We're a little perplexed by the Race Extreme because we've always seen the Caparo T1 advertised as an extreme race car for the street. But this is the extreme track version of the extreme track car for the street? Either way, it's hard to argue with the stats: top speed of 208 MPH, 0-to-100 MPH in 5.8 seconds, G loads in cornering in better than 3.5 gs.

It gets extreme thanks to an upgraded Caparo V8, fully tune-able ECU, fully adjustable suspension and other tweaks. There's no price for the Race Extreme, but if you can afford to die in a fiery car crash you probably don't care.

Caparo reveals new T1 Race Extreme

Caparo T1, the fastest performance supercar from Caparo Vehicle Technologies, is now available in its new Race Extreme version. The vehicle, aimed specifically at the high end of the track day market, boasts the car's utmost race specification and is set to deliver the ultimate driving experience.

Inspired in its design and performance by Formula One, the Caparo T1 has a distinctive pedigree which has once again been enhanced by the introduction of the new Race Extreme specification. The high end Race Extreme version of the car is now available with an evolved all aluminium, normally aspirated, fuel injected Caparo V8 engine which has been upgraded to deliver 620 bhp at 10,500 rpm. Some of the phenomenal key performance characteristics of the Caparo T1 Race Extreme are as follows:

0-62 mph 2.8 sec
0-100 mph 5.8 sec
Top speed 208 mph
G loads braking > 4 g
G loads cornering > 3.5 g
Dry weight 550 kgs

The specification also includes: fully adjustable suspension and aerodynamic packs, ultra light 6 pot front and 4 pot rear monoblock billet machined aluminium callipers complete with titanium pistons, and 355mm x 35mm ceramic discs and pads set up. In addition, the car's upgraded electronic package contains a fully tuneable ECU which ensures maximum performance from the engine and the six speed sequential gear box. The above features together with the fully adjustable traction control of the Caparo T1 Race Extreme combine to provide the absolute track experience.

.

It's almost pathologically rational that the Caparo T1 would spring from the same minds as those who developed the McLaren F1. A fantasy car to end all fantasy cars, it was posted on every middle school boys wall and lusted after in the glossy pages of the buff mags. For all its design and technical innovation though, the F1 was still a compromise. Sure it had a BMW V12 and exotic bodywork to match its unparalleled performance, but what if you peeled away that which was not necessary — distilled the car down to the essence of speed?

This was the challenge Caparo's engineers presented themselves with. Beginning with an all carbon fiber race car-inspired monocoque, ex-McLaren engineers Ben Scott-Geddes and Graham Halstead led their team to build the T1 with parts which are nearly all adapted from their race form. The engine is based on a design raced at Indy; a 3.5L V8 which revs to a heady 10,500 rpm. The 575 HP mill is mated to a pneumatically actuated, carbon fiber and magnesium transmission. The transmission design alone speaks volumes for the kind of extreme level of no-compromise engineering which doesn't come from run of the mill Joes looking to cobble a car together, these are purists. Race car builders. The car even goes so far as to have swappable aero packages capable of customizing the performance for high speed, short, and long track racing.

With a production weight of only 1025 lbs, the Caparo T1 embarrasses every other car on the road with its deft use of composites. You have to start talking about F1 cars to even be in the same league. In his review of the Caparo, Top Gear's Jeremy Clarkson points out the T1 has twice the power-to-weight ratio as the mighty Bugatti Veyron — twice! This isn't so much a car as a fighter jet missing its wings. Zero to sixty takes a mere 2.5 seconds. Zero to a hundred only 5 seconds. The car is capable of 2.5Gs at maximum aerodynamic effect. Of course, below the high speeds necessary to develop those forces, the huge power and light weight combine to create a car that is a handful — and rightfully so. If you were paying $350,000 for the ultimate road car, it better be fast as hell and punish you when you misstep. Its nice to see a product with enough swagger that it's unwilling to use electronic nannies to protect someone who's driving beyond their abilities.

And thus we circle back around to this idea of 'What is a fantasy car?' If one fantasy is complete, unfettered performance, it's hard to imagine any road car ever exceeding the capabilities of the T1. If a fantasy car is one which is inspired and in turn inspires others, again, it is hard to think of a purer form or vision. If you were to ask what car will be looked at in retrospect as the primary influence for the next generation of supercars, we're willing to bet the Caparo T1 would be it. In form and function, brutality and performance it has no peers, and that is why it is a fantasy car.

