Britain’s new £1.4mi supercar: Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 unveiled
Automotive design legend Gordon Murray has unleashed his latest creation – a GBP1.65million two-seater supercar that aims to deliver ‘absolute driving perfection’.
Powered by a mighty specially enhanced 607bhp 3.9-litre V12 Cosworth engine, the new lightweight T.33 is the second supercar from the motorsport and motor industry maestro’s expanding Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA) empire and is expected to accelerate from rest to 62mph in under three seconds.
Restricted to just 100 ‘bespoke’ examples for customers, it is to be built at GMA’s new GBP50million state of the art technology campus and global headquarters at Windlesham in deepest leafy Surrey.
It marks another remarkable chapter in the life of Professor Gordon Murray, whose significant landmarks over many decades include the McLaren F1 super car, countless F1 race cars, and a keen interest in producing ‘green’ lightweight and simple to build and use eco-vehicles.
Absolute driving perfection: Feast your eyes on Britain’s latest supercar – the Gordon Murray Automotive T.33, which will cost from GBP1.65million
Murray says the aerodynamically sleek new T.33 has been designed ‘without compromise’ inside and out to reduce weight, increase power, improve ride and handling and boost driver involvement and enjoyment, and represents ‘a triumphant return to beauty’.
Its overall targeted weight is under 1100kg, which is around the same as a Ford Fiesta supermini.
With a newly developed lightweight carbon-fibre and aluminium F1-inspired single-cell monologue chassis, it comes with the choice of six-speed manual or automatic gearbox from transmission specialists Xtrac.
It goes into production in Surrey late next year with first deliveries in 2004, priced from nearly GBP1.65million (GBP1.37m plus VAT or local tax) to join a growing GMA line up.
That means it will cost around GBP1.5million less than GMA’s T.50 hypercar, which was unveiled in February 2021.
Almost the same length as a Porsche Boxster, the new T.33 uses a specially reconfigured version of the mighty 3.9-litre GMA-Cosworth V12 used in the T.50 model, with the engine capable of revving to an ear-splitting 11,100rpm.
The company has not published official figures for its acceleration from 0 to 62mph or a top speed, with Murray saying the car’s performance isn’t about chasing the highest numbers.
Restricted to just 100 ‘bespoke’ examples for customers, it is to be built at the brand’s new GBP50million state of the art technology campus and global headquarters at Windlesham in deepest leafy Surrey
The T.33 will be powered by this mighty 3.9-litre Cosworth V12 petrol engine that produces 615 horsepower and will rev to an ear-splitting 11,100rpm
The Gordon Murray Automotive T.33 will weigh under 1100kg, which is around the same as a Ford Fiesta supermini
The car’s design is utterly stunning, with compact dimensions similar to Porsche’s junior sports car, the Cayman
Will it fit in my garage? New Gordon Murray Automotive T.33
Price: GBP1.65million (GBP1.37m plus VAT or local tax)
Built: Windlesham, Surrey, England at new GBP50m GMA global headquarters and technology campus
Production: 100
First deliveries: Early 2024
Length: 4,398mm
Width: 1,850mm
Height: 1,135mm
Weight: 1,090mm
Engine: 3.9litre GMA-Cosworth V12
Power: 607bhp
Engine weight: 178kg
Transmission: 6-speed manual H-gate or 6-speed IGS paddle-shift/ auto
0 to 62mph: under three seconds (TBC)
Top speed: circa 200mph (TBC)
Construction: lightweight carbon-fibre and aluminium ‘F1-inspired’ single-cell monocoque.
Wheels: 19 inch front, 20 inch rear.
Tyres: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
Brakes: Brembo Carbon Ceramic Material (CCM)
Unlike the GBP2.83million T.50 ‘halo’ hypercar, the new model dispenses with the fan-driven aerodynamics designed to help its more expensive sibling ‘stick’ to the ground.
But it does get an active rear spoiler, which deploys automatically or can be activated by the driver, to provide a high downforce mode.
Braking is helped with powerful Brembo Carbon Ceramic Material (CCM) brake discs which, combined with the aerodynamics, allow for ‘incredible deceleration’.
The T.33’s minimalist interior dispenses with the usual dashboard clutter and screens seen in many rivals.
The company said: ‘To enter the cabin of many modern-day supercars is to enter a world of large touchscreens and endless sub menus that cause confusion and distraction.
‘No touchscreens are found within the exquisitely, yet simply designed cabin of the T.33.
As with the exterior, nothing is included unless it serves a purpose and if there was a danger it would dilute the driving experience, then it was simply deleted from the development programme.’
It added: ‘The car is even devoid of column stalks, and instead, the indicators are operated by thumb-buttons on the carbon fibre steering wheel’s horizontal spokes.’
All of the main controls are rotary and analogue, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still included as standard. Even the flood-lit, 120mm diameter rev counter is ‘gloriously, defiantly analogue’, it said.
All primary and secondary controls are machined from the highest quality aluminium alloy to give a tactile feel.
The pedals are crafted from aluminium alloy to combine strength, lightness and sensitivity.
The carbon steering wheel uses a patented honeycomb carbon structure.
Braking is helped with powerful Brembo Carbon Ceramic Material (CCM) brake discs which, combined with the aerodynamics, allow for ‘incredible deceleration’. At the rear is an active rear spoiler, which deploys automatically or can be activated by the driver, to provide a high downforce mode
The T.33’s minimalist interior dispenses with the usual dashboard clutter and screens seen in many rivals
The company said: ‘To enter the cabin of many modern-day supercars is to enter a world of large touchscreens and endless sub menus that cause confusion and distraction’
The all-new T.33 is the second newly developed model from GMA and joins the T.50 and T.50s Niki Lauda in the line-up
Professor Murray said this new model has been designed, engineered, and developed to be the world’s most accomplished all-round two-seater V12 supercar adding: ‘If you had to have only one Supercar, the T.33 is it’.
The firm said every single part of the car is bespoke, and each car can be personalised to meet the owner’s specific requirements.
The company noted: ‘The exciting all-new T.33 is the second newly developed model from GMA and joins the T.50 and T.50s Niki Lauda in the line-up.
All of the main controls are rotary and analogue, but Apple CarPlay and Android Auto are still included as standard. Even the flood-lit, 120mm diameter rev counter is ‘gloriously, defiantly analogue’
The lucky few customers can choose their T.33 to be fitted with a choice of six-speed manual or automatic gearbox from transmission specialists Xtrac (pictured)
Customers can choose between right-hand or left-hand drive and manual or IGS paddle shift transmissions and ‘collaborate’ with the GMA design team to configure their own bespoke interior specification and choice of body colour
In terms of practicalities, a front stowage compartment and twin side luggage lockers offer a combined 280 litres of space and is large enough for up to six [very] small suitcases.
Customers can choose between right-hand or left-hand drive and manual or IGS paddle shift transmissions and ‘collaborate’ with the GMA design team to configure their own bespoke interior specification and choice of body colour.
Professor Gordon Murray CBE said the T33 was the result of a ‘slavish adherence to the concept of engineering art’ noting: ‘I am extremely proud of our team who have relentlessly applied our core principles to deliver this amazing motor car.
‘Our focus from day one of this project has been to deliver absolute driving perfection.’
Who is Gordon Murray?
The supercar automotive empire that bears his name may be growing. But over more than five decades Prof Gordon Murray has always cut a dashing and distinctive figure in the automotive world – from the jet-set F1 racetracks to friendship with the late Beatle and car fan George Harrison.
But it is the cars he has created that stand as testimony to his talent.
Murray was born in Durban, South Africa in 1946 and gained a Mechanical Engineering Diploma from Natal Technical College.
He designed, built and raced his own sports car (the IGM Ford) in the National Class in SA during 1967 and 1968.
In 1969 he moved to the UK and joined the Brabham Formula One Team as Technical Director, winning two world championships (1981 and 1983) during his 17 years with the team. Murray joined McLaren Racing as Technical Director in 1988 and three consecutive championship wins (1988, 1989 and 1990) followed. In 1990, he moved away from Formula One – after 50 Grand Prix wins – to enable him to concentrate on establishing a new company for the group, McLaren Cars Limited.
The company’s first project, the F1 road car, is still regarded as one of the world’s best engineered cars.
A racing version won two world sports car championships and the Le Mans 24-hour race on its first attempt in 1995. McLaren Cars then completed several other successful projects culminating in the Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren programme.
Murray left McLaren in 2005 to set up his new company Gordon Murray Design Limited, later creating Gordon Murray Automotive, to manufacture supercars in Surrey. Along with Gordon Murray iTechnologies, and Gordon Murray Heritage, which now come under the umbrella of the Gordon Murray Group.
At a special event in 2017, named ‘One Formula’ Gordon Murray also celebrated the 25th anniversary of the McLaren F1 road car entering production, and his 50th year of car design and engineering.
He recently announced a GBP50million investment in a new global headquarters and technology campus in Windlesham, Surrey, where the new T.33 supercar will be manufactured next year for first deliveries in 2024.
The T.50 hypercar will continue to be built at Dunsfold, on the airfield business park known to viewers of Top Gear during the Jeremy Clarkson era.
But it not just speed that inspires him.
Another notable achievement has been the back-to-basics ‘green’ flat-pack OX truck which he created for developing countries.
In May 2019 he received a CBE to recognise his contributions to motorsport and the automotive industry over the past 50 years.