New 2022 Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 rewrites the supercar rule book

Gordon Murray has unveiled his self-styled successor to the McLaren F1: the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50. The famed automotive engineer describes it as a correct analogue supercar and the fantastic antidote to more and more significant modern-day hypercars.

With 2020 marking the 50th year of Professor Murray’s profession, the T.50 characteristics nods to his operate in car or truck design and style and Formulation One. It characteristics floor-influence aerodynamics and a bespoke V12 motor from Cosworth, though all of the major factors have been sourced from Uk corporations.

This is our first suitable appear at the T.50. Only one hundred will be developed, costing £2.36million each prior to taxes, and virtually two thirds of the manufacturing run has currently been offered.

Murray explains that the T.50’s design and style is an workout in purity, emphasising the absence of substantial wings, flaps or vents, identified on contemporary supercars and hypercars. As these kinds of, the low nose of the automobile is smooth and unspoilt by a substantial splitter or canards, and is reminiscent of the McLaren F1.

“It seems to be even greater than I hoped,” he informed us in the course of a walkaround with the car or truck. “There’s not a solitary area on this car or truck that I’m not joyful with. It seems to be genuinely cool, and a enormous transform from the current crop of supercars. There looks to be a war to see who can make the most outrageous-searching car or truck with swoops and ducts and wings. This one’s really pure like the F1.”

Versus the tape, the T.50 is 4,352mm very long, 1,850mm wide – offering it a footprint that is a very little bigger than a Volkswagen Golf’s – and 1,164mm tall. Crucially, pounds is held below just one tonne, at 986kg with fluids. The chassis is bonded carbon-aluminium, though the bodywork is carbon fibre.

However, the T.50’s most evident revision above the McLaren F1 is at the rear, where by a substantial supporter capable of building 15kg of downforce is identified. It is a nod to Prof Murray’s infamous BT46B Enthusiast Automobile that raced in the 1978 F1 period, and delivers the T.50 with correct floor-influence aerodynamics, with no the need to have for any substantial wings or splitters. Murray unveiled to Vehicle Categorical that a twin-supporter arrangement was regarded as in the course of the McLaren F1’s improvement, but that time constraints dominated it out.

The drivetrain is an additional nod to analogue supercars of the earlier. Professor Murray has commissioned Cosworth to establish a high-revving, naturally aspirated 4.-litre V12 for the T.50 acquiring 654bhp and up to 690bhp with ram induction. Maximum electric power is developed at eleven,500rpm, with the redline established at 12,100rpm.

The mid-mounted motor is completely on demonstrate in the motor bay, unobscured by handles. “This is these kinds of a killer motor Cosworth has performed. It is so significantly ahead of just about anything else that is at any time been developed in its pounds, layout, most revs and electric power density. In individual, the responsiveness is mild-yrs ahead,” Murray informed us.

No efficiency figures have been unveiled just but according to Murray, they aren’t the position of the T.50. “The truth of chasing major speeds only provides pounds, notably through at any time-additional potent engines, which improve the necessity for bigger, heavier ancillaries. We are having a really distinctive method,” he defined.

Travel is sent to the rear wheels, and the T.50 characteristics a bespoke 6-speed guide gearbox formulated by expert Xtrac. Various push modes have been confirmed, which includes a streamline placing that creates a ‘virtual longtail’, a high-downforce method to make the most of the fan’s floor influence, and a V-Max placing for major-speed runs, applying ram induction to enhance electric power to 690bhp. Alternatively GT method restricts the motor, creating the T.50 additional user-welcoming.

The element most reminiscent of the McLaren F1 is identified inside of, with a three-seat layout inserting the driver centrally and ahead of two passengers. Driving the wheel is a rev counter flanked by two substantial screens, and Murray guarantees a driver-oriented setting with straightforward, tactile controls. Creature comforts include a 10-speaker stereo, smartphone connectivity and a pair of screens as a substitute of wing mirrors.

Gordon Murray Q&A

Gordon Murray launched his car or truck individually to media ahead of its expose. Our deputy editor John McIlroy caught up with the famous designer – and the T.50.

Q: Why are you creating this type of car or truck – an indirect successor to likely your most well known development, the McLaren F1?

A: “Well, if you appear back, I honestly really do not assume anybody’s performed an F1 since the F1 – that much absolute focus on the driving satisfaction and the mild pounds. And a car or truck with no targets – no major speed, -62mph or lap time at the Nürburgring to assume of.

“There are lots of autos out there that are much additional capable than the F1 – the turbos, the hybrids – but none of them provides me the spine-tingling feeling that the F1 provides me. Some folks nonetheless say that you can not defeat the driving knowledge of an F1. But I can convey to you this is likely to move the video game on once more.”

Q: This is the launch car or truck for Gordon Murray Automotive. What are your brand’s core values?

A: “Our three targets are to be the lightest car or truck, the best driving knowledge and the best engineering in whichever sector the car or truck is positioned.”

Q: And you are absolutely likely to adhere to no additional than one hundred autos per year?

A: “Never additional than a hundred. Of just about anything. We have particularly not gone for capacity past that figure.

Q: You are likely not likely to convey to us what type of car or truck is coming following, then…

A: “Well, we have an eight-year prepare, but I’m keen to get the T.50 out of the doorway first. We’ll start delivering autos to customers at the beginning of 2022.”

Q: Can you resist the temptation to make an SUV?

A: “Yes.”