Gordon Murray Automotive

McLaren W1 First Drive: Ferocious Hypercar Transcends the Track

You know things are getting serious when McLaren rolls-out the ‘1’ suffix. The origin story is, of course, the very first road car McLaren ever built, the F1. Designed by visionary Formula 1 aerodynamicist and engineer Gordon Murray, it arrived in 1992 and rendered all other supercars obsolete. The tiny, lightweight F1 embraced carbon-fibre material technology, adopted a radical centre seat driving position with two passengers set back and either side and was powered by a 6.1-litre V12 engine from BMW that might as well have been passed down directly from the Gods. Game-changer? That doesn’t even come close to describing its impact, even if at the time sales didn’t come easy… The P1 was very different. Rather than a unique side project from the Formula 1 team, it was instead a statement piece for McLaren Automotive, a new road car division still in its infancy. It arrived in 2013 and was a wild-eyed showstopper. It traded the long-legged gait and supple suspension of the F1 for a weaponized hybrid system capable of delivering 903bhp and huge blue flames from its drainpipe exhaust. In Race mode, it lowered by 2-inches and its massive concave rear wing extended into the sky. The P1 was all about aerodynamic downforce, crazed acceleration and a snorting, angry soundtrack that mixed venomous twin-turbocharged V8 with the manic whirr of electric motors. Not so much a car as a force of nature. And now there’s this: The W1. It’s a true successor to the P1 with a similar brief and, on the face of it, it evolves rather than radically reinvents McLaren’s vision for the ultimate hypercar. This is not a criticism. How could it be when the result is this dramatic and has such staggering, other-worldly potential? The W1 has 1258bhp delivered to the rear wheels. It’s capable of 0-124 mph in 5.8-seconds, the quarter mile in 9.6-seconds at 167 mph and produces 2205lbs of downforce at 174 mph. The active aerodynamics – particularly a rear wing that extends way out beyond the rear of the car – are pure performance art and deliver massive aerodynamic efficiency. The result, aside from looking extremely cool, is that the W1 is McLaren’s fastest road car around a racetrack. Ever. Their benchmark circuit is the breath-taking Handling Track at the Nardo proving ground in southern Italy, where the W1 beats their previous benchmark, the flyweight McLaren Senna, by three seconds per lap. Or “a lifetime” as they call it in racing. Maybe two lifetimes! Core to the W1’s performance is the new ‘Aerocell’ carbon fibre tub. With integrated seats and a raised footwell to allow for inboard pushrod-operated front suspension – which in turn gives air a clean path to the huge underbody diffuser – it’s light, stiff, space efficient and has been instrumental in McLaren realising a full ground-effect concept. Just like last year’s F1 cars, which were the fastest ever made. There is also an active front wing and the aforementioned complex rear wing dubbed ‘Active Long Tail’. All of which is very admirable. But the ‘anhedral’ or gullwing doors and the fantastically shirnked-wrapped feel to the minimalist, highly-focussed interior are a pretty good side effect. The W1 feels special. Those fixed seats are perhaps a shade more upright than expected, and the driving position is less obviously racecar than, for example, the Aston Martin Valhalla or Ferrari F80. However, once you’ve adjusted the pedals (they move on a slider) and the delicate, slim-rimmed and alcantara-trimmed steering wheel, there’s an overwhelming sense of purpose. The cabin is so tightly tailored and imparts a sense of lightness and agility before you so much as start the all-new 4.0-litre twin-turbocharged V8 engine, which makes 916bhp all on its own and revs to 9200rpm. Reach up to a roof-mounted control panel to find the starter button. Maybe this fighter plane trope is a little corny, but somehow you feel thrilled rather than manipulated. The W1 has a sense of humour as well as all that motorsport-derived sophistication. There’s a short delay, but when the engine does fire it’s instant – as the high-powered hybrid system negates the need for an old-school starter motor. A sharp flare of revs tells you that this engine is hyper-responsive and angry. On some deep level your brain and body have been sent all the signals required to prepare for something new and intense. Ahead of us, an empty Mugello racetrack, so press and hold the blue button next to the red starter to select Race mode. The centre display graphic shows the W1’s transformation in real time as it lowers by 37mm at the front and 17mm at the rear whilst simultaneously undocking all that active aero goodness. Race mode is not road legal and is geo-locked. You can show your friends and neighbours the aero dance, but it won’t allow you to select a gear to actually drive unless you’re at a circuit. Incidentally, the rocker switches either side of the display binnacle allow further options now: Toggle up the Handling control on the left for Race+ (for F1-spec super smooth tracks) or stick to Race for gnarlier ones. On the right toggle select ‘GP’ for sustained performance over a stint or ‘Sprint’ to unleash all 1258bhp for a time attack. There’s also a DRS and Boost function on the steering wheel. But I guarantee you won’t have the mental capacity to use them… Exit the pitlane, pin the throttle and W1 takes maybe a millisecond or two to gather its might (the gearing stretches to around 60mph in first, nearly 100mph in second, primarily to aid traction), but then lunges at the first turn with incredible ferocity. It instantly feels light, almost like inertia is no longer a thing. McLaren really does prize lightweight engineering, and at 3084lbs (dry) the W1 has a 278lbs advantage over the Ferrari F80. Plus, Ferrari uses figures for cars fitted with every single carbon fibre option. In reality, the gap is probably wider still. The impression of agility and stunning control continues as the track is unravelled at startling pace. The electric motor mounted to the side of the new 8-speed dual-clutch transmission is good for 342bhp and 324lb ft and it boosts any low rev lethargy the new flat-plane crank V8 might have (spoiler alert: It doesn’t appear to have any), so the W1 just feels massively, almost impossibly powerful at any revs. Even so, there’s real reward for wringing it out to 9200rpm and the power curve feels superheated but organic, too. In Race mode the steering – still hydraulically powered – has less assistance and it is noticeably heavier than other McLarens. However, that resistance is welcome as it gives you something to push against and imparts so much information about the front grip level. New Pirelli Trofeo RS tyres with a bigger front footprint than P1 or Senna really help. The front-end feels incredibly secure and the rear-axle follows with perfectly-aligned precision. The whole car feels super-stiff, completely locked into the surface and inspires confidence, but there’s an inherent agility and adjustability that means you’re quickly confident to push at its limits and really impose yourself on the chassis. It’s such a complex car but the driving experience is intuitive, and the driver feels a key contributor rather than just amazed (or terrified) observer, holding on for dear life. Every dynamic ingredient really is shockingly effective and yet has a subtlety and lightness of touch. From that delicious steering to the incredible brakes, the W1 just feels so mission-focussed, so hooked-up. Only the new 8-speed gearbox is a slightly disappointment. It’s fast and punchy, but after the scintillating energy of the Ferrari F80 ’box it feels competent rather than inspired. Other quibbles – it’s okay to quibble when the starting price is $2.1-million before tax and destination charge. Well, that new twin-turbocharged V8 sounds tightly wound and aggressive but if you have a P1 tucked in the garage you’ll miss the snorting, Darth Vader-style soundscape and all the drama that goes with it. Ferrari does this better, too. The F80 sounds deathly dull from the outside but is a riot of turbochargers, electric motors and all sorts of mechanical fury within the cockpit. Even so, the W1 is wildly entertaining on track, and the rear-drive configuration makes it more of a challenge and more satisfying than the F80 when chasing lap times or just sliding around for fun. In the Ferrari, you must second-guess what the front e-axle might do, whereas in the W1 it’s all on you. There are plenty of tools to help, including the ingenious Variable Drift Control, but somehow the W1 is more heroic. Or at least fools you into feeling more heroic – which is surely the point! On the road? Nimble, loaded with feel and sublime response. The ride is noticeably tougher than, say, a 750S but the control is ramped-up too, and with a bit more speed the whole car finds a delicious rhythm. Sport mode for the drivetrain brings some nice turbo whooshes and chirps, but the noise remains high-quality rather than extreme excitement. It is perhaps the one area the W1 feels just a little too tame. Of course, there’s nothing tame about the raw performance… which is genuinely shocking and literally hurts your neck muscles after a few hours. How McLaren has given the W1 such immense traction through just two driven wheels is beyond me. So, is it worthy of that ‘1’? I think so. Perhaps we won’t be talking about $25-million auction results for the W1 in 30 years from now, as we are for the F1. Perhaps it doesn’t quite have the amazing presence and jaw-dropping star quality of the simply gorgeous P1. But it is such an intense experience and the way it marries stunning track performance with delicate poise and entertainment on normal roads is something akin to magic. Maybe not ‘the one’ but definitely a searing, outrageous addition to McLaren’s fiercest family line. Just 399 W1’s will be built and they’re all sold. I’m not surprised at all. View All McLarens For Sale Images: McLaren Automotive

