Speed (and a Silly Comparo)

Want to go really fast? Think reduced mass. Like the Caparo T1, from Caparo Vehicle Technologies (www.caparo-vt.com). In its Race Extreme livery, it weighs just 1,210 lb. As a comparison, a smart fortwo weighs 1,808 lb., although it does, admittedly, seat an additional person than the T1. The T1 has a carbon and aluminum honeycomb monocoque, and makes extensive use of carbon fiber for structural components. Its brakes feature billet-machined aluminum calipers, titanium pistons, and 355 x 35-mm ceramic discs and pads. The all-aluminum, normally aspirated V8 produces 620 bhp @ 10,500 rpm. (Although this really is an unfair comparison, but is the smallest car we could think of, so we figure that we’d go with it, the smart has plastic panels, has drum brakes on the back, and has an I3 engine (yes, three cylinders) that produces 70 hp @ 5,800 rpm—but it does have an all-aluminum engine.)

Here’s the fast bit about the T1: 0 to 62 mph: 2.8 seconds; 0 to 100 mph: 5.8 seconds; top speed: 208 mph. (The fortwo? 0 to 60 in 12.8 seconds; top speed: 90 mph.)

The base price for the T1 Race Extreme: £223,000 “excluding tax and delivery.” According to a Caparo spokesperson, “There are also a number of optional extras available.” (the fortwo? It starts at $11,990.)—GSV