Gordon Murray's T.50 Supercar breaks all kind of records

Gordon Murray, the designer of the McLaren F1, is hard at work on a successor to the iconic supercar. Called the T.50, this concept revives the F1's signature delta-formation three-seater layout, with power from a new 3.9-liter naturally aspirated Cosworth V-12 producing 650 hp and revving to an outrageous 12,100 rpm. And for his next ultimate road car, Murray is revisiting one of his most extraordinary aerodynamic concepts.

Because, much like the F1, the Gordon Murray Automotive T.50 is making its power from a naturally aspirated V-12 mated to a manual gearbox. Not only that, but it'll rev to an eye-watering 12,100 rpm, producing peak power at 11,500 rpm and peak torque at 9000 rpm. Just over 70 per cent of that torque will be available from 2000 rpm, too, so don't expect it to be a slouch around town. The free-breathing design allows it to gain revs quickly, gaining 28,400 rpm per second. In other words, you can get from idle to 12,100 rpm in 0.3 seconds. Peak power will never be far away. Speaking of which, the Cosworth-made V-12 will produce 654 hp and 344 lb-ft of torque. In today's supercharged world that may not sound world-bending, but you haven't heard the weight figure. Because the engine spec sheet lists the T.50 as having 663 hp per metric tonne, we know that this car will weigh in at under 2200 pounds. That makes it over 100 pounds lighter than an ND miata, with over three times the power and a 12,100 RPM redline. This all matches what Murray predicted for the T.50 at the concept stage, but it's wild to hear that he's actually been able to hit his targets with it. It's truly going to be one of the wildest vehicles ever made. Plus, it should also sound like the end of times. Not only is it a high-revving V-12, but the engine's cold air intake is directly above the driver's head. So you'll get the howling induction noise mixed with the scream of an incredible engine, producing what Gordon Murray Automotive calls the "best V-12 sound ever." That already sounds promising, but hopefully, we'll hear some more on August 4 when the car is officially unveiled.