GORDON MURRAY

T.50 creator

GORDON Murray introduced his car personally to media ahead of its reveal. Our deputy editor John McIlroy caught up with the legendary designer – and the T.50.

Q

WHY are you making this type of car – an indirect successor to probably your most famous creation, the McLaren F1?

A

“WELL, if you look back, I honestly don’t think anybody’s done an F1 since the F1 – that much absolute focus on the driving enjoyment and the light weight. And a car with no targets – no top speed, 0-62mph or lap time at the Nürburgring to think of.

“There are plenty of cars out there that are much more capable than the F1 – the turbos, the hybrids – but none of them gives me the spine-tingling sensation that the F1 gives me. Some people still say that you can’t beat the driving experience of an F1. But I can tell you this is going to move the game on again.”

Q

THIS is the launch car for Gordon Murray Automotive. What are your brand’s core values?

A

“OUR three targets are to be the lightest car, the best driving experience and the best engineering in whichever sector the car is positioned.”

Q

AND you’re definitely going to stick to no more than 100 cars per year?

A

“NEVER more than a hundred. Of anything. We have specifically not gone for capacity beyond that figure.

Q

YOU’RE probably not going to tell us what type of car is coming next, then…

A

“WELL, we have an eight-year plan, but I’m keen to get the T.50 out of the door first. We’ll start delivering cars to customers at the beginning of 2022.”

Q

CAN you resist the temptation to make an SUV?

A

“YES.”