Gordon Murray Teases McLaren F1 Successor

Legendary Formula One designer and lightweighting specialist Gordon Murray plans to launch the T.50 hypercar, a follow-up to his iconic McLaren F1, in 2022.

Murray vows that the T.50 (named after his 50 years in the business) will be better in every way than the 1990s-era F1. Production by Gordon Murray Automotive will be limited to 100 vehicles, with pricing due to start at more than €2 million ($2.3 million) before taxes.Built on a carbon fiber tub with carbon fiber panels, the T.50 will tip the scales at just 2,160 lbs. That’s 300 lbs less than the F1 and about one-third lighter than rival supercars. The car measures 173 inches from bumper to bumper, which is slightly longer than the F1 but shorter than a Porsche 911.

The rear-wheel-drive car sports a mid-engine layout and scissor-opening doors. The three-seater positions the driver in the center ahead of two rear seats.

Power will come from a naturally aspirated 3.9-liter Cosworth V-12 engine with variable valve timing that generates 641 hp and 341 lb-ft of torque. The engine is mated with a 6-speed Xtrac manual gearbox.

The double wishbone suspension features inboard-mounted coil-over springs. The rear suspension is mounted directly to the aluminum transmission housing, while the front mountings are bonded to the chassis. Adjustable linkages enhance aerodynamics at higher speeds, according to Murray.

The T.50 also will feature a large, electrically driven (43-volt) fan that can vary downforce based on vehicle speed, road conditions and whether the car is cornering or driving in a straight line. Murray used a similar system in the 1978 Brabham BT46B Formula One car.