$3.1M Gordon Murray T.50 Is A 21st Century McLaren F1 That Weighs Less Than An MX-5

Gordon Murray is best-known for creating the McLaren F1 and now he’s following up with a spiritual successor of sorts known as the T.50.

Designed to be the purest, lightest and most driver-centric supercar ever created, the T.50 improves on the McLaren F1 “in every conceivable way.”

Of course, that’s a bit subjective as T.50 looks like a McLaren and a Porsche 918 Spyder. That being said, the car does take the idea of the F1 into the modern era.

Starting up front, there’s a wedge-shaped nose which features a pair of F1-inspired LED headlights. The model also has a rakish windscreen, dihedral doors and engine covers that open upwards. The design of the doors is echoed on the glass roof, but the most notable characteristic is the roof-mounted scoop which feeds air to the naturally-aspirated V12 engine.

Elsewhere, we can see streamlined carbon fiber bodywork, a ventilated rear fascia and a large diffuser. The model also has 3D taillights and 19- / 20-inch forged alloy wheels wrapped in Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S tires.

The latter are backed up by a high-performance braking system that features six-piston calipers which grab onto 14.6 inch (370 mm) carbon ceramic discs. Out back, there are four-piston calipers and 13.4 inch (340 mm) discs.

However, the car’s most distinctive feature is its rear-mounted fan that looks like something you’d find on a Batomobile. The multi-blade fan is a unique addition and Gordon Murray Automotive says it helps to reduce drag by 12.5% and add approximately 49 hp (37 kW / 50 PS) to the car’s output. If that wasn’t enough, the fan shortens braking distances and increases downforce by up to 100% in Braking Mode.

Speaking of aerodynamics, the car has dynamic rear spoilers and active underbody panels. There are also six aero modes known as Auto, High Downforce, Streamline, Braking, Test and V-Max Boost. The latter is designed for maximum performance and it raises the car’s output to 690 hp (515 kW / 700 PS).

Like the F1, the T.50 has a central driver’s seat that is flanked by a passenger seat on each side. To accommodate the layout, the car eschews a traditional center console and uses a ‘floating’ arm on the right of the driver’s seat. It’s home to a titanium shifter and infotainment controls.

The model also has center-mounted instrument cluster with a large tachometer that is flanked by two digital displays. They reside behind a carbon fiber steering wheel and are surrounded by “aerospace-grade aluminum rotary switches.”

Elsewhere, there are video camera side mirror displays and lightweight pedals. The model also has a 10-speaker audio system and Android Auto / Apple CarPlay compatibility.

Given that the T.50 is a bespoke beast, every customer will be given an opportunity to discuss their car with Gordon Murray and personalize it. The company says this process will involve a “fitting session” where they ensure the driver’s seat, steering wheel and pedals are “ergonomically perfect and individualized for each discerning customer.”

The company also noted “British suppliers are responsible for every major component throughout the interior, as well as every facet of the car’s exquisitely-engineered underpinnings” as Murray wanted the T.50 to be a “true British sports car.”

As we have previously reported, the car is powered by a bespoke, 3.9-liter V12 engine that produces 654 hp (488 kW / 663 PS) and 344 lb-ft (467 Nm) of torque. It’s naturally-aspirated and built by Cosworth.

The engine has been designed to be the “world’s highest revving, fastest responding, most power dense and lightest road-going V12.” It revs to 12,100 rpm and can go from idle to redline in just 0.3 seconds.

“To be truly remarkable, an engine needs to have the right characteristics: highly-responsive, an amazing sound, engaging torque delivery, free-revving, and it has to be naturally aspirated,” commented Gordon Murray. “For all those reasons, the engine in the T.50 was never going to be anything other than a V12.”

“From the first touch of the titanium throttle pedal to the V12 screaming at 12,100 rpm, the driver experience will surpass any supercar ever built,” he said. “No other road car can deliver the package of power, instant responsiveness and driver feedback in such a direct and focused way while remaining comfortable, refined and usable every day.”

The engine is connected to a six-speed manual transmission which has five close ratios geared for acceleration. There’s also a longer sixth ratio for cruising.

Like everything else on the T.50, the gearbox has been designed to be extremely lightweight. As a result, it has an aluminium casing that is just 0.1 inch (2.4 mm) thick. This helps to enable the transmission to weigh just 177 lbs (80.5 kg).

Unfortunately, the company didn’t reveal the car’s top speed or its 0-60 mph (0-96 km/h) time. However, Gordon Murray Automotive said they’re not “not chasing power or top speed figures.”

Given the focus on weight, the T.50 has a carbon fiber monocoque which promises exceptional stiffness and torsional rigidity. It’s also extremely lightweight as the total body including monocoque weighs less than 331 lbs (150 kg).

This, combined with other weight saving measures, enables the car to tip the scales at 2,174 lbs (986 kg). That’s about a third less than your typical supercar, in fact, it weighs less than the already lightweight Mazda MX-5 (2,341 to 2,403 lbs).

The model also promises to appeal to purists as it has a double wishbone suspension as well as a rack and pinion steering system for “driving purity.” The car also has a limited slip differential and driver aids that can be disabled.

The T.50 will be launched in January of 2022 and cost £2.36 ($3.08 / €2.62) million before taxes. Production will be limited to 100 units and there will be a service network established in Abu Dhabi, Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom. There will also be a so-called “flying technician” to support vehicles in these and other markets.

“Just 100 customers will share my vision, a car created to improve on the F1 formula in every conceivable way,” said Gordon Murray. “With 30 years of technological and systems advancement, now, the time is right to design the greatest analogue driver’s car. I believe no other company could deliver what we will bring to market in 2022, producing this British supercar will be my proudest moment.”

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