Filed under: Concept Cars, Supercars, Misc. Auto Shows
Caparo T1 supercar set for Monaco debut
April 20th will finally see the unveiling of the incredible Caparo T1 supercar at the Top Marques auto show in Monaco. When we posted the original design renderings of the car (then called the Freestream T1) back in February, many of our readers were skeptical that the car would ever see the light of day, but a refinancing of the company, now called Caparo Vehicle Technologies, seems to have provided the necessary resources to complete the project.
The Caparo T1 is an ultra-lightweight supercar billed as providing performance comparable to a Le Mans prototype, including a 0-60 mph time of only 2.5 seconds and 3g cornering ability.
The T1's ex-McLaren designers, Ben Scott-Geddes and Graham Halstead, will join Caparo CEO Angad Paul for the unveiling.
[Sources: Top Marques via Autocar, Caparo Vehicle Technologies]
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
James Fabin 11:32AM (4/14/2006)
2.5 seconds 0 to 60 sounds awful nice, but that 3g cornering would have me in heaven!!! That is until I took the first corner, then I'd be wishing I went to the gym more.
James
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Diego 12:46PM (4/14/2006)
as soon as I saw the central driving position it triggered old memories of the venerable McLaren and sure enough, it was confirmed by the designers names...who needs a passenger when you are pulling 3 g's anyway!
renderings are always idealistic but i wonder what kind of carbon kevlar unobtainium will be used to secure the entire front end structure including headlight assemblies and wings with just two small front end f1'esque wing supports and 2 midship wing connectors? if it could be done then that would be really innovative
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Tim UF 12:50PM (4/14/2006)
Theres been stories about people being incapacitated by being exposed to 2G at disney's ride Mission:Space.
heres a link to that: http://www.cnn.com/2006/US/04/13/disney.world.death.ap/index.html
so, how about what happens when you get 3G while doing 100mph, and pass out?
http://www.autoblog.com/2006/02/21/ferrari-enzo-half-off/
enjoy your multimillion dollar street legal formula racer, til you wake up on the side of the road, with your cars engine a half mile down the road... heh...
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Dana 1:55PM (4/14/2006)
How are you supposed to pick up chicks in a single-seater? Isn't that half the fun of a supercar?
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Steve C. 2:54PM (4/14/2006)
What's the point? This is nuts. Where, exactly, could you drive something like this without:
1. Pranging every corner as it looks like it has maybe 3-4" ground clearance?
2. Bruising a kidney? Any of you ever try to drive something this stiffly sprung on a racetrack, let alone the street?
3. Attracting every cop within 50 miles? They'll stop you just to a) see it closer and/or b) hassle you about being street legal.
4. Attracting every good looking female within 50 miles? OK . . . maybe it's not such a bad idea.
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Jenna Jameson 3:30PM (4/14/2006)
Well it looks wierd and cool at the same time.
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Marcus 4:12PM (4/14/2006)
I SWEAR I had a green Hot Wheels just like this car.
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Mehul Kamdar 5:39PM (4/14/2006)
My concern is rather mundane - where would they put the number plates on this thing? :)
That said, it is a thing of beauty and hat's off to Lord Swraj Paul and his son Angad for financing it.
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Christian Patterson 8:02PM (4/14/2006)
Wow what a car i say looks gud facts show its fast but sounds a bit over rated, wonder what it will do on a race track?
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someone 7:56AM (4/16/2006)
This car is clearly meant for the race track. I can not see it entering a ssupermarket!! if it did it would probably knock off its front spoiller in a drainage or something, and then you pick up the spoiler and yuo have no where to put it to take it back to the dealer to put it on!!!
A Ferrari Enzo is a head turner, people look a t it an realize it is a Ferrari and say WOW! a Ferrari, The Caparo will be a head turner and people will say WOW an Alien!!!
I would prefer a Porsche carrera Gt anytime o a ferrari. If your going to spend money on a super car you would at least want a car with a litle bit of elegance and class and car that has a well known name.
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mr.mcoupe 12:07PM (4/20/2006)
where's the bug? these guys showed that you don't need exotic materials to get what's most impotant- handling and massive acceleration!
the bug can only accelerate, @ what cost?