By Angel Sergeev of Motor1.com – June 06, 2022

Gordon Murray Working On Two Electric SUVs

The supercar automaker will enter the mainstream segment. Gordon Murry Automotive – the automaker founded by and named after the legendary McLaren F1 designer – made waves with its two supercars. The T.50 and T.33 are both old-school combustion-powered sports cars and both are already sold out for the masses. With its next products, however, the firm will move to mainstream waters with two fully electric sport utility vehicles. There’s no official announcement from the company yet, but Gordon Murray himself recently spoke with Autocar and declared the two SUVs will “change the way we think about range anxiety and vehicle dynamics.” It is difficult to tell what exactly this means – the development is still in the very early stages, after all – but it seems that the two new models will follow the same basic recipe as the T.50 and T.33. Or, put simply, expect light and aerodynamically-efficient high-riding machines. Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 Tech details are scarce at the moment but Murray at least shared a little information regarding the nature of the two SUVs. One of the new models will be front-wheel drive with room for four passengers. The more expensive one will be an all-wheel-drive model with five seats. Both EV SUVs will be priced reasonably and will be as light as possible. “It can’t be correct to have family cars routinely weighing 2.5 tonnes, yet everyone’s piling into the thing the way OEMs do. We think there’s a better way,” Murray told Autocar. Both new products will be built according to the so-called iStream production method. Assembling is likely to take place in Windlesham, England, where the Gordon Murray Group is investing £300 million ($377 million at the current exchange rates) in a new five-year expansion plan. The most user-friendly Gordon Murray Automotive vehicle to date is the T.33 (pictured above). It is a naturally-aspirated supercar with everyday usability and 607 horsepower (453 kilowatts) coming from a 3.9-liter V12 turning the rear wheels. However, you can no longer order the T.33 as it has already been sold out. This article originally appeared on Motor1.com. Source: Autocar

By Edward Jones – April 15, 2022

Hear the Glorious Sound of the Gordon Murray T.50's Insan...

I cannot get over how good this car sounds. Do you long for the days when Formula 1 cars powered by V12 or V10 engines would scream by with their high-pitched and raw exhaust notes? If you do, then you can at least take solace in the fact that Gordan Murray Automotive's new T.50 can fill that void both on the track and on the street. If you don't believe me, then you have to click play on the video up above from the automaker itself. In it, you'll see the T.50 lead the Formula 1 V10 demonstration at the Goodwood 79th Members' Meeting. Throughout the video, the T.50 absolutely screams across the track as the Cosworth GMA 4.0-liter V12 engine hits 12,100 rpm. It's a sound that cannot be matched. If you love the sound of the GMA T.50 enough to purchase one, I have bad news for you. According to the GMA, the allocations for the T.50, T.50s and T.33 supercars have all been secured. View Exotic Cars For Sale

By Jordan Aquistapace – February 07, 2022

The Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 Coupe Sold Out From Its...

The T.33 Coupe sells out to 100 happy new owners. The Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 Coupe first hit the scene early last year with an exclusive showing at The Quail: A Motorsport Gathering during car week at The Pebble Beach Concours d’Elegance. Since its debut, Gordon Murray Automotive is proud to announce that the T.33 Coupe sold out completely from its launch with 100 customers worldwide securing their allocation. The Gordon Murray T.33 Coupe customer chassis are set to be built for 2024 with a 1.85 million dollar MSRP price. MUST-READ: Gordon Murray Unveils The New T.33 Supercar The all-new T.33 Coupe is the best representation of the perfect two-seater supercar that boasts over 607-horsepower from its naturally-aspirated 4.0-Liter V12 engine platform. Needless to say, we are just as excited to see Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 Coupes on the road as the upcoming owners are to have them in their garages. Check back into duPont REGISTRY Daily for more luxury supercar news and releases. Source: Gordon Murray Automotive

