Jiotto Caspita MKI

Information

Jiotto Caspita MKI

The Jiotto Caspita was a concept prototype mid-engined supercar designed and manufactured by Dome to be a F1 car for the road. The original design was made by the vice president and chief designer for Jiotto Design Incorporated, Kunihisa Ito, and the name Caspita comes from the Italian exclamation 'caspita'. The project was a joint venture between Wacoal, which owned 60%, and Dome, which owned 40%, with the two companies forming Jiotto. The Caspita came from Wacoal president Yoshikata Tsukamoto, who put Dome in charge of the engineering and the newly formed Jiotto Design studio in charge of the design.

The design process for the Caspita had over 200 proposed designs. 3 of them were made into 1/5 scale for aerodynamic testing. Later they were made into full sized models and were tested by Dome's personal wind tunnel as well as at the Japan Automobile Research Institute. In the end they went with a Group C racing inspired design featuring a huge rear wing and lard air intakes on each side.

The Caspita MKI was powered by a 3.5L Subaru flat-twelve, a formula one engine built by Italian engine designer Motori Moderni for Subaru, producing 450 hp and 363 Nm (268 lb ft) of torque. It would accelerate from 0-100 kph (0-62 mph) in 4.7s. After Subaru failed in F1 their engine programme ended leaking the Jiotto Caspita without a powertrain.

The Caspita chassis and body work was made by Mitsubishi Rayon Co., Japan's largest acrylic fiber producer, which made the bonded aluminum and carbon fiber monocoque chassis. This was achieved by sandwiching aluminum between layers of carbon fiber and putting it into an autoclave to create a rigid structure. This process was repeated 15 times over the span of 2 months, which gave the Jiotto Caspita MKI a kerb weight of 1,100kg (2,425 lbs).

Jiotto Caspita MKI was produced with gull-wing doors, which allowed you to get into the red and black interior, which was made to be entirely driver-focused. This emphasis on a driver-focused F1 car on the road resulted in not having air conditioning, cruise control, or any driver amenities. What it did feature was advanced technology like an electronically controlled wing and adjustable suspension, which, for the time, was cutting edge.

It was first shown at the 28th Tokyo Motor Show in 1989 and thanks to positive reception they planned to make 30 units. This would not end up happening due to Subaru ending their engine programme. The Jiotto Caspita MKI is currently on active display at the Motorcar Museum of Japan in Komatsu.