Jiotto Caspita

The Jiotto Caspita is a prototype mid-engine sports car designed and manufactured by Dome in 1989. The car was billed as the "F1 on the Road." The original design of the car was done by Kunihisa Ito, who was the vice president and chief designer of Jiotto Design Incorporated.[1] Its name is derived from the Italian exclamation "caspita".

Jiotto Caspita
1989 Jiotto Caspita (Mk. I) on display
Overview
ManufacturerDome Co. Ltd.
Production19891990
Model years19891993
AssemblyJapan: Maihara
DesignerKunihisa Ito
Body and chassis
ClassSports car (S)
Body style2-door coupé
LayoutLongitudinal rear mid-engine, rear-wheel drive
Doors2
Powertrain
Engine
Transmission6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Length4,534 mm (178.5 in)
4,595 mm (180.9 in) (Mk II)
Width1,996 mm (78.6 in)
Height1,135 mm (44.7 in)
Curb weight2,425 lb (1,100 kg)
2,734 lb (1,240 kg) (Mk II)
Chronology
PredecessorDome Zero

History

The Caspita was the brainchild of Wacoal president Yoshikata Tsukamoto and Dome president Minoru Hayashi.[2] A joint venture between the two companies was formed in July 1988 by the name of Jiotto Inc. (60% held by Wacoal and 40% held by DOME) to design and build the car. The engineering was entrusted to Dome, while the newly incorporated Jiotto Design studio was tasked with designing the car.[1]

The Caspita was displayed at the 28th Tokyo Motor Show in 1989. In light of positive reception, a limited production run of 30 units was considered, but never came to fruition. The project would die out in 1993 due to the collapse of the Japanese asset price bubble, which resulted in a lack of demand for sports cars.[3]

The Mk. I Caspita is currently on display at the Motorcar Museum of Japan in Komatsu, whilst the Mk. II remains in possession of Dome and sits in their museum below the wind tunnel at their headquarters.

Design

The car had a sleek and aerodynamic body design inspired by Group C race cars.[1] Design mockups of 1/5 scale were made for wind tunnel testing. Later, full-size models were made and tested at Dome's own wind tunnel as well as the JARI (Japan Automobile Research Institute) wind tunnel for aerodynamic refinement. Jiotto Design selected three design proposals out of the initially proposed 200 for final development. Out of the three, a design having an integrated rear wing and large side air intakes was fully developed.[1]

The Mk. II Caspita was partially restyled with new twin circular taillights, circular headlights, and more traditionally styled side-view mirrors.

Powertrain

The Mk. I Caspita was built with a detuned Subaru 1235 flat-twelve engine, a Formula One engine originally built by Motori Moderni for Subaru and rated at 450 hp (336 kW; 456 PS) and 363 N⋅m (268 lb⋅ft);[4] it could accelerate the car to 100 km/h from a standstill in 4.7 seconds.[3] After the failure of Subaru's F1 effort, the 1235 was abandoned, leaving Jiotto without an engine supplier.[2]

The Mk. II used a Judd GV V10 engine, with which it was capable of 585 hp (436 kW) at 10,500 rpm and 374 N⋅m (276 lb⋅ft) of torque at 10,500 rpm.[4] This, combined with a curb weight of between 1,240 kg (2,730 lb)[2] and 1,260 kg (2,780 lb),[4] gave the Caspita a claimed 0-100 km/h acceleration time of 3.4 seconds.[4]

Both engines were longitudinally mounted and coupled to a 6-speed gearbox built by Weismann.[1]

Chassis

The Caspita had a bonded aluminium and carbon fibre monocoque chassis made by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Ltd. The construction technique involved sandwiching aluminium between layers of carbon fibre and curing them in an autoclave to create a rigid structure. The process was repeated 15 times over a span of more than 2 months.[1] This technique resulted in a kerb weight of 1,100 kg (2,425 lb) for the Mk. I Caspita.