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Jon 10:46AM (4/23/2006)
I know one of the engineers responsible for this beast of a car and whoever said they'd prefer to spend money on a well known brand is delirious. The Mclaren F1 was designed by two people, the other people who worked on it were just aids to speed calculations up. This car is being produced by the very same people responsible for making the Mclaren F1, the only reason they can't call it a Mclaren is because they were made redundant by the company after the stupid American bosses deemed them too expensive to keep on the payrole, SO now we have a new company and the same extreme design talent. Remember that the Mclaren F1 was designed as a road car, then a customer came along and suggested it be made into a racing car, they said what the hell and prepared it themselves and entered into Le Mans... only to win easily. Don't doubt the authenticity and brilliance of this vehicles engineers!!
In answer to the guy who's worried about the wings falling off, well rest assured the renderings aren't the first things they make when designing the car, they do actually do a bit of maths and engineering occasionally to work out if it's pheasible. The biggest problem they had with this car was sourcing the power unit and drivetrain, now that they have, the rest is "simple" (ish). Look at a Lotus seven, change the engine for a mid engined car, stick a different body kit on it, and you get one of these - it's the same principle in many respects just add 50+ years of technology. Lotus 7's also have wings that just "float" and are only held on by two thin brackets, admitedly, these look more susceptible to damage and shake but if you strip away the body from most cars and leave only what is structurally holding it together, you'll end up with a skinnier skeleton than this car.
Pulling 3G around the corner is obviously a mathematically equated figure so don't take it to mean every corner you pull is 3G, it is simply the theoretical maximum it can handle, this goes for all other statistics about the car, so the guy who thinks everyone will black out when turning this car is very mislead. It's quite simple, aeroplanes pull far more G than cars, such as 11G on a turn easily and that is about the level most people, unless trained pilots blackout. Simply put, if you can't turn at that level of G, you don't - it's also not a sustained force, it's only momentarily at 3G during cornering. I believe the Disney ride was at fault because of the way it shook people and gave them sustained exposure to G forces.
The one person I can agree with is the guy who pointed out the sheer speed of this car will go and the likelihood of crashing!! I was amazed to read that Enzo driver walked away from hitting a pole, what with this car having formula one safety technology I'm sure it will be able to sustain similar crashes, although I'd definitely not advise to try that at home!!
I hope this answers a few peoples queries and sets a few dreamers to rights!
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Stephen Marshall 2:17AM (4/27/2006)
Well done to the guys for getting it built. A big well done to the Sean Butcher who managed to pull the deal off ! Anyone able to get a car development financed in this day and age gets my full respect. Well done CP - it looks like you've still got that magic touch ! I look forward to following the project further.
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jon 4:43PM (5/09/2006)
This has got to be the sexiest car I have ever seen. Its just Incredible. words cannot describe what I think about this superlative car. It makes an Enzo look like a rover 75 estate, It makes a Carrera GT look like a Ford Transit van. and Importantly it makes a Buggati Veyron look like a VW Jetta. The design is pure and uncompomising, Its basically a very slightly modified F1 with TWO SEATs car for the road. I have no doubt even before I have seen it drive that this is a car which will OBLITERATE the Zonda F, and the Koeniseggeig CCX which are probably the fastest supercar exotica you can buy today.
1000 BHP/ton! @10500 RPM I can only dream about what it sounds like.
my only problem is that now this has been made, I simply must own one of these. my life will not be complete until I can see it and touch it and hold it and drive it at full speed around a track.
I must set to work straight away $250 000 What a price for the best car ever made ever.
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Matthew Cranbourn 12:44PM (5/15/2006)
I worked with Sean Butcher on a number of corporate banking transactions. A very well connected individual and therefore not surprised that they raised the money. He's a car nut himself and an owner of a Mercedes 1957 Gullwing - not surprised he found this interesting, particularly as he gets a kick out of building businesses and making the most of opportunities. Where do I sign up to join the Caparo T1 members club....?
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*fill-up* 1:12PM (10/08/2006)
Ok all of you are basically stupid except one or two of you. This car is amazing, beautiful, and FAST! But on top of all that just look at the price $150,000 pounds? Thats like $230,000. That is cheaper than almost all new Ferraris, and defintly cheaper then every new Lamborghini and alot cheaper then the s7 or the enzo so why not get this?! I see no reason not to. And I drive a Ferrari Enzo replica right now (VW W12 powered, Carrera frame)And once I sell that I will be looking to purchase one of these. If you are intersted in buying the Ferrari Enzo replica it will cost you $205,000 email me at fillup91x@yahoo.com
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