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by Tom Stewart (13 Jun 07)
Then, a month later, the privately-owned, €1.2bn-turnover Caparo Group created its Advanced Vehicle Technology subsidiary by taking the entire Freestream project under its wing, so the Freestream T1 became the Caparo T1. Well-heeled trackday junkies then waited patiently until March this year when it was announced that the T1 would be launched in the summer with a "more powerful" naturally-aspirated 3.5-litre V8, and a cost of £180,000 plus taxes. Yes, that price was well into exotic supercar territory, but even "more power"? What were they thinking of? Had they gone mad? Design supremo Gordon Murray, who had joined the team as Advanced Concepts Director in August 2006, disapproves of forced induction on the grounds of purity of power delivery, and so the original 2.4-litre supercharged motor gave way to a new 3.5-litre V8. As a bonus, the new, bespoke Caparo/Menard engine is a neater fit too, and with 575bhp and a 550kg kerb weight the car now boasts an astonishing 1045bhp per tonne.
Which brings us to the present and the car's press launch at the Goodwood circuit in Sussex. Usually at such events we get to drive new models, but not today. With just two development cars available, and few if any of us present capable of properly assessing a car with such extreme capabilities, we're to be passengers.
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