Gordon Murray Automotive Introduces 725 HP T.50s ‘Niki Lauda’
Gordon Murray Automotive introduces T.50s which is a track-focused supercar that costs $4.36 million!
Gordon Murray Automotive’s T.50s Niki Lauda has made its debut, as a track-focused version of the company’s intriguing fan-assist sports car nameplate. Much like the McLaren Senna, even the man behind the iconic McLaren F1 hypercar chose its new model’s moniker as a way to pay homage to another F1 legend- Niki Lauda- three-time Formula One World Champion.
Only 25 examples of this track scalpel will ever make it to production, and each unit will cost around $4.36 million (ÂŁ3.1 million based on current exchange rates). Gordon Murray Automotive plans to commence production of the Niki Lauda variants sometime in 2023 once it has manufactured 100 units of the standard T.50 sports car.
The T.50s Niki Lauda is powered by the same 3.9-liter Cosworth-designed V12 that propels the standard car. The Cosworth motor’s power output is rated at 654 HP and 344 lb-ft in its standard tune. However, the GMA V12 has been retuned to churn out 725 HP of power at 12,100 RPM in the T.50s, and it also generates 14 lb-ft of additional torque in the track variant.
The V12 motor is mated to a unique six-speed Xtrac paddle shifter gearbox which offers two gear sets. The set with the shorter gearing has been designed for tight circuits and maxes out at 170 MPH, and the other set allows the car to achieve speeds well over the 200 MPH mark.
The modified engine happens to be 35 lbs lighter than the standard unit, and Gordon Murray also implemented the same cost-cutting measures to the rest of the ensemble, which only weighs 1,872 pounds. The atelier ditched the variable valve timing systems of the standard motor to save weight, and instead installed titanium valves.
The right passenger seat in the T.50s has also been replaced by a fire extinguisher, and customers who want to save weight can also opt to get rid of the other passenger seat. To improve the car’s aerodynamics, the company has installed a large splitter at the front and a massive diffuser at the rear. With such attention to detail, it is safe to say that T.50s will be an absolute beast around the corners.
Gordon Murray also shared his insights on what makes the T.50s a unique product, “With the direction of travel of the automotive industry, it’s hard to imagine that there will ever be another car quite like this. Especially not one with a central driving position, a high revving naturally aspirated V12 engine, and that is so lightweight. I believe it will go on to define its era.”
Images: Gordon Murray Automotive