Gordon Murray Automotive has unveiled its new T50 supercar, billed as a spiritual successor to the McLaren F1 and powered by a 488 kW V12 engine.

Weighing a mere 986 kg, the supercar is scheduled to go into full production in the United Kingdom in January 2022, priced from £2,36-million (around R54-million) before taxes and offering what the firm describes as “an unsurpassed driving experience”. Just 100 units are planned.

The 3,9-litre V12 Cosworth makes 488 kW at a heady 11 500 r/min, with peak twisting force of 467 N.m on tap at 9 000 r/min. With a 12 100 r/min redline, Gordon Murray Automotive says it’s the “highest-revving naturally aspirated road car engine ever” and tips the scales at just 178 kg. It's mated to a six-speed Xtrac manual gearbox.

In addition, the Surrey-based firm claims the T50 features the “most advanced and effective aerodynamics ever seen on a road car”, aided by a 400 mm rear-mounted, ground-effect fan. The latter is driven by a lightweight 48 V motor and “rapidly accelerates air passing under the car”, forcing it through “active boundary-layer control ducts that form part of the rear diffuser”.

The company says via the application of two automatic and four driver-selected aero modes, the T50 is capable of increasing downforce by 50 percent, reducing drag by 12,5 percent, adding around 37 kW to the V12’s output (in combination with ram-air induction) and cutting braking distance by 10 metres from 240 km/h.

The chassis and body of the T50 are constructed from “high-grade” carbon-fibre, with the supercar featuring dihedral doors and a “jet fighter-like” central driving position slightly ahead of two passenger pews.

Although the firm says the T50 is “comparable to a Porsche Boxster” in terms of its footprint, luggage capacity is a useful (claimed) 288 litres. Inside, you’ll find an analogue rev counter and “minimal controls”, which means no pesky column stalks or touchscreens.

“Just 100 customers will share my vision, a car created to improve on the F1 formula in every conceivable way. With 30 years of technological and systems advancement, now, the time is right to design the greatest analogue driver’s car,” said 74-year-old Murray, who was born in Durban, South Africa.

“I believe no other company could deliver what we will bring to market in 2022, producing this British supercar will be my proudest moment.”

Original article from Car