User:Mr Grim Reaper/Caparo T1

Caparo T1
An orange Caparo T1 at the 2006 British Motor Show
Overview
Manufacturer	Caparo Vehicle Technologies
Body and chassis
Class	Supercar/racing car
Body style	2-door coupé
Layout	Mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Powertrain
Engine	3.5 L naturally-aspirated V8
Transmission	6-speed sequential manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2900 mm (114.2 in)
Length	4066 mm (160.1 in)
Width	1924 mm (75.7 in)
Height	1076 mm (42.4 in)
Curb weight	470 kg (1036 lb)

The Caparo T1 is a mid-engine, rear-wheel drive, two-seater, open-wheel car built by Caparo Vehicle Technologies, (formally know as Freestream), founded by Ben Scott-Geddes and Graham Halstead, former engineers involved in the development of the McLaren F1. The T1 was inspired by Formula One design, and intended as an affordable street legal race car. The T1 is scheduled for production in mid-2007 for a price of GB£180,000 (approx. US$350,000, c.2007).

Overview

The T1 is an lightweight road-going track car, with a dry curb weight of 470 kg (1036 lb) and a maximum power of 480 brake horsepower (487 PS/358 kW) at 10500 revolutions per minute, giving the car a power-to-weight ratio of 1000 brake horsepower per tonne, double that of the Bugatti Veyron.

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. The wings are replaceable with road and track variations.

Interior

The interior of the T1 is a basic two-seat configuration, lacking any amenities and luxuries to reduce excess weight. 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 aluminum 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 355 mm steel brake rotors, with six-piston and four-piston calipers front and rear, respectively. The brake bias pedal box is fully adjustable and brake pads are available in various compounds.

Performance

The T1 sports a 3.5-litre, all-aluminum, naturally-aspirated V8 engine, lubricated via a dry sump system. Although, the original deign for the engine was to be smaller and supercharged. It generates 480 brake horsepower (487 PS/358 kW) at 10500 revolutions per minute. The engine is controlled via a fully tunable Engine Control Unit. The gearbox is 6-speed sequential made of a magnesium and carbon construction and has a variety of available gear ratios. At the end of the drivetrain is a limited slip differential and equal length hollow tripod driveshafts.

The T1 is capable of exceeding an estimated maximum speed of 322 kilometres per hour (200 mph) on a low downforce setup. From a standing start, it has an estimated 0-96 kilometers per hour (60 mph) under 2.5 seconds and onto 160 kilometers per hour (100 mph) under 5 seconds, depending on tyre setup. It is also capable of an estimated lateral acceleration of up to 3 g's and braking deceleration of 3 g's.

References

• "Caparo T1". T1 Cars Limited. Retrieved 2007-06-07.

External links

• Caparo T1 official web site (Adobe Flash Player required).