Caparo T1 engine
{{Short description|Reciprocating internal combustion engine}}
{{Merge to|Nissan VRH engine|discuss=Talk:Nissan VRH engine#Proposed merge of Caparo T1 engine into Nissan VRH engine|date=April 2025}}
{{Use British English|date=October 2024}}
{{Infobox engine
|name = Caparo T1 engine
|image =
|image_size =
|alt =
|caption =
|manufacturer = Menard Competition Technologies / Nissan
|designer =
|aka = MCT V8
|production = 2006–2015
|configuration = Naturally-aspirated 90° V8
|displacement = {{cvt|3494|cc|cuin|1|lk=on}}
|bore = {{cvt|93|mm|in|2}}
|stroke = {{cvt|64.3|mm|in|2}}
|block = Aluminium
|head = Aluminium
|valvetrain = DOHC, four valves × cylinder
|timing =
|compression =
|idle =
|redline = 12,000 rpm
|operating principle=
|fuelsystem = Sequential Fuel Injection
|management = Pectel SQ6 ECU
|oilsystem = Dry sump
|coolingsystem = Water
|power = {{cvt|575-700|hp|kW|0|lk=on}}
|specpower =
|torque = {{cvt|310-350|lbft|Nm|0|lk=on}}
|length =
|width =
|height =
|diameter =
|weight = {{cvt|256|lb|kg|0|lk=on}}
|emissions level=
|emissions control=
|predecessor = Nissan VRH35ADE
|successor =
|test =
}}
The Caparo T1 engine is a high-performance automobile engine originally developed by Tom Walkinshaw Racing (TWR), and later produced by Menard Competition Technologies (MCT). It was used in the Caparo T1 sports car from 2006 to 2015. The engine is derived from the Nissan VRH35ADE IndyCar engine.
Overview
Originally called the Freestream T1, the Caparo T1 roadcar was intended to be powered by a supercharged 2.4-litre V8 that produced {{cvt|480|bhp|kW|0}}.
After the project was taken over by Caparo, that engine was abandoned in favour of a naturally-aspirated, 32-valve, {{cvt|3494|cc|cuin|1|adj=on}} V-8, with cylinder banks at 90°, and a dry-sump oil system. It weighs {{cvt|116|kg|lb|adj=on}}. The engine's block and cylinder heads are made of aluminium alloy, and its cylinder liners are of Nikasil-coated aluminium. The crankshaft is machined from steel billet, and is a flat-plane design. The injection system is sequential, with two injectors per cylinder. Each cylinder also has its own throttle butterfly. Actuation of the titanium valves is by finger-follower. The MCT V8 is managed by a fully tunable Pectel SQ6 engine control unit, and uses a throttle-by-wire system.
The production engine generates a maximum power of {{cvt|575|hp|kW PS|lk=in}} at 10,500 rpm and a maximum torque of {{cvt|310|lbft|Nm|lk=on}} at 9,000 rpm, giving the car a power-to-weight ratio of 1,223 horsepower per tonne (912.8 kW/t). An engine converted to methanol fuel is reported to have produced {{cvt|700|hp|kW PS|0}}.
In 2009, Caparo announced a high-performance version of the T1 called the Race Extreme, which seemed to retain the 3.5-litre engine base, but which was tuned to produce {{cvt|625|bhp|kW|0}}. An even higher output version of the car announced in 2014 was called the Caparo T1 Evolution, with an engine with a claimed output of {{cvt|700|bhp|kW|0}}. It is unclear what model engine this version is based on.
Applications
- Caparo T1
References
{{Reflist|refs=
}}