To make the SC250 handle, Jetstream has hired a company called Intrax as its suspension supplier. Intrax is run by a guy that used to work on the suspension for Michael Schumacher's Benetton F1 race cars, so we're going to assume that's a good thing. With a price of about $55,000 (£29,495), the SC250 needs all the pedigree it can get. But if you're still not convinced, you might want to wait for the 300 HP version coming next year — or you could just buy an Ariel Atom and have something that's actually good-looking. [via WorldCarFans]

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]