US debut for Caparo T1 at SEMA

Caparo will be showcasing its T1 supercar for the first time in the US at this week’s SEMA Auto Show. The US is probably going to be the T1’s largest market and according to Caparo Vehicle Products chief executive Richard Butler, “the US already offers the world’s largest tuner aftermarket for high performance vehicles, and with private race tracks springing up all over the country the T1 is ideally placed to meet the needs of enthusiastic weekend racers.” This will be the chance for up to 100,000 business and trade visitors to see the T1 up close, a car that was developed by some of the UK’s finest motorsport engineers including famed McLaren F1 designer Gordon Murray.

Back in the UK, where the car was developed, the T1 is fully road legal. However, when asked if it will be street legal in the States, Caparo could only comment that they were unsure at this stage. Instead the company will focus on the track opportunities and possibly a race series.

Looking more like a Formula One car then an actually road-going supercar, the Caparo T1 has a price tag of £165,000 (approx. US$315,000). For this kind of money you get a 2-seater that delivers 1,000bhp-per-tonne and can accelerate from 0-60mph in 2.5 seconds and from zero to 100mph and then brake down to rest again in approximately 8.5 seconds thanks to the 480bhp 2.4L V8 engine. The T1 will be displayed by Michelin as part of an agreement with the French tire manufacturer for it to become the exclusive supplier of tires.