By Edward Jones – January 27, 2022

Gordon Murray Unveils The New T.33 Supercar

Gordon Murray Automotive has added a second supercar to their lineup. Joining the wild T.50 supercar by Gordon Murray Automotive is the newly announced T.33, a new model that's ready for effortless daily driving. While the T.50 is an extreme vehicle, the T.33 tones it down a bit for the sake of practicality. That being said, the GMA T.33 is still a supercar and means business. "Like its T.50 and T.50s predecessors, the T.33 is all about the driving experience," said Professor Gordon Murray CBE. "We have engineered the T.33 to provide exceptional levels of highly tactile and deeply immersive involvement to elevate the driver to a higher plane behind the wheel." Starting off, it must be stated that the T.33 is very light. Weighing just 2,403 lbs, the new supercar utilizes GMD Superlight carbon panels and a light alloy frame to remain light. Taking advantage of the T.33's weight is a Cosworth-sourced 3.9-liter V12 engine that provides 607 horsepower and 333 lb-ft of torque. Altogether, the T.33 has a power-to-weight ratio that will make for a thrilling drive on and off of the track. MUST READ: Dario Franchitti Takes the Gordon Murray T.50 Up to 12,100 RPM for the First Time and It Sounds Unreal From its appearance, you can see that the Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 is missing the intuitive rear fan found on the T.50. While that fan may be gone, the T.33 does have plenty of aerodynamic components. For instance, there's the Passive Boundary Layer Control (PBLC) system that utilizes rear diffusers, ducts and inlets that create an efficient airflow underneath the car. GMA says that the new system is 30 percent more efficient than a typical supercar's ground effects. Inside, the GMA T.33 has a very simple yet elegant cabin that provides all necessary controls without inhibiting the driving experience. A nice touch is the 120mm analog tachometer that is floodlit and placed dead center behind the steering wheel. But the tachometer isn't the only analog component inside the T.33. In fact, Gordon Murray Automotive made the T.33 devoid of touchscreens and included analog controls. Regarding the cabin, Professor Gordon Murray CBE said: "The T.33’s driver-focussed cabin enables each journey, no matter how short, to be relished free of distraction and it also provides the practicality for longer trips to be undertaken.” Just 100 examples of the GMA T.33 will be created, each coming with a starting price of £1.37 million which equates to around $1.8 USD. Source: Gordon Murray Automotive

By Edward Jones – January 07, 2022

Gordon Murray's Next Supercar Will Be Unveiled This Month

This new model will join the T.50 and T.50s Niki Lauda in the lineup. Gordon Murray Automotive has announced that they will be unveiling a new supercar and we don't have to wait long for it. The unveiling of the new supercar will take place on January 27th, which is just weeks away. On top of this announcement, the automaker also noted that the development of the new model will be mostly done at their new Global Headquarters and Technology Campus in Windlesham, Surrey, UK. Construction of the new HQ will be starting soon, and what they've announced for location sounds pretty exciting. Joining the HQ and Technology Campus will be a test track, heritage center, customer sales, servicing suites, and more. Check Out: Gordon Murray Test Drives His T.50 Prototype Professor Gordon Murray, Chairman, Gordon Murray Group: “I am confident that both our new Supercar and our new home will be game-changers in the UK automotive industry. We will have many important milestones for our HQ over the next two years. But one of the most important will be on 27 January when we reveal the first Gordon Murray Automotive vehicle to be manufactured there. We’re all extremely excited to be revealing such a significant car to the world in just three weeks from now.” Source: Gordon Murray Automotive

By Gabriel Vega – October 18, 2021

$3 Million Gordon Murray T.50 Makes Its Screaming V12 Deb...

These days, new hypercars are announced so frequently that it's frankly become challenging to keep up with the latest crop of multi-million-dollar machines. However, of that ever-growing crowd, one contender stands out as what might be the last naturally-aspirated manual-equipped V12 hypercar ever. It's called the Gordon Murray T.50, and it has a starting price of around $3 million. As its name suggests, the T.50 was penned by legendary designer Gordon Murray, the man behind the legendary McLaren F1. In fact, the T.50 takes great inspiration from the F1, improving the elements that turned the 90s hypercar into a legend. Gordon Murray Test Drives His T.50 Prototype The T.50 has a central driving position for starters, flanked by two smaller chairs for passengers. At its core lives a naturally-aspirated 4.0-liter V12 that revs past 12,000 rpm. In total, it develops 654 hp and 344 lb-ft of torque. All of that power goes to the rear wheels via a manual transmission. While these stats are impressive, perhaps the most shocking is its weight. That's because the T.50 is supposed to come in just over 2,100 lb. For context, that's less than a Mazda MX-5 Miata with over triple the power. While we've heard its Cosworth-built engine howl during testing, the video above finally shows the car driving around on a track. With its incredible stats and intoxicating engine note, the T.50 certainly has the right bones to become a legend if it can deliver on its performance promises. See Supercars For Sale Source: Goodwood Road & Racing/YouTube

By Edward Jones – October 07, 2021

Dario Franchitti Takes the Gordon Murray T.50 Up to 12,10...

