U.K.-based Caparo , maker of the T1 track car and supplier of body structures for the Tata Nano, is planning to build two street-legal vehicles with wildly differing missions in life. One will be a high-performance version based on the approximate $400,000 T1, while the other will be a small city car.
With the manufacturing skills involving aluminum and steel it is learning in the U.K and India with the Nano operation, Caparo wants to include its extensive composites knowledge into the process, according to Caparo Chief Executive Angad Paul in an Autocar interview. Paul did admit it would take a few years before carbon fibre can be used cost effectively in comparison to the metals.
“The carbonfibre route is not just for expensive cars. We are thinking of the Fiat Punto class,” Paul said.
The carbon-fiber bodied T1, 20 of which were sold by Caparo to date, will continue to be manufactured, but in limited numbers.
“Demand for T1 is there. We intend to price the car in a way that will reflect the fact that only a small number will ever be built,” Paul remarked.
Caparo’s principal business is aluminium and steel automotive body parts, while Caparo Vehicle Technologies is the car development subsidiary responsible for the T1 and any upcoming vehicles. Paul formed CVT, while Ben Scott-Gedes, who had a hand in developing the McLaren F1 is in charge of development. Gordon Murray, famous for designing the Mclaren F1, is also on the CVT team.