Accessed via two gull-wing doors, the Caspita's red-and-black interior was driver-focused and spartan in nature, with no air conditioning, cruise control, or other such driver amenities; it even lacked cup holders.[1]

Like its Tokyo Motor Show contemporaries the Mitsubishi HSR-II and Isuzu 4200R, the Caspita employed advanced technology for the time, such as an electronically retractable rear wing and an electronically controlled adjustable suspension system which could raise the car by 2.3 in (58.4 mm).[1][2]

1989 Jiotto Caspita (Mk. I) rear

Specifications (1989 Mk. I Caspita)

Dimensions

Wheelbase 2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Front track 1,630 mm (64.2 in)
Rear track 1,600 mm (63.0 in)
Length 4,534 mm (178.5 in)
Width 1,996 mm (78.6 in)
Height 1,135 mm (44.7 in)
Kerb weight 1,100 kg (2,425 lb)
Weight distribution (F/R) 40/60
Fuel tank capacity 100 L (26 US gal; 22 imp gal)
Wheel sizes 9JJ x 17 (front), 13JJ x 17 (rear)
Tyre sizes 245/40 ZR17 (front), 335/35 ZR17 (rear)
Brake size 332 mm (13.1 in)

Powertrain

Manufacturer Motori Moderni
Configuration Flat-12
Valve type DOHC 5-valve
Bore 84 mm (3.3 in)
Stroke 52.6 mm (2.1 in)
Total displacement 3,497 cc (213.4 cu in)
Specific displacement 291.4 cc (17.8 cu in)
Aspiration Natural aspiration
Fuel system Electronic fuel injection
Maximum power 456 PS (335.4 kW; 449.8 hp) @ 10,000 rpm
Maximum torque 362 N⋅m (267 lb⋅ft) @ 6,000 rpm
Specific power output 130 PS (95.6 kW; 128.2 hp) per litre
Specific torque output 103.5 N⋅m (76.3 lb⋅ft) per litre

Performance

0-100 km/h (62 mph) 4.7 seconds
Top speed 320 km/h (199 mph)
Power-to-weight ratio 415 PS (305.2 kW; 409.3 hp) per metric ton

Other

Suspension type Independent coil-sprung double-wishbone with anti-roll bars (front and rear)
Brake type Ventilated disc
Steering type Rack and pinion
Transmission type 6-speed manual
Top gear ratio 1.00
Final drive ratio 3.75
1990 Jiotto Caspita (Mk. II) front
1990 Jiotto Caspita (Mk. II) rear

Specifications (1990 Mk. II Caspita)

Dimensions

Wheelbase 2,700 mm (106.3 in)
Front track 1,630 mm (64.2 in)
Rear track 1,600 mm (63.0 in)
Length 4,595 mm (180.9 in)
Width 1,996 mm (78.6 in)
Height 1,135 mm (44.7 in)
Kerb weight unknown; between 1,240 kg (2,730 lb) and 1,260 kg (2,780 lb)
Weight distribution (F/R) 40/60
Fuel tank capacity 100 L (26 US gal; 22 imp gal)
Wheel sizes 9JJ x 17 (front), 13JJ x 17 (rear)
Tyre sizes 245/40 ZR17 (front), 335/35 ZR17 (rear)
Brake size 332 mm (13.1 in)

Engine

Manufacturer Judd
Configuration 72-degree V10
Valve type DOHC 4-valve
Bore 92 mm (3.6 in)
Stroke 52.6 mm (2.1 in)
Total displacement 3,497 cc (213.4 cu in)
Specific displacement 349.7 cc (21.3 cu in)
Aspiration Natural aspiration
Fuel system Electronic fuel injection
Maximum power 585 PS (430.3 kW; 577.0 hp) @ 10,750 rpm
Maximum torque 385 N⋅m (284 lb⋅ft) @ 10,500 rpm
Specific power output 167 PS (122.8 kW; 164.7 hp) per litre
Specific torque output 110.1 N⋅m (81.2 lb⋅ft) per litre

Performance

0-100 km/h (62 mph) 3.4 seconds (claimed)
Top speed 320 km/h (199 mph)
Power-to-weight ratio 415 PS (305.2 kW; 409.3 hp) per metric ton

Other

Suspension type Independent coil-sprung double-wishbone with anti-roll bars (front and rear)
Brake type Ventilated disc
Steering type Rack and pinion
Transmission type 6-speed manual
Top gear ratio 1.00
Final drive ratio 3.75

See also

References

  1. "[EXCLUSIVE] - Jiotto Caspita - FULL STORY". ACI. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  2. Padeanu, Adrian. "Concept We Forgot: Jiotto Caspita". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  3. "Jiotto Caspita, Japan's original supercar". Motor Authority. Retrieved 2020-05-22.
  4. Orlove, Raphael (June 27, 2017). "The Jiotto Caspita Was One Of The Greatest Supercars That Never Was". Jalopnik. Retrieved May 22, 2020.
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