Former Formula One and current automotive engineering pioneer Gordon Murray has big plans for his future mobility business. The Gordon Murray Group (GMG) has just announced plans to significantly expand its operations with investments of £300 million over the next five years. The plan is aimed at creating long-term growth through increased research and development, the introduction of a new division, significant investment in Gordon Murray Design (GMD), bolstering of leadership and talent across the business, and strengthening of the Gordon Murray Automotive product portfolio.
“While recently the global spotlight has been on Gordon Murray Automotive and the T.50 models, there has been extensive progress and developments made within the wider group,” said Professor Gordon Murray, Chairman Gordon Murray Group. “Today we are taking this to a new level announcing new investments, a strengthening of our leadership team, enhanced R&D, a new division, and a reaffirmation of our philosophy—core competencies that differentiate us and set us apart in the industry as we build the group to meet the challenges of the future.”
A key component of the new plan is a sharper focus on designing and engineering future EVs (electric vehicles). The design and engineering business is already in the early phases of creating what is said to be a revolutionary, lightweight, ultra-efficient EV architecture for future urban passenger vehicles and delivery vans.
Gordon Murray Design is directing substantial investment toward a “superlight” research and development facility to further progress weight and complexity reduction of both vehicle architectures and manufacturing processes. An additional facility at Dunsfold, Surrey, is being planned to manufacture superlight frames for Gordon Murray Design and Gordon Murray Automotive vehicle programs.
A new business unit, Gordon Murray Electronics, is being formed by newly appointed CEO Richie Sibal, which will support GMD in developing advanced electrified powertrains for global automotive manufacturers and technology companies.
“The automotive future will be increasingly electrified, and it’s essential that we design the world’s lightest, most efficient, and advanced EVs,” said Murray. “This significant investment in Gordon Murray Design and the formation of Gordon Murray Electronics will be realizing that goal. Advanced work is already underway, and we will be sharing more news on our exciting all-electric platform soon.”
The group’s leadership team is being strengthened with Phillip Lee as a Director, Group Chief Financial Officer and CEO of Gordon Murray Automotive. Lee formerly was CFO at Group Lotus plc and Finance and IT Director at LEVC. In addition, John McLaren, Chairman of Rouse, is joining the Gordon Murray Group board as a Non-Executive Director, and Jean-Philippe Launberg is Strategy and Business Director of Gordon Murray Design.
Murray leveraged his F1 leadership experience at the Brabham and McLaren teams, and later heading the McLaren Cars offshoot that developed the legendary McLaren F1 supercar, to create Gordon Murray Design consultancy in 2007. That’s where he developed the T.50, a spiritual successor to the McLaren F1.
Development of the T.50 supercar, revealed in August 2020, remains on track, with Gordon Murray Automotive now conducting prototype testing. Production is planned to start in 2022 at a new facility in Dunsfold, Surrey, UK, with the first customer cars being delivered early in the year and being overseen by newly appointed Head of Global Sales, Henry Winkworth-Smith.
Calling the T.50’s exterior styling “a return to beauty,” Murray believes the clean lines and visual balance deliver a timeless design that will help the T.50 age gracefully. Improving on his acclaimed McLaren F1 “in every conceivable way” according to Murray, the supercar, at £2.36 million (before taxes), will hopefully more than deliver on its promised unsurpassed driving experience.
It is powered by a custom Cosworth GMA V12 displacing 3.9 L, producing 663 PS (488 kW), and revving to a record-breaking 12,100 rpm. With no plastic covers, the mid-engine sits with its cam covers, primary exhaust manifolds, and inlet trumpets proudly on full display.
The car’s curb weight of 986 kg (2174 lb) makes it the lightest supercar of the modern era, lower than the average supercar weight by almost a third. The focus on lightweighting is said to enable unparalleled levels of agility, responsiveness, and driver focus.
The T.50’s exterior design is free from the wings, skirts, and vents on most modern-day supercars, with the clean surfaces enabled by advanced aerodynamics. A 400-mm (15.7-in) rear-mounted fan is said to expand the car’s performance capabilities significantly versus an ordinary ground-effect supercar. Combined with the active rear spoilers and interactive diffusers, the fan helps to increase downforce by 50%; reduce drag by 12.5%; add around 50 PS (37 kW) to the car’s output, in combination with ram-air induction; and cut braking distance by 10 m (33 ft) from 150 mph (240 km/h).
Access to the T.50’s interior is by dihedral doors that rise up and forwards, coming to rest high above the passenger cabin. Inside is a driver-centric approach with a central, jet-fighter-like driving position similar to that of the McLaren F1, with primary and secondary controls arranged in an “ergonomic bubble” around the driver.
Every T.50 customer has the opportunity to meet Murray to discuss his/her car and personalize it inside and out. Part of this process includes a seat, steering wheel, and pedals “fitting” session to ensure optimum ergonomics.
If the humble T.50 doesn’t excite the customer enough, he/she could opt for the even higher performance track-focused T.50s Niki Lauda. It weighs just 852 kg (1878 lb) and will be powered by a substantially redesigned version of the V12 producing 725 bhp (541 kW).
Other Gordon Murray Automotive vehicles now in development are promised to stay true to the ethos and exclusivity demonstrated with the T.50.
“The T.50 supercar clearly shows the path that we will take for future Gordon Murray Automotive products,” said Murray. “All future models will be strictly designed to deliver these principles as part of our mission to be the world’s most exclusive automotive brand.”
Among those principles are exclusivity, manufacturing no more than 100 of each model or variant. They are promised to be the most driver-focused cars in their sectors. Optimum performance will be achieved through “obsessive weight reduction.” Engineering art will be pursued with “absolute attention to detail,” constantly pushing the boundaries of materials and technologies. The company believes in a return to beauty with balanced, timeless designs.
The T.50 will be significant in other ways.
“Much of our learning about advanced lightweight materials and construction from the T.50 will play a key role in the electric vehicles that we develop,” said Murray. “But we are not abandoning internal combustion power. We will continue to create the pinnacle of driver’s cars—with V12 petrol power as long as the regulations allow and, in future, we will develop our own hybrid and electric powertrains.”
The Gordon Murray Group is set to move its global headquarters to a new site in Windlesham, Surrey, UK, where a new technology campus, Heritage and Customer Centre, and new design and engineering facilities are being created. Construction will commence in July 2021, the first facilities will be ready in 2022, and the entire project is to be completed in 2024.
“Our new technology campus and global headquarters is another major investment but it’s also where the power and capabilities of our expanding group will really be seen,” said Murray. “It will be a fantastic new home and create a truly unique culture of collaboration, innovation, and interaction.”
