GMA T.50
Body size is Boxster class
The “T.50” is demonstrated at Monterey Car Week.
When you get behind the wheel of the GMA T.50, you’ll realize that it offers a completely different set of super sports car values than you’d expect.
I rode in the T.50 at Monterey Car Week. The driver was Dario Franchitti, a former racing driver and three-time Indy 500 winner who now holds the important position of Director of Brand and Product at Gordon Murray Automotive (GMA).
The T.50 is simply full of surprises. Its body is as compact as a Boxster, and its weight is 997 kg, the same as a light car. Thanks to this, even when you press the throttle pedal from 1000 rpm in third gear (about 26 km/h), it accelerates with the same agility as a motorcycle. Moreover, the ride is smooth and comfortable.
And what completely shatters the notion of a super sports car is its large ground clearance; even without a front lift, it can easily overcome speed bumps that are about 10cm high, and the nose of the car doesn’t scrape the road even when the gradient changes from a steep downhill to a horizontal one. The things that you have to be careful about when handling a super sports car up until now are completely unnecessary with the T.50. According to Franchitti, all of these were realized at the strong request of Gordon Murray.
Why did you choose a manual gearbox?
The T.50 features a center seat, providing a driving feel similar to that of a Formula 1 car while also being practical for three passengers.
The reason for the naturally aspirated V12 engine, which can rev up to 12,100 rpm, becomes clear as soon as you step on the throttle pedal. It delivers a supple and smooth acceleration, while also functioning as a sound machine with an intense sense of energy. The sound is completely different from the stringed-instrument-like Ferrari music; if I had to say, it’s closer to the ultra-high-revving sound of circa 1990’s F1 engines. “To make this engine sound audible, Gordon installed an induction box on the roof,” says Franchitti. “And we even carefully calculated the thickness of the carbon fiber inside to ensure the sound resonates just right.”
The winding roads around Monterey are narrow and feature many tight corners. A conventional super sports car would likely find its immense power overwhelmed. However, the T.50, with a width of just 1,850mm, weaves effortlessly through the tight, winding roads. Perhaps thanks to Franchitti’s skill, the car even managed to slip its tail when exiting corners.
“We were very careful in selecting the tire size,” says Franchitti. In other words, the T.50 is a super sports car that has been carefully designed to provide driving pleasure not only on the circuit but also on winding roads.
Considering this, it’s easy to understand why the T.50 chose to use a manual gearbox. In terms of performance alone, the paddle shifter is superior, but if you want to enjoy driving even at low speeds, the manual gearbox is more advantageous.
In the super sports world where power is the norm
Tatsuya Otani, who sits in the left passenger seat of the T.50, said that even from his experience in the passenger seat, he was able to understand the T.50’s excellent qualities.
In other words, the compact body, the thoroughly reduced weight, and even the beautiful singing V12 engine were all essential for enjoying the thrill of driving, regardless of speed.
The super sports car market remains obsessed with power, and the pursuit of impressive, imposing designs to justify high prices has resulted in larger and heavier cars, which mean that to extract full performance, you have to take to the track.
Gordon Murray created the T.50 to break out of this downward spiral, and his bucking the trend is both typical of Murray and refreshing.
REPORT／Tatsuya OTANI
PHOTO／GMA, Tatsuya OTANI
MAGAZINE／GENROQ November 2024 issue
SPECIFICATIONS
Gordon Murray Automotive T.50
Body specs: Overall length 4352mm, overall width 1850mm, overall height 1164mm
Wheelbase: 2700mm
Tread: Front 1586mm, rear 1525mm
Vehicle dry weight: 957kg
Engine type: V12 DOHC naturally aspirated
Total displacement: 3994cc
Maximum output: 663PS/11500rpm
Maximum torque: 467Nm/9000rpm
Rev limit: 12,100rpm
Transmission: 6-speed MT
Drive system: RWD
Suspension: Front and rear double wishbone
Brakes: Front and rear carbon ceramic discs