We knew it was going to sound good, but this is on another level. While Gordon Murray Automotive has been getting the T.50 supercar ready for production, they have been putting in work to perfect its 3.9-liter V12 engine. Because of this ongoing work, they have been unable to bring the engine up to high RPMs. Thankfully, the engineers have been moving along expeditiously and a new video now shows the T.50 being revved up to 12,500 RPMs during test drives. Taking the T.50 up to its newfound limit was none other than four-time IndyCar Series champion Dario Franchitti. In the video, found up above, you can tell that he enjoys the prototype of the T.50 and its insane engine. After his time on the track, he then goes into the paddock to talk to Gordon Murray about his experience with the car. It's truly an amazing scene to see the two legends discuss the development of what will certainly be a historic vehicle. If you'd like to see the Gordon Murray T.50 for yourself, it will be on display at the 78th Goodwood Members’ Meeting on Saturday 16 and 17 October 2021. Source: Gordon Murray Automotive

By Edward Jones – July 28, 2021

See Two Gordon Murray T.50 Prototypes Rip Through 'Top Ge...

We can't get enough of these wonderful supercars. After the debut of the Gordon Murray T.50 supercar, I get excited every time more information or media is released. Here I am, excited once again, as a new video shows the T.50 XP2 and XP3 prototypes rip around the Dunsfold 'Top Gear' test track. Driving the cars were Gordon Murray and Senior Test and Development Driver, Steve Hays. The sounds that these cars produce as they hit 5,000 rpm is like music to my ears. What's even more exciting is that the production version of the T.50 will have a 3.9-liter V12 engine that will hit 12,100 rpm. That will make it the highest revving road-going V12 in history. Click play up above to hear and see them in action. Just 100 examples of the T.50 will be created with first deliveries planned in 2022.

By Andrew Nabors – February 22, 2021

2023 T.50s Niki Lauda Unveiled By Gordon Murray

He would have been 72 years old today, so it was fitting to watch the 2021 T.50s Niki Lauda be unveiled by Gordon Murray. The genius behind the McLaren F1 was also a teammate to Lauda when they both raced for Brabham. As a fitting tribute to the 3-time F1 champion, this track machine is a hardcore version of their street-legal T.50. Cosworth has supplied a V12 that delivers 725 horsepower while revving to nearly 13,000 rpm. The car only weighs 1,878 lbs because hundreds of parts were switched from metal to composite. Mr. Murray also took a page out of his Brabham playbook by mounting a 15.7" fan under the car. With 3,300 lbs of downforce, you can attack each corner at wide-open throttle. Only 25 examples will be built with prices starting at $4.37 million (before taxes). While you are awaiting your order, we have hundreds of used McLaren for sale, so stay with us for all your Gordon Murray news. Images (C) Gordon Murray Automotive

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By Edward Jones – September 03, 2020

Gordon Murray Automotive Announces the T.50s Race Car

Gordon Murray Automotive has just announced a new racing-focused version of their T.50 supercar called the T.50s. This new version will be lighter, faster and more powerful than the highly-anticipated T.50. It will be boasting some incredible numbers, which have been unveiled. From its Cosworth GMA V12 engine, the T.50s will be supplied with 720 horsepower. Mated to this engine is a new six-speed IGS (Instantaneous Gearchange System) pre-selector gearchange system by Xtrac. "With no noise or emission legislation to contend with, we could unleash the full potential of the GMA V12 engine and its 12,100rpm, says Gordon Murray. "More than 50 components have been changed in the engine alone and the power can top 730PS (720hp) when factoring in the new ram-air induction system." Gordon Murray Automotive is taking advantage of the power held by the T.50s by reducing its weight to just 1962 and introducing a wide-range of aerodynamic components to increase downforce. Altogether, the components can generate 3,307 lbs of downrace, which is 170 percent more than its entire weight. That will lead to some insane cornering. Only 25 examples of the T.50s will be created and they come with a £3.1m (~$4,116,000 USD) price tag, excluding taxes. https://www.instagram.com/p/CErieuyl3ug/

Gordon Murray Automotive

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