Gawker Media polls require Javascript; if you're viewing this in an RSS reader, click through to view in your Javascript-enabled web browser.

The Jalopnik Fantasy Garage:
1978 Aston Martin V8 Vantage | Honda 1300 Coupe 9 | 1931 Daimler Double Six 50 Corsica Drophead Coupe | Ferrari 288 GTO | Chevrolet Corvette ZR-1 | 1970 Buick GSX 455 | First Generation BMW M Coupe | Bugatti Veyron 16.4 | Ford GT | Citroen SM | Porsche 928 | Jensen FF | DeTomaso Vallelunga | Audi Quattro S1 | Buick GNX | Nissan Skyline R34 GT-R | Honorary Fantasy Garager: The LS1 Powered Rotus | Lamborghini LM002 | Shelby Cobra Daytona Coupe | Ferrari 250 GTO | Bentley Speed Six | Talbot-Lago T150C SS Figoni et Falaschi Raindrop/Teardrop Coupe | Porsche 917 | Audi RS4 Avant | Lamborghini Miura | Mercedes-Benz 450SEL 6.9 | BMW E39 M5 | Jaguar E-type | Mercedes-Benz 300 SL | Dodge Charger/Challenger R/T | Toyota 2000GT | Facel Vega HK500 | Voisin C28 Aerosport | Bugatti Type 41 Royale | McLaren F1 | Maserati Bora | Continental MK II | Tucker 48 | Aston Martin DB4 GT Zagato | BMW 507 | Porsche 959 | 1925 Rolls-Royce Phantom 1 Jonckheere Coupe | Land Rover Defender | Lotus Eleven | Cadillac Eldorado Brougham | 1963 Mini Cooper S | 1934 Duesenberg Model SJ

sources RSportscar, Caparo, AllCarReview

By using good old fashioned common sense. Really, there isn't anything surprising here — The modifications include the following:

• chopping the top (reduction of frontal area)
• stripping out all unnecessary weight - giving us that sexy camino shape
• using super hard tires (reduction of rolling resist)
• shifting the 4 cylinder engine to a mid mount and replacing the driveline with a chain (improvement of driveline efficiency)
• And perhaps most shockingly - driving slow. 30 mph during the test.

"Even though the T1 is exceptionally light at around 570kg depending on specification, the very high speeds it is capable of mean that conventional road car safety systems can not manage the extreme levels of kinetic energy that could be involved in a crash," explains vehicle co-designer Ben Scott-Geddes. "To solve this, we have incorporated many of the safety systems proven in Formula One, where drivers regularly walk away from horrific accidents that would be fatal in normal road cars."

We'd love to see more mainstream manufacturers adopt a similar, cost-no-object approach to safety. In the average road car, unless you're extremely lucky, you're going kaput at anything over about 50mph.

Caparo

Caparo T1 [World Car Fans]

Related:
Car Hack's Notebook: Top of the Top Marques [internal]

If you've been dreaming about an F1 car you can drive to Starbucks, dream no further. Caparo will begin delivering their close to $400,000 track-day special in July. And the stats are just stoo-pid: 575 horsepower at 10,500 rpm from a 3.5-liter V8; zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds; 0-100 mph in less than five seconds. Top speed is rumored to be infinity and the brakes are so powerful the T1 goes slower than not moving (fine, 100-0 mph in 3.5 seconds). The biggest news of course is that Caparo, for the first time ever, is going beyond 1,000 hp per ton in a production vehicle. In fact, they have achieved the insane figure of 1,045 hp for every 2,000 lbs. Not a word about five-mile-per-hour bumpers, though. Completely bonkers specifics after the jump. – Jonny Lieberman

Caparo V8 engine specification:

• Bespoke 3.5 litre normally-aspirated fuel-injected V8
• 575bhp (425kW) at 10,500rpm
• 420Nm (310lbft) at 9,000rpm
• Original concept tested at up to 700bhp (515kW) on methanol
• Limited to 10,500rpm for reliability but designed for maximum 12,000rpm
• 90 degree V8, 4 valves per cylinder, 4 overhead camshafts
• 93mm bore / 64.3mm stroke
• Finger follower valve train system
• Lightweight titanium valves
• Aluminium head
• Aluminium block
• Steel billet 'flat plane' crankshaft
• Internal piston cooling system
• Aluminium / Nikasil liners
• Gas filled ring cylinder head sealing system
• Dry sump with one-piece sump / ladder frame for increased stiffness
• 8 butterfly throttle system
• Electronic sequential fuel injection system with twin-spray fuel injectors
• Engine concept is essentially to Indy racecar specification but with revs dropped to 10,500rpm for extended reliability in Caparo T1
• Pectel SQ6 engine control unit (ECU)
• Engine is fully stressed but installed in T1 to take torsion loads only
• Longitudinal, lateral and vertical loads taken up by tension and compression links to the rear of the chassis
• Engine runs on 98RON pump fuel at a fuel pressure of 5bar
• Fuel system is a return top tank system to eliminate fuel vapourisation
• Engine bottom end modified from race engine specification to increase main bearing tolerances and help cold start of the engine
• A bespoke carbon air-box and filter tray has been designed and installed to suit the Caparo T1
• Air filter is a mesh and washable filter system
• All up engine weight with ancillaries is circa 116kg

Caparo T1 vehicle specification

Overall description

• Advanced technology composites for ultra lightweight construction
• 575bhp V8 engine / 550kg kerb weight
• 1,045bhp-per-tonne power-to-weight ratio for ultra high performance
• Fully tuneable aerodynamics
• 2-seater
• Rear mid-engine layout
• Built for discerning customers but also technology flagship for Caparo Vehicle Technologies - demonstrating principles of lightweight vehicle design which can also be applied to everyday cars

Aerodynamics

• Front cockpit road aero screen, other options available for track use
• Ground effect diffuser
• Adjustable front twin element wing
• Adjustable rear single element wing
• Adjustable fowler flaps
• Low drag body design
• Range of wing options for road and track

Steering
• Magnesium cased lightweight high ratio steering rack
• Bespoke removable steering wheel

Capacities

• Dry sump tank 8 litres
• Fuel tank 70 litres

Body

• Carbon fibre multi part body with tuneable aerodynamics
• Designed in sections for easy repair
• Carbon/glass and Nomex panel construction

Chassis

• 2-seater carbon/aluminium honeycomb monocoque
• Separate front composite crash structure
• Rear tubular aerospace grade steel space-frame

Suspension

• Streamline double wishbone front and rear
• Tuneable front and rear anti-roll bar
• Five-way adjustable race dampers

Safety

• Central safety cell with high strength steel roll hoop
• Composite front crash structure
• Head protection system
• 6-point harness for driver and passenger compatible with HANS (head and neck restraint system) device
• Fire system

Electronics

• Fully tuneable engine ECU
• Bespoke wiring aerospace grade loom
• Multi-function race dash including data logging
• Speed sensors for traction and launch control
• Fly-by-wire throttle for optimum tuning

Gearbox

• Bespoke magnesium pneumatic paddle-shift gear change
• Paddle-shift gear change control
• Limited slip differential
• Equal length hollow tripode driveshafts
• Various gear and final drive ratios available

Brakes

• 355mm diameter steel race discs front and rear
• Fully floating discs
• Front 6 pot billet machined race callipers
• Rear 4 pot billet machined race callipers
• Fully adjustable brake bias pedal box
• Pad compound options available

Equipment

• Road legal SVA approved road version and full track versions available
• Road and track parts fully interchangeable
• Wet weather canopy/bib screen or race screen
• Further bespoke options to individual customer requirements

Weight

• 550kg (dry weight)

Caparo T1 Breaks Cover During Final Stages of Development [World Car Fans]

Related:
Formula V8: Caparo T1 Gets More Powerful Engine [Internal]
[Photos: caparo-t1.com]

The original "Formula 1 car for the street," the Caparo T1 will get a little more displacement under that tiny bonnet — and no silly intake tricks. When the street-ready T1 launches at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in the UK this June, it'll be sporting a proprietary, naturally aspirated 3.5-liter V8 with an aluminum block and power of up to 200 horsepower per liter. That should propel the 1,100-lb car quite nicely indeed. That means the original goal of 1000 hp per ton has been met and exceeded. Of course, for all its sporting pretense and likely sale to the well-heeled track-day types, the T1 is a showcase car for Caparo's weight-saving technologies the company intends to translate into better mileage and reduced emissions for normal cars. Nonetheless, waaaahooo! – Mike Spinelli

Press Release:

CAPARO T1 GETS A BRAND NEW AND MORE POWERFUL ENGINE

After 12 months of highly secretive development, the Caparo T1, which looks and performs like a Formula One car, will be launched in the summer with a new and more powerful engine than previously mooted. The higher specification is reflected in a launch price for the T1 of 180,000 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 200 bhp-per-litre. As the T1 will maintain its nominal 500kg kerb weight this means the potential for power-to-weight ratios far exceeding the 1,000bhp-per-tonne previously announced.

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.

Related:
Formula One for the Street: Caparo Builds First T1 Prototype [internal]

The ex-McLaren engineers at Caparo Vehicle Technologies finally cranked out a road-testable prototype of the company's streetable F1-car, the Caparo T1. The first proto model, dubbed XP1 (pictured), will undergo shakedown runs and speed trials to determine engine mapping and measure durability. A second prototype will launch in December for additional durability and performance tests. The boys have teamed up with driver Chris Goodwin, who helped set up the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren's suspension. Caparo also reports that half of the cars scheduled to be delivered in 2007 have been sold (for an undisclosed price). While there's no plan to bring the cars to the US, UK motorists may see the first reddish blurs disappearing over the horizon by mid '07. – Mike Spinelli

Press release:

CAPARO COMPLETES BUILD OF FIRST T1 PROTOTYPE ... AND FILLS HALF ITS ORDER BOOK FOR 2007

- First prototype starts its engine and commences performance trials
- Second prototype scheduled for completion before Christmas
- First customer should take delivery before Easter
- Order book half completed for 2007

Caparo Vehicle Technologies, a brand new company formed earlier this year, has completed the build of the first of two Caparo 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," added 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 added: "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."

Having successfully started the 'XP1' under its own power, the first T1 prototype now commences 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 highly 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 Angad 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."

Angad 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 proved necessary 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'.

"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."

Angad Paul added: "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 commented: "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."

Related:
Caparo Buys Out Freestream, December Launch? [internal]

Looks like the world's well-heeled car freaks are a distribution channel closer to parking a road-legal Caparo T1 in their multicar garages. The company's given its first global dealer franchise to UK exotic-car distributor Cars International. The company's taking orders on the hand-built, street-legal Formula One cars right now — get 'em while they're still 165,000 (that's around $306,500, Yanks).

Related:
Boo! Caparo T1 in London [internal]

The blokes at Pistonheads came away with shots of the Caparo T1 — which looks even more menacing than it did in the renderings. We wouldn't mess with the T1 if it had a big-ass gun and could turn itself iinto droplets of mercury so it could find us behind a locked door. Blimey.

More Pics from the Motor Show [PistonHeads]

Related:
Caparo T1 to Be Unveiled in Monaco [internal]

Visitors to the manor that is Goodwood this year will get to eyeball a prototype Caparo T1, the street-legal, almost-open-wheel, F1-style racer created by ex-McLaren engineers. A pre-production model will be on display, but won't be taking part in the famous hill climb. Still, its makers say the Caparo — reported to go from zero to 60 mph in 2.5 seconds will be ready for a 2007 attempt. We'd imagine more than one Aston Martin is quaking in its Michelins.

Related:
Caparo T1 to Be Unveiled in Monaco [internal]

Caparo Vehicle Technologies, a specialty-car development company founded by ex-McLaren engineers, will soon unveil the street-legal F1 car they've been threatening to build. The batshit-insane, 1,100-pound, V8-powered T1 will be introduced by His Most Serene Highness of Monaco at the kingdom's Top Marques event next week, though with a zero-to-60 time of 2.5 seconds, it's doubtful even the king could keep his composure. An international incident may be at hand.

T1 [Caparo Vehicle Technologies]

Related:
Ex-McLaren Engineers Working up a Street-Legal F1 Car [internal]