Gordon Murray shows T.50 with aero fan, 700-hp V12


The McLaren F1 designer has revived his favored three-seat layout.

Gordon Murray Automotive has revealed the T.50, a new limited-production supercar that features a unique ground-effect fan to improve aerodynamic performance.

The renowned automotive designer first employed a fan in the late 1970s for the Brabham BT46B Formula One car, taking inspiration from a previous Chapparal race car that used fans and a skirt to suck the car onto the track and achieve higher cornering speeds. Murray’s design powered the fan directly from the F1 car’s engine and succeeded in winning a race before the technology was retired.

Murray teamed with Racing Point Formula One Team to develop the modernized ground-effect fan, which works in concert with active aerodynamic elements to operate in six different modes that control overbody and underbody flow to maximize downforce without sacrificing efficiency.

“I’ve dreamt of delivering a road car with a ground-effect fan since I designed the Brabham BT46B F1 racing car in 1978,” Murray says. “The system on the T.50 is much more sophisticated than the Brabham’s and will benefit enormously from Racing Point’s expertise and resources.”

The T.50 also boasts a Cosworth V12 that aims to be the highest-revving road-car engine ever made, screaming all the way up to 12,100 rpm. A 48-volt starter/generator and ram induction achieve a total output of 700 horsepower.

The car is scheduled to make its formal public debut in May. Only 100 units will be manufactured, each featuring Murray’s preferred three-seat layout that he used for the iconic McLaren F1. The company has not mentioned pricing, though it is likely above the six-figure range.

The McLaren F1 designer has revived his favored three-seat layout.

Gordon Murray Automotive has revealed the T.50, a new limited-production supercar that features a unique ground-effect fan to improve aerodynamic performance.

The renowned automotive designer first employed a fan in the late 1970s for the Brabham BT46B Formula One car, taking inspiration from a previous Chapparal race car that used fans and a skirt to suck the car onto the track and achieve higher cornering speeds. Murray's design powered the fan directly from the F1 car's engine and succeeded in winning a race before the technology was retired.

Murray teamed with Racing Point Formula One Team to develop the modernized ground-effect fan, which works in concert with active aerodynamic elements to operate in six different modes that control overbody and underbody flow to maximize downforce without sacrificing efficiency.

"I've dreamt of delivering a road car with a ground-effect fan since I designed the Brabham BT46B F1 racing car in 1978," Murray says. "The system on the T.50 is much more sophisticated than the Brabham's and will benefit enormously from Racing Point's expertise and resources."

The T.50 also boasts a Cosworth V12 that aims to be the highest-revving road-car engine ever made, screaming all the way up to 12,100 rpm. A 48-volt starter/generator and ram induction achieve a total output of 700 horsepower.

The car is scheduled to make its formal public debut in May. Only 100 units will be manufactured, each featuring Murray's preferred three-seat layout that he used for the iconic McLaren F1. The company has not mentioned pricing, though it is likely above the six-figure range.

etetewtgae

Top Rated

error: Content is protected !!