The Caparo T1 – possibly the world’s quickest 2-seater road and track car with a performance equal to an A1 GP racecar – will join a showcase of exotic vehicles in a special ‘Super Car Paddock’ feature area at the British International Motor Show in London later this month.

"This will be the first opportunity for half a million visitors to see close-up the next generation of super car developed using Britain’s world renowned expertise in the design and manufacturer of high performance vehicles," said Caparo Group chief executive Angad Paul. "The car’s inspiration comes from Ben Scott-Geddes and Graham Halstead – two ex-McLaren engineers who worked previously on the McLaren F1, Mercedes SLR and Formula One projects and who now work, I’m pleased to say, for the Caparo group."

Commenting on Caparo’s choice of London to premiere one of Britain’s most exciting supercars since the McLaren F1, Christopher Macgowan, chief executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders, which owns the show, said: "It’s logical that Britain’s largest single-owner business should chose the British International Motor Show to premiere to a mass audience its first-ever car; and we’re absolutely delighted that this latest example of British automotive technology will join our super car paddock."

Commenting on Caparo’s intention to commoditise advanced composite materials for high volume vehicle manufacture while maintaining a strong UK component manufacturing base Macgowan added: "Not only does this show real technical prowess and solid commitment but it’s also a rational business decision given the UK hosts more volume car makers than any other country in Europe. In addition, the Caparo T1 provides further evidence of the UK working hard to deliver more sustainable motoring by using its advanced motor sport and aerospace technology to help car makers develop new models fit for the 21st century."

"The Caparo T1 is a showcase of our design, development and manufacturing capabilities and it is a demonstration of our technical ability to design a whole car," said Caparo Vehicle Products chief executive Richard Butler. "It may seem paradoxical given its astonishing performance, but the Caparo T1 also has the serious purpose of helping car makers apply race car technology to everyday vehicles thereby making them lighter and more fuel efficient and hence less harmful to the environment."

Caparo generated £725m of income last year and has put its considerable financial muscle behind the high profile Caparo T1 project to help spearhead its ambition to become a leading Tier 1 supplier particularly in advanced composite materials, which will help carmakers reduce vehicle mass and in turn fuel consumption and CO₂ emissions.

The ultra lightweight Caparo T1 has been developed using aerospace and high formula racing technology. The car’s efficient and compact 2.4-litre V8 engine develops almost 500 bhp in a vehicle weighing less than 500 kg. The result is a significant technical breakthrough; being the world’s first ever road and track car to produce 1,000 bhp-per-tonne which defines an entirely new breed of exotic – and far from ordinary – supercar that is lighter than a Caterham but with twice the power-to-weight ratio of a Bugatti Veyron. In turn, this endows the car with an extraordinary 0-100-0mph time of 8.5 seconds, which is directly comparable to an A1 GP race car.

Caparo has confirmed that it will present the T1 for the duration of the show, which takes place at the London ExCeL exhibition centre from Thursday 20th July to Sunday 30th July 2006. The special ‘Super Car Paddock’ feature area is located in the main exhibition hall.

Mitsubishi Continues To Improve Its Market Position
10th July, 2006
Mitsubishi Motors has continued to improve its market position, with the release of the June sales results showing a 35% sales increase over the previous month ..... more

Falcon & Territory Head Ford June Sales
10th July, 2006
Sales of Ford's locally manufactured large car family – Falcon, Territory and Falcon Ute – have performed strongly during June, heading up a solid finish to the second quarter for Ford Australia ..... more

Suzuki Grand Vitara Sales Break Record
10th July, 2006
Suzuki vehicles continue to experience unprecedented growth as the popular Japanese manufacturer and its latest model line-up win over Australian motorists ..... more

Saab Record Sales Result - Locally and Globally
10th July, 2006
Saab has become the fastest growing premium car brand in Australia this year ..... more

Small Cars Drive Half Yearly Vehicle Sales
10th July, 2006
Strong sales of small cars have helped the automotive industry to an encouraging sales result in the first half of 2006 ..... more

1.4 Million Km Wait For New Holden Diesel
5th July, 2006
The launch of Holden's new Astra turbo diesel cars lured a Queenslander out of the woodwork to upgrade his 22-year-old Holden Gemini diesel boasting a staggering 1.4 million kilometre life ..... more

Mégane Phase II: Safety for All
4th July, 2006
Renault has released the latest generation of its Mégane range in a choice of three body types - Hatch, Sedan and Coupé-Cabriolet, plus the high performance Mégane Renault Sport versions - all of which feature a distinctive, individual personality and an increased level of safety equipment ..... more

All-New Triton Tough One-Tonne Ute
3rd July, 2006
Mitsubishi Motors has released its all-new Triton four-wheel drive utility onto the Australian market with the promise that it retains all the attributes that the brand has been known for over the last 27 years - toughness, reliability, and the ability to "get the job done" ..... more

Audi's New TT Coupé Just Launched
2nd July, 2006
Audi's latest generation TT Coupe sports car has just been launched in Europe. This brand new design and performance icon is expected to be launched in Australia in November 2006, priced from around $70,000 ..... more

New Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet
29th June, 2006
The new Ford Focus Coupé-Cabriolet combines open air motoring with the comfort, stability and all-round practicality already associated with the Focus range ..... more

Holden Leads With Ethanol Labelling
28th June, 2006
In a first for an Australian car manufacturer, GM Holden yesterday announced it would begin applying an "E10 suitable" label to its imported petrol-engined vehicles from 1st July, 2006 ..... more

Land Rover's All-New Freelander 2
25th June, 2006
The all-new Land Rover Freelander 2, due for release in the UK later this year, redefines the compact premium 4x4 class. New from the ground up, Freelander 2 delivers outstanding on-road performance as well as the class-leading off-road ability of a Land Rover ..... more

Peugeot 307 Hybride HDi Diesel
23rd June, 2006
Peugeot has extended its diesel hybrid technology programme, applying it to the popular, stylish and versatile 307 CC Hybride HDi, unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show in February ..... more

Mitsubishi 380 Tops Its Class
21st June, 2006
Mitsubishi's sporty and agile 380 sedan has topped its class in the two topics of most interest to today's motorists - safety and economical running - in the last two days ..... more

New Ford Territory Turbo
21st June, 2006
"The Territory turbo range of vehicles continues the innovation and groundbreaking development associated with the original Territory programme," said Ford Australia President, Tom Gorman ..... more

ESP Standard For New Holden VE & WM Sedans
21st June, 2006
The next generation of Australia ’s best selling car, the Holden Commodore, will be the first locally built range with the acclaimed safety technology Electronic Stability Programme (ESP) as standard ..... more

Mazda MX-5 with Retractable Hard Top
21st June, 2006
Mazda Motor Corporation will use the 2006 British International Motor Show for its global reveal of the new Mazda MX-5, now equipped with a power retractable hard top roof ..... more

Holden Astra Diesel Arrives
19th June, 2006
Australia ’s biggest-selling European imported car, the Holden Astra, is now available in two turbocharged diesel five-door hatches ..... more

Audi R10 Diesel Triumphs at Le Mans
19th June, 2006
Audi has written an important chapter in the history of motor racing with its historic triumph in the Le Mans 24 Hour race. The new Audi R10 TDI was the first diesel car to win, arguably, the toughest car race in the world ..... more

Peugeot Announces V12 Diesel for the 908
19th June, 2006
Peugeot has announced its decision to take up a new technological challenge in 2007: to win one of the most prestigious and most demanding motor races in the world, the Le Mans 24 Hours, with a car powered by an diesel engine, equipped with a diesel particulate filter system ..... more

Ford Confirms Mexican Investment
18th June, 2006
Ford confirmed, on Friday 16th June, 2006, an intent to invest in and strengthen its 81-year-old manufacturing presence in Mexico as part of the company’s North American Way Forward plan ..... more

Astra SRi Turbo Roars Back Down Under
16th June, 2006
The new generation of Holden’s four-cylinder performance hero, the Astra SRi Turbo coupe, will roar into Australian showrooms later this month ..... more

Production Begins of New Audi TT Today
14th June, 2006
Audi Hungaria is continuing its success story as the start of production commenced for the second generation Audi TT Coupé ..... more

Suzuki APV Receives Significant Upgrade
12th June, 2006
Suzuki's APV has received an upgrade further contributing to the versatility and appeal of the commercial van, making it an ideal choice for small business ..... more

Changes For Mitsubishi Outlander
12th June, 2006
Mitsubishi's Outlander compact AWD wagon has had some specification revisions as part of its final upgrade before the new model arrives later in the year ..... more

Volkswagen Caddy Life
9th June, 2006
New Caddy Life is the ingenious people mover built on Volkswagen's acclaimed Caddy platform. Caddy Life can seat up to seven adults comfortably with ample headroom ..... more

Ford Delivers a New Way to Escape
8th June, 2006
Ford Australia has pulled back the covers on the new ZC series Escape SUV, boasting fresh exterior styling, a more luxurious and convenient interior package and upgraded powertrains for improved driving quality ..... more

Suzuki's New Grand Vitara Trekker
8th June, 2006
Suzuki Australia has launched an exciting new limited edition Grand Vitara Trekker, which combines stylish design and the vehicle's all round 4 x 4 performance with an extensive list of features as standard ..... more

Kombi Beach
30th May, 2006
The very word 'Kombi' represents, by perception, freedom, style, travel adventures and old-fashioned fun with family and friends ..... more