Started back in 2006 as the Freestream T1 project and then acquired by Caparo Vehicle Technologies , the T1 prototype debuted at the 2006 Top Marques Show in Monaco.

The project is currently in the final stages of prototype testing and development, and Caparo has released the full final specification of the upcoming production car.

The T1’s first public appearance as a running car will take place at the Goodwood Festival of Speed on 22-24 June 2007.

The Caparo T1 will be sold starting from next July, with a basic retail price of of £190,000 (excluding taxes). Every vehicle will be tailored to suit individual customer requirements.

As commercial director Sean Butcher said, Caparo is currently "looking into the possibility of introducing for our customers an international T1 race series."

Thanks to a total weight of just 550kg and a power output of 575 hp (425 kW) the T1 is the first production vehicle to break the 1 hp/kg barrier.

The main technical highlights include a carbon/aluminium honeycomb monocoque structure and an home-developed 3.5 litre V8 engine which delivers 575hp at 10,500 rpm.

The performance figures are a 0-60mph time of less than 2.5 seconds and a 0-100mph time of less than five seconds.

We report the full specifications below.

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 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

(Source: Caparo)