Gordon Murray Automotive unveiled the T.50 last month and all 100 units were spoken for within 48 hours. Now the company has announced an even more extreme variant which is tentatively known as the T.50s.
Billed as a “racing-focused version” of the T.50, the model boasts “hundreds of significant revisions for race and track use.”
Unsurprisingly, the car has been given an aerodynamic makeover as features a new front splitter, a redesigned diffuser, and a prominent fin which enhances cornering efficiency and stability. The model also has a wide delta wing which works with the rear-mounted fan and other aerodynamic components to generate more than 3,307 lbs (1,500 kg) of downforce.
Besides the aerodynamic styling tweaks, the T.50s will eschew multiple aero modes and operate exclusively in a High Downforce setting. This means the underbody diffuser ducts will be fully open and the car’s innovative fan will be permanently spinning at 7,000 rpm.
Gordon Murray says the changes are so dramatic that “the T.50s would be capable of driving upside down, and could do so at as little as 175 mph (282 km/h).”
Weighs Less Than A Lotus Elise
Standard GMA T.50
Given the focus on racing, it’s not surprising to learn the interior has been “stripped-back.” The company didn’t release pictures, but said the T.50s will eschew the road-going model’s “instrumentation, air conditioning, infotainment [system], storage compartments and carpets.”
The three-person seating arrangement has also been dropped as the T.50s will feature a central carbon fiber racing seat which is flanked by a single passenger seat on the left. The model will also have a F1-inspired carbon fiber steering wheel and track-focused readouts.
Thanks, in part, to the elimination of road-going luxuries, the T.50s will tip the scales 1,962 lbs (890 kg) which is less than a Lotus Elise. That’s also 207 lbs (94 kg) less than the road-going T.50.
An Upgraded V12 With 720+ HP
Standard GMA T.50
Power will be provided by an upgraded version of the naturally-aspirated 3.9-liter V12 that powers the T.50. The company didn’t go into specifics, but said the engine will have revised cylinder heads, upgraded camshafts, a higher compression ratio and a free flowing exhaust.
The engine will be feed by a roof-mounted intake which has been optimized even further. The company said this alone adds approximately 30 hp (22 kW / 30 PS) and Murray hinted the car will have more than 720 hp (537 kW / 730 PS) altogether.
To cope with the added power, the engine will be connected an “entirely new” six-speed gearbox which features drive ratios that are optimized for speed. Given this focus, the transmission trades a stick for paddle shifters.
The performance changes don’t stop there as T.50s has a retuned suspension with unique spring rates and dampers as well as a beefier anti-roll bar. The ride height has also been reduced by 1.6 inches (40 mm).
Standard GMA T.50
The T.50s will ride on forged magnesium wheels which are wrapped in Michelin Cup Sport 2 tires as Murray doesn’t believe supercars need bespoke rubber. They’ll be backed up by a Brembo carbon ceramic braking system which features six-piston calipers up front and four-piston calipers at the rear. There’s also new ducting around the wheels to improve brake cooling.
According to Gordon Murray, “With an unwavering focus on performance, and free from road-going legislation and maintenance considerations, the T.50s will achieve astonishing performance on track, demonstrating the full extent of the car’s capabilities.” He added, “We’ve thrown everything at pushing this car beyond the levels of anything that’s been done before – it’s a celebration of British engineering and our team’s extensive motorsport experience.”
A $4.1 Million Track Toy
Production will be limited to 25 units, but more than half of them have already been sold despite costing £3.1 ($4.1 / £3.4) million before taxes. That’s pretty pricey, but each buyer will receive a “Trackspeed” individualization package that includes “set-up, training, racing and support.” The car will also be extensively customizable and GMA will work with owners to fine-tune the suspension, chassis balance and delta wing to suit their driving style and requirements.
The T.50s will be unveiled later this year and the company hinted the model will wear a “historically-significant official name.” There’s no word on what that is, but production is slated to begin in the first quarter of 2023.