episodelink= |url= |series=Top Gear |serieslink=Top Gear (current format) |credits= |network=BBC |station=BBC Two |city= |airdate=2007-11-11 |began= |ended= |season= |number= |minutes= |transcript= |transcripturl=] with approximately 25 cars per year built.cite book|last=Hiscock|first=Geoff|title=India's Global Wealth Club: The Stunning Rise of Its Billionaires and Their Secrets of Success|publisher=John Wiley and Sons (Asia) Pte Ltd|date=2008|pages=219|accessdate=2008-10-03]

Overview

The T1 has a dry weight of convert|550|kg|lb|lk=on, an overall length of convert|4066|mm|in|lk=on, an overall width of convert|1990|mm|in, an overall height of convert|1076|mm|in, and a wheelbase of convert|2900|mm|in. It has a fuel tank capacity of convert|55|L|U.S.gal.

Exterior

The exterior of the T1 closely resembles that of a racing prototype or Formula One racing car. It features a carbon fibre aerodynamic low drag body design, composed of individual sections, with an adjustable twin element front wing, single element rear wing, and fowler flaps, and a ground effect diffuser, allowing it to create convert|875|kg|lb of downforce at convert|240|km/h|mph.cite web |url=http://www.carmagazine.co.uk/first_drive.php?sid=982&page=1 |title=Carmagazine's First Drives: Caparo T1 |accessdate=2007-10-20 |last=Chilton |first=Chris |date=2007-08-30 |publisher=Carmagazine ] The wings are replaceable with road and track variations.

Interior

The interior of the T1 is a two-seat configuration, lacking any amenities and luxuries to reduce excess weight. The passenger's seat is set back from the driver's seat slightly, allowing the seats to be placed closer together, thereby reducing the overall width of the T1.Citation|last=Murray |first=Gordon |author-link=Gordon Murray |publication-date= |date=July |year=2007 |title=Caparo T1. The Inside Story of an Exotic Supercar |periodical= |publication-place= |place= |publisher=Road and Track |volume=58 |issue=12 |pages=98 |url= |issn= |doi= |oclc= |accessdate=2007-08-21] Offered are a head protection system, six-point harnesses for the driver and passenger, compatible with a HANS device, and is designed with a central safety cell made of a high-strength steel roll hoop with a fire system. The dashboard is multi-function with race data logging and speed sensors for traction control and launch control.

Chassis

The chassis of the T1 is composed of a carbon fibre and aluminium honeycomb monocoque with a front composite crash structure and a rear tubular space frame construction. The suspension is of a double wishbone design with tunable anti-roll bars, front and rear, and five-way adjustable race dampers. The braking system is composed of convert|355|mm|in|adj=on steel brake discs, with six-piston and four-piston callipers front and rear, respectively. The brake bias pedal box is fully adjustable and brake pads are available in various compounds. The wheels are all-aluminium convert|10|by|18|in|mm|adj=on and convert|11|by|19|in|mm|adj=on front and rear, respectively, with Pirelli P Zero Corsa tyres. Magnesium convert|10|by|18|in|mm|adj=on and convert|11|by|18|in|mm|adj=on wheels front and rear, respectively, with Pirelli slick and wet track tyres are available as optional equipment.

Powertrain

The T1 sports a convert|116|kg|lb|adj=on,cite web |url=http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2007-Caparo-T1-Final-Testing.htm |title=2007 Caparo T1 Final Testing |pulblisher=Serious Wheels ] 32-valve, convert|3496|cm3|L|1|adj=on, all-aluminium, naturally-aspirated, Menard V8 engine with cylinder banks mounted at 90° and lubricated via a dry sump oil system. The design of the engine has gone through several designs, previously including a smaller 2.4-litre supercharged unit. The production design generates a maximum power of convert|575|hp|kW PS|lk=on at 10,500 revolutions per minute and a maximum torque of convert|310|lbft|Nm|lk=on at 9,000 revolutions per minute,cite web |url=http://www.caparo-t1.com/downloads/Caparo_T1_Brochure_190307.pdf |title=Caparo T1 official brochure|accessdate=2007-06-23 |publisher=Caparo ] giving the car a power-to-weight ratio of 1,045 horsepower per tonne (779.3 kW/t). In addition, the engine has been reported to successfully reach convert|700|hp|kW PS of power on methanol fuel.cite web|url=http://www.supercars.net/cars/3376.html|title=2007 Caparo T1|publisher=Supercars.net|accessdate=2008-10-01] The engine is controlled via a fully tunable Pectel SQ6 engine control unit and the throttle is controlled via a throttle-by-wire system.

The T1's gearbox is a 6-speed sequential made of a magnesium and carbon construction that has a variety of available gear ratios and utilizes a pneumatic actuator to shift, able to upshift in 60 milliseconds and downshift in 30 milliseconds.cite video |people= |date2= |month2= |year2= |title=Caparo T1 - Race car with Number Plate
url=http://youtube.com/watch?v=pLsZY90ekUo |format= |medium= |publisher=AutoCar |location= |accessdate=2007-11-24 |time= |quote= ] Furthermore, the drivetrain incorporates a limited slip differential and equal length hollow tripod driveshafts.

Performance

The T1 is reported to be capable of exceeding an estimated maximum speed of convert|205|mph|km/h on a low downforce setup.cite journal |last=Brown |first=Joe |authorlink= |coauthors= |year=2006 |month=October |title=Go, Street Racer, Go |journal=Popular Science |volume=269 |issue=4 |pages=p. 21 |id= |url= |accessdate=2008-02-27 |issn=0161-7370 |quote=Its 480hp engine (using a $13,000 gearbox) can blast the car to 60 mph in less than 2.5 seconds and top out at 205 mph. ] From a standing start, it has an estimated convert|0|-|100|km/h|mph under 2.5 seconds and onto convert|160|km/h|mph under 5 seconds, depending on tyre setup. It is also capable of an estimated lateral acceleration of up to 3 "g" and braking deceleration of 3 "g", depending on tyre setup. Furthermore, it is capable of convert|32.5|mpgU.S.|km/L|adj=on|lk=on fuel economy.cite web |url=http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/702/ |title=Super Brit packs a 500bhp punch |date=2006-04-18 |accessdate=2008-01-31 |publisher="Top Gear" ]

History

Unveiling

The T1 was officially unveiled by His Serene Highness The Sovereign Prince of Monaco, joined by Murray Walker, at the Top Marques auto show in Monaco on April 20, 2006.cite web |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2006/04/25/caparo-t1-unveiled-in-monaco/ |title=Caparo T1 unveiled in Monaco |last=Waterman |first=Stuart |date=2006-04-25 |publisher=Autoblog.com |accessdate=2007-02-01 ] The show car unveiled was a prototype, painted orange as historic McLaren cars were due to the nature of the T1's designers being ex-McLaren engineers. Another test vehicle was reported to have been under construction at the time.

During the MPH '07 auto show, on October 30 through November 2 and later November 13 through November 16, 2007, Caparo, in conjunction with the London Metropolitan Police, unveiled a prototype police vehicle variant of the T1 named the Rapid Response Vehicle (RRV).cite web |url=http://www.autoblog.com/2007/10/31/speeders-are-screwed-caparo-t1-police-edition/ |title=Speeders are screwed! Caparo T1 police edition |last=Neff |first=John |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2008-02-01 |publisher=Autoblog.com ] cite web |url=http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/News/articleId=123304 |title=Siren Song: Caparo Makes a Cop Car |date=2007-11-07 |publisher=Edmuds ] However, "Top Gear" and Edmunds reported that the car would not be put into production.cite web |url=http://www.topgear.com/content/news/stories/2386/ |title=Caparo: police issue |date=2007-10-31 |accessdate=2008-02-01 |publisher="Top Gear" ]

Incidents

Jason Plato was injured in a prototype T1 in October 2007 at the Bruntingthorpe proving ground when it caught fire at an estimated convert|250|km/h|mph.cite web |url=http://www.eemsonline.co.uk/news/09-10-07_20 |title=Jason Plato suffers burns in Caparo T1 track test |date=2007-10-09 |accessdate=2007-10-10 |publisher=Energy Efficient Motorsport ] The T1 was being tested during filming for Five's "Fifth Gear". Plato described what happened as:In the associated episode of "Fifth Gear", first broadcast October 15, 2007, presenter Vicki Butler-Henderson suggested the fire was caused by a "faulty oil sealing component," which now identified, will be fully rectified by Caparo.cite episode |title=Season 12 Episode 7 |episodelink= |url= |series=Fifth Gear |serieslink=Fifth Gear |credits= |network=Five |station= |city= |airdate=2007-10-15 |began= |ended= |season= |number= |minutes= |transcript= |transcripturl=]

While being tested for competing British television programme "Top Gear", first broadcast on November 11, 2007, a floor panel came loose from the test vehicle as it was being driven at speed by Jeremy Clarkson, after he had already made a play of being scared about driving the car because of Plato's experience. Afterwards, there was a problem with the car's petrol injection system. In the same review, Clarkson mentioned two more incidents, one at the press launch, when "some aspect of the front suspension came adrift" while a Dutch journalist was driving, causing him to veer off road, and one at the Goodwood Festival of Speed when the throttle stuck open.

Reviews

On November 11, 2007, the T1 surpassed the "Top Gear" Power Board leader's time of 1:17.6, held by the Koenigsegg CCX, with a time of 1:10.6, the largest margin any car has ever beaten the previous best by. Though immediately having declared the time and placed it on the Power Board, presenter Jeremy Clarkson removed the record because it did not meet the show's rule that the car must be able to go over a speed bump, despite it being street legal. However, Ben Scott-Geddes of Caparo has stated that, "the model we supplied to "Top Gear" was one of our final engineering vehicles without adjustable ride height and electronic active driver control systems which are standard on our production models. When drivers select the 'road' setting, the car is more tractable in slower speed conditions and the ride height is fully adjustable to bring the car up to 90 mm clearance, making it more than capable of driving over speed bumps."cite web |url=http://www.worldcarfans.com/9071121.007/caparo-t1-destroys-top-gear-lap-record |title=Caparo T1 Destroys Top Gear Lap Record |accessdate=2008-02-23 |accessmonthday= |accessdaymonth= |accessyear= |author= |last=Potter |first=Brian |authorlink= |coauthors= |date=2007-11-21 |year= |month= |format= |work= |publisher=World Car Fans |pages= |language= |doi= |archiveurl= |archivedate= |quote= ]

References

*cite web |url=http://www.caparo-t1.com/downloads/Caparo_T1_Brochure_200608.pdf |title=Caparo T1 Brochure |accessdate=2008-07-15 |publisher=T1 Cars Limited
*cite web |url=http://www.motortrend.com/roadtests/convertibles/112_0708_caparo_t1_first_drive |title=First Drive: Caparo T1 |last=Horrell |first=Paul |accessdate=2007-10-13 |publisher=Motor Trend

Citations

External links

* [http://www.caparo-t1.com/ Caparo T1 official web site] (Adobe Flash Player